Counting?

[PeiTheCelt]

So we got our eggs mid-afternoon on a Sunday, so they were in the incubator from 2pm on or so.. So is Sunday day one, or does day 1 get counted a full 24 hours after they went in the incubator, so 2pm on Monday?

(no, I'm not getting obsessed waiting for the kids to hatch, why do you ask.... *twitch*)

(feel free to mock me, I debated actually asking this question for 45 minutes, because I've been pregnant, I know gestation is not an exact science, but I just want to make sure that I get them out of the turners on the right day and and and... yeah.

)

 

[jkcove08]

LOL, If I set the eggs the first thing the following morning after I get them I start that as day 1. If I get them in the morning and set them that evening then I start counting with day 1 the following day. They will come when the are ready. They need about 3 days to orientate themselves but it is not absolutely needed. People have had them hatch right in the turners, it is just riskier that they get caught in the turner rack. If you stop turning them a day or 2 earlier it is also not going to kill them. I was told that after day 14 it is more for exersize.. I stopped some turkey eggs about 3 days early one time and put them in the hatcher with some chicken eggs set to hatch about 2 days early. I didnt want to open the hatcher right when the chicks were to hatch to put the turkey eggs in. They heard the chicks hatching and 2 hatched 2 days early.. They were fine. Good luck and dont worry. Jenn

 

[speckledhen]

I count the same way as Jenn. She's right, though. They come when they come! I always have one hatch a day early and one a day late, so my hatches seem to stretch for three days every time, LOL.

 

[PeiTheCelt]

Thank you guys..

heh Wheee for a lack of patience and natures unpredictability.

 

[redchicken]

if you put them in on sunday they will hatch on a saturday

 

[jkcove08]

If you put them in Sunday morning then yes but numbers they should hatch sometime on Saturday. That is if temps are exact the whole time, humidity is perfect the whole time and they develope exactly like they are suppose to the whole time. Now we all know that probably wont happen so chances are they will hatch a day early to a day late with most hatching on the saturday. I will usually have 1 or 2 hatch a day or even 2 early, that usually says that my temps were a little warm. I use a still air LG so indeed there are probably warm pockets that will produce those early hatchers.. I dont mind since I am always happy to have something hatch. Jenn

 

[Davaroo]

I know this stuff is all confusing; which day is this, which way to turn, which way the planets are aligned and so on. I used to stew over it all, too. I had all the formulas and charts and took readings and did all the handwringing. But in time I learned one really valuable thing: it really isn't neccessary. Chickens will do what they do and you CAN keep it simple as has been hinted at.

You put them in, right? You will maintain the temps and humidity the best you can, using a decent model of incubator? If you have answered yes to both, then you are committed. There isn't anything you can do to change the course of events you have set in motion, no matter how much you worry. Doesn't that feel invigorating to know that? You've done it, you've taken the decisive step. Now it is up to you to see it to a successful end. What a challenge!

So, what can you change by knowing which hour they will supposedly hatch?

I can assure you, they will NOT hatch at the exact minute you calculate. There are far too many variables to ensure that. They WILL hatch according to their own timetable.

Oh, it will be close - a day here, a few hours there. So rest easy; take deep breaths.
What you should be concentrating on now is holding things steady in the chamber and getting prepared for the next steps >>> hatchout and brooding. That is where the fun starts.
Until then it is just watchng a bunch of eggs through a little window.

 

[PeiTheCelt]

Everyone, thank you guys for your patience.. Seriously I appreciate it..

elderoo,

I know these things, really I do.. I'm just a little crazy with a serious obsessive type A planning streak, and it comes out when I'm excited/nervous about things working... I can't control WHETHER they'll hatch specifically or even WHEN, but I can obsessively plan around things like the environment they're in and making sure that everything is good for their hatching... It makes NO sense and is utterly ridiculous, but.. It's me..

So it's not so much trying to figure out when they'll hatch so much as where the middle point on the range is so that I can make sure that everything is set up correctly at the appropriate time on the early end of the range. Thank you though, the reality check is always good.. *laughs*

 

[jkcove08]

LOL, I hear you!! I have blank calandars that I will write in the days and mark who will be on day 18 when and hatch on what day there.. I used to make up a calandar for each set of eggs that I put in the bator but that gave away to the DH how many were actually in there...lol So I started combining calandars, why waste paper anyway. They get taped to the wall right by my computer so that I can cross off the days as we go. I set my last 2 batches of eggs this morning since I am going out of town on the 4th of OCt and that will be day 17 so I wont have to worry about them needing to be turned. I just make sure there is enough water and the temp is good and off I go. I will be back on the 6th or 7th and they should be hatching any time from there on. I really have to stop anyway, I will have enough in the basement under heat lamps for half the winter..lol I cant wait for spring!! I would never give up Iowas seasons though, I have to have the snow and the colder temps. I have been south and its just not quite the same. Cant wait to hear how your hatch goes!! When are they suppose to hatch? Jenn

 

[Davaroo]

I know how it is. I’ve been there – I’m one of those planner types, too. It's just that I don’t stew any more over the incubation part of it. I just leave things alone until the hatch has passed. Chickens as a whole are pretty self-regulating. We mostly just facilitate for them, anyway. I guess you learn these things when you get a little older - okay, a lot older.

In fact, I only candle once during incubation, at day 10. The only other time I do it is to check for defects prior to setting eggs. Life got so much easier when I started doing it this way.

Again, I reckoned, "What can I change by knowing this or that, clear or viable? I have killed enough embryos thinking they were duds, so that is out. So why mess with them and risk damaging them?”

I only remove eggs if they are smelly, oozy or show signs of bacterial effect. I know this is sorta contrary – but hey, it’s me and it works.