Cookie hatch-a-long

[gimmie birdies]

Day 4
I don't candle as much as I used to.

 

[Slothinc]

How often do you candle the eggs and what is your hatch rate in the incubator?

My daughter is admonishing me because I candle a lot. she says my hatch rate is going to be low. I barely take about 5/10 minutes even.

I candle usually on day 3 or 4 to check for fertility and then usually 3-4 other times during the incubation. I know @gimmie birdies recommends avoiding candling on day 14, so I try to follow that advice as well.

 

[gimmie birdies]

I candle in the very beginning, because I don't want to have bad eggs. If they quit it is usually on day 3, day 7, or day 10. If they make it to lockdown, it is best to not check until day 21. But during lockdown I do keep an eye on them. If they make a pip keep and eye on the progress and don't help till 24 hrs. (sometimes they pip early. Especially if it is the wrong downside. I upright them so they do not drown. )

As far as safety holes, I try not to give them one, if I get worried and they are candled, (day 20-or 21) The egg below would not get a safety hole

But this one might.

 

[athomas718]

I candle usually on day 3 or 4 to check for fertility and then usually 3-4 other times during the incubation. I know @gimmie birdies recommends avoiding candling on day 14, so I try to follow that advice as well.

When do you candle for lockdown, day 18 or 17? I know standard is day 18.

What happens on day 14 to avoid candling?

 

[athomas718]

Oh so you don’t candle at lockdown?

 

[gimmie birdies]

Day 18 yes

 

[gimmie birdies]

Chick gets into hatching position on day 14.

 

[Slothinc]

When do you candle for lockdown, day 18 or 17? I know standard is day 18.

What happens on day 14 to avoid candling?

We are in a dry climate and I have had some issues with dry membranes, plus I usually hatch bantams and they tend to hatch out on day 20. So just the last couple of hatches I have started putting mine in lockdown on day 17. It seems to be just fine for them - I feel like more are hatching out without needing assistance. But for larger eggs, or in a more humid climate, the typical day 18 for lockdown should be ideal.

 

[gimmie birdies]

I do day 17 sometimes depends on what I am up to. We are east of the mountains so our area is also dry, but humidity is still 50% even without adding water before lockdown, but sometimes I do, but i don't flap my wings about it.

 

[gimmie birdies]