ChickenHawk12
Chirping
- May 7, 2015
- 153
- 6
- 76
Today is day #22 of my first shot at hatching eggs, and sadly, it looks like nothing is happening. I had a super-broody hen all summer and got tired of it so I ordered eggs for her, and the day before they arrived her broodiness broke, I think for the winter. So I had to borrow an incubator, and I had no idea what I was doing. The 5 eggs arrived intact and well-insulated with packing material, I let them sit at room temp for 12 hours and then put them in the incubator with an automatic turner (it is a Little Giant styrofoam incubator, there doesn't seem to be a fan so I guess it's a still air incubator). I didn't try to candle the eggs until like day 16 because I was afraid to touch or move them, and when I tried I couldn't see anything (but truthfully, when I look at photos of candled eggs on BYC, I don't see what people are talking about either). I took the turner out on day #18 and opened the 2nd ventilation plug and put more water in the channels to increase the humidity. The person I borrowed the incubator from told me to place the plastic film with the heater directly on top of the eggs, so that's why I did.
I haven't candled them, and of course today BOTH of my kids bumped into the incubator and rattled it around. I don't see anybody trying to crack outta there. At what point do I give up?
Finally, I'm already looking at having to order more eggs, so does anyone have recommendations? I got the first batch from Murray McMurray. I'm just looking for egg layers, and I don't live in a rural area and I don't know anywhere local to get reliable eggs from.
Any good mail order places other than Murray McMurray?
I haven't candled them, and of course today BOTH of my kids bumped into the incubator and rattled it around. I don't see anybody trying to crack outta there. At what point do I give up?
Finally, I'm already looking at having to order more eggs, so does anyone have recommendations? I got the first batch from Murray McMurray. I'm just looking for egg layers, and I don't live in a rural area and I don't know anywhere local to get reliable eggs from.
Any good mail order places other than Murray McMurray?