Christmas Setting - First Hatch

[DaybreakOrps]

All is well this morning on the beginning of Day 2! Humidity is about 52%, temperature holding steady at 37.8.

 

[carsonfarr67]

Hi I'm also new at this whole hatching thing! I have a hen getting ready to hatch eggs -"and this is my first ever hatch because I'm only 14! But do I need to put small size chicken wire around their chain linked fence run? Or do I bring the mom and eggs in a brooder box?

 

[DaybreakOrps]

I have no clue about hen hatches, I am just now learning about brooder hatches, but I have read that she might not be willing to move from the nest that she established. Is she in a nest box now sitting on the eggs?

 

[Pyxis]

Hi I'm also new at this whole hatching thing! I have a hen getting ready to hatch eggs -"and this is my first ever hatch because I'm only 14! But do I need to put small size chicken wire around their chain linked fence run? Or do I bring the mom and eggs in a brooder box?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/guide-to-letting-broody-hens-hatch-and-raise-chicks

Hope this helps!

 

[carsonfarr67]

Yes she is on day 7 of her incubation in a nesting box int the coop.

 

[DaybreakOrps]

So I am at Day 5 1/2 and my egg candler arrived. All I can see is the darker area at the large end of the egg (likely the air sac). The eggs look very porous but I cannot see any veining or dark spots. I was nervous taking them out of the incubator, so I may spend a bit more time with them in a few days to study the issue. Surely, the breeder wouldn't have sent me all clears! I have a dandy little LED egg candler though and my incubator is doing very well. The humidity is at about 53% all of the time and the temperature is holding steady at 37.8.

 

[Pyxis]

I've just candled mine and all three chicken eggs and all four quail eggs are developing e

 

[DaybreakOrps]

We candled today and were able to see moving embryos!!!!!! I nearly flipped! We saw at least 3 moving and only one possible clear. There are others that may end up being quitters but I am super happy!

 

[Pyxis]

Congrats!!! All my chicken eggs are still doing well. I think one quail egg quit but we shall see.

 

[DaybreakOrps]

I have candled all of the eggs twice now and I must say I am really pleased with the results. I was cautioned about buying eggs on eBay and having them shipped, but so far I have identified only 1 clear out of 24 (which I discarded) and only had one damaged in shipping. Out of the remaining 22 eggs, we were able to identify 17 moving embryos on Day 12. I am leaving town for the weekend so I am a bit nervous about it but I intend to sort all of the moving guys to one side of the incubator tonight. By my calculations, Monday will be lock down day. As I understand it, I am to remove the egg turner tray and lay the eggs out. My temperature has run constant at 38.1 and humidity at about 50%. What should my temp and humidity be during lockdown?