Anyone setting eggs May 1st?

[joyfulkeeper]

Oh, the WAIT! Just peeked in on the broody and she's sleeping. Seriously, how can she sleep knowing the chicks are coming? No peeps this time, but Mama was snuggled on them so... Chances are they'll all hatch in the middle of the night and we'll wake up to 7 little fluffies. How do I sleep though?

 

[mollybuck]

I know!My daughter got home late last night from a school trip and she wanted to candle. So we went out to close the pen door and check on the bloody. I swore I would leave her alone, but...day 11and it looked fabulous. I'm just glad she pecked my fingernail when I put it back. She was irate! Ok...leave her be...leave her be...

 

[CGinJCMO]

Today, I candled the lightest colored eggs to show the students and teachers. I hope they are doing well; I had a hard time finding something good. It was day ten, so there should have been something. I did find something to show but it wasn't the best thing I've ever seen. Next Friday will be lock down for the weekend hatching and I think I'll try candling in the morning to find all the "dead" eggs to pull them out. The teacher would like to egg-topsy the duds so I'd like to be able to look and find them for her.

CG

 

[chickenlindz]

Out of 12 shipped eggs only 2 look like duds... But I'm not 100% so I'm leaving them for a little bit longer. Broody mama won't get off the nest so I can't check hers...

 

[joyfulkeeper]

I know!My daughter got home late last night from a school trip and she wanted to candle. So we went out to close the pen door and check on the bloody. I swore I would leave her alone, but...day 11and it looked fabulous. I'm just glad she pecked my fingernail when I put it back. She was irate! Ok...leave her be...leave her be...

I can't remember, how many do you have under your broody? So happy they're looking good!

Today, I candled the lightest colored eggs to show the students and teachers.  I hope they are doing well; I had a hard time finding something good.  It was day ten, so there should have been something. I did find something to show but it wasn't the best thing I've ever seen.   Next Friday will be lock down for the weekend hatching and I think I'll try candling in the morning to find all the "dead" eggs to pull them out.  The teacher would like to egg-topsy the duds so I'd like to be able to look and find them for her.

CG

Hopefully there will be enough that make it to please the class.

Out of 12 shipped eggs only 2 look like duds... But I'm not 100% so I'm leaving them for a little bit longer. Broody mama won't get off the nest so I can't check hers...

Yay, 10 out of 12 isn't too bad!
How many do you have under your broody?

 

[Inmybackyard]

I set my 15 eggs on May first as well. Day 18 will soon be here. This is my first time incubating and I am super nervous. All the eggs looked good 4 days ago. A lot of movement in each egg. I try not to mess with them. How do I know which side to lay the eggs on when I remove the turner for lockdown day 18? Do I need a sponge inside the incubator to keep humidity up during lockdown? I understand humidity during lockdown should be kept between 60/65%. I am using a still air incubator with turner. Geezzzzzzzz, I am scared. LOL

 

[mollybuck]

I can't remember, how many do you have under your broody? So happy they're looking good!
Hopefully there will be enough that make it to please the class.
Yay, 10 out of 12 isn't too bad!
How many do you have under your broody?

um.. 6.. or 7! i cant remember anymore! and I am not lifting her to look either cause I went after dark last night and she was miserable!

I agree... i hope a few hatch for the class. my neighbor is a teacher and she incubates every year, she had 8 hatch yesterday..8 left to go... i should give her some of my eggs next year!!!

10 for 12 is pretty good!! i am looking at 4 out of 16 right now...if those all make it. I had 2 last year make it to lock down and died while absorbing the yolk...

 

[chickenlindz]

Quote:
There is a great article on here by Sally Sunshine that I suggest reading. She'll tell you in it where the bird will most likely pip into the air cell. It's very helfpul (I think it's on the Hatching 101 page). I'm on day 12 and I am terrified as it's my first time too! Good luck Let me know how it goes.

 

[Inmybackyard]

How do I read it? I am new to this. Thanks for the well wishes. I hope they all do ok. To me it doesn't seem the air sac is shrinking on a lot of the eggs and has shrunk on some. They are all still moving in the shells. next step is to make sure they do not suffocate or drown in the shells once they begin to try to pip, I think? I have read so much about this, yet each site or person tells me something different. I just pray a lot and hope for the best Good luck to you too.

 

[chickenlindz]

Quote:
There are a couple of different ways to find things out on this site. You can type a topic into the search bar which will give you a lot of different hits. You can also go to the Learning Center tab on the top of the page and there are different articles grouped by topic (look in the "Hatching Eggs and Rasising Chicks" section for now). Here is the link though https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101 Good luck I think all you can do is pray and hope for the best....