DECEMBER Hatch-A-Long!😊

[LadiesAndJane]

I'm down to 4 Marans eggs, one I was a bit iffy last time I candled but can confirm now it's DIS The incubator they are in has been great in cooler weather but it's now warming up here (I'm in Aus) I really struggle to keep temps stable when it hits or passes 34c or 93f.
I do plan on incubating more eggs from my other layers though which will go into another incubator I have taken to a cooler part of the house plus some will be going under two broody hens. planning on having these hatch in December as well.. oh and placed a bid on some d'Uccle eggs so if I win those I'll also be hatching them..

Quail eggs are all still looking good from what I can see and that incubator has been holding temp fantastically

Fingers crossed the rest of the Marans make it!
Ambient temp and humidity definitely makes incubating more challenging. I have read on some threads recommendations to incubate in a room that maintains a consistant temp throughout the day. I have no such room in my house anyway. ☺
Hope you win the D'uccles!

 

[LadiesAndJane]

I was going to wait until tomorrow (Day 14) to weigh & candle, but my humidity dropped to 13% overnight. Since I had to open it to refill water, I couldn't resist taking a look at the eggs. Overall, they have lost 6% of their pre-incubation weight, with a couple eggs less than 4%, and 3 that have lost 7.5-8%. According to most estimates I've seen, they should have lost between 7%-9% by now, but they all seem to be developing well. This is the 2nd hatch where I've paid close attention to weight loss, and it seems kind of random. The one peculiar thing this time is the location of one of the air pockets. The first time I candled at Day 4, it was on the side of the egg, near the fat end. Over time, it has grown toward the end of the egg, so that's good. Have others seen that? Here are some photos. In the daylight, it's the blue one in the middle #5
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Your eggs look good! I have seen the air cell change as you describe. I don't think it is anything to worry about. Maybe change the place of that egg in the incubator. I change mine around every time I check them. I am plotting weight graphs on all my eggs as well. My air cells look really good, but according to my graph they are a bit dry, running aound 40% humidity (dry incubation), so I am not sure how accurate my graphs are anyway!
I know I said it before, but I just love those pink eggs!

 

[halefamily_flock]

Your eggs look good! I have seen the air cell change as you describe. I don't think it is anything to worry about. Maybe change the place of that egg in the incubator. I change mine around every time I check them. I am plotting weight graphs on all my eggs as well. My air cells look really good, but according to my graph they are a bit dry, running aound 40% humidity (dry incubation), so I am not sure how accurate my graphs are anyway!
I know I said it before, but I just love those pink eggs!

Thanks for the reassurance. I'm using the incubator guidelines for humidity and have been running 50-60%. I tried managing humidity & temps more closely for one hatch that ended in disaster (I also had a 10+ hour power outage during that one), and the 2 hatches where I followed the instructions for which tray of water to keep full did very well, so I'm sticking with that.

I love those pink eggs, too! I think she may be passing it on. She's the only one of our full grown Dominique hens (out of 4) who lays pink but after hatching 3 Dominique pullets, it seems like most of our Dominique eggs have a pretty pink tint now. So, I'm thinking she's the one who gave us at least a couple of the new girls. This is my first time setting only Pink eggs, and they look so pretty next to Legbar blue, so I'm looking forward to seeing new colors next summer!

 

[LadiesAndJane]

I have to run dry, as my ambient humidity is so high, If I add ANY water at all, shoots up to over 60-70%. and I end up with a poor hatch.
I add water at lockdown only.
So many variations and thoughts on how to incubate. Funny how the chickens have no trouble hatching their eggs!

 

[goat114]

I'm hatching eggs on december 9th

 

[halefamily_flock]

I'm hatching eggs on december 9th

What kinds of eggs?

 

[theminimizer]

Welcome to the party! What breeds is your broody baking?

Barred Rock Rooster with RIR, EE, Americauna, White Leghorn. Nothing super fancy. Not sure how winter broodiness is going to go anyhow, but it's worth a shot I suppose.
Anyone else using winter broody hens?

 

[LadiesAndJane]

I'm hatching eggs on december 9th

Welcome to the December hatching party!☺

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Barred Rock Rooster with RIR, EE, Americauna, White Leghorn. Nothing super fancy. Not sure how winter broodiness is going to go anyhow, but it's worth a shot I suppose.
Anyone else using winter broody hens?

Nice mix of breeds!

 

[seeingreen]

Barred Rock Rooster with RIR, EE, Americauna, White Leghorn. Nothing super fancy. Not sure how winter broodiness is going to go anyhow, but it's worth a shot I suppose.
Anyone else using winter broody hens?

Yes, I have a broody hen. I think it’s because Brahmas mature so slowly they only started laying maybe end of August beginning of September, so they go broody late in the year.