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- #7
aspenarms
In the Brooder
Thank you - I was putting the flashlight pointing up from the bottom. I also think I need a brighter light.
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A bright light is a must. Mine only cost $10 at TSC, but it works real good as long as it's got new batteries...lolThank you - I was putting the flashlight pointing up from the bottom. I also think I need a brighter light.
A bright light is a must. Mine only cost $10 at TSC, but it works real good as long as it's got new batteries...lol
Quote:
I think anyone who has hatched has had some mishaps. You can put a piece of tape over the crack. It maybe ok. I have had cracked eggs hatch. I use a 65 watt mini flood lamp. I put aluminum foil on the inside of the cardboard otherwise the cardboard may catch fire. I have been using this for several years.
If there are any hairline cracks in the egg shell you should be able to see them. I put them in the incubator anyway and they usually hatch.
Mouse over the lower left corner for the video.
I am having a lot of trouble candling. I'm just putting an egg on top of a toilet paper roll and using a flashlight, but am not seeing much. I just broke open an egg, cause I was sure they were cooked, but it was developing! so I probably lost a viable one. I am now reassured that I haven't cooked them and at least some of them must be growing chicks. Obviously my candling is not good.
Thank you. I'll try the tape. I hate to lose a chick.I think anyone who has hatched has had some mishaps. You can put a piece of tape over the crack. It maybe ok. I have had cracked eggs hatch. I use a 65 watt mini flood lamp. I put aluminum foil on the inside of the cardboard otherwise the cardboard may catch fire. I have been using this for several years. If there are any hairline cracks in the egg shell you should be able to see them. I put them in the incubator anyway and they usually hatch. Mouse over the lower left corner for the video.
I probably candle a lot less than the majority of people who candle. I candle when setting eggs to make sure I'm not putting one in with a hairline fracture or a problem and then, it varies.....Usually I candle at day 10 and lockdown (day 18) and that's it. I've already done day 14 and 18 and once day 18 only. These were very dark eggs and I was afraid early on I would have trouble seeing anything. I've hatched white, colored,, brown and chocolate eggs and there are different visibilities.
If there is a problem with an egg, unless it is leaking, you can take it out later rather than sooner. I came to this conclusion after my first hatch when I would have, candling on the recommended schedule, thrown some away but since I realized I didn't know what I was doing I left them and every one hatched. So after that I've given the eggs the benefit of the doubt unless they really (really really really)look like quitters.
I know people say with a broody they move them around, knock them about and aren't as careful but I have a better hatch rate than my hens. They're around 50 - 66%. I'm close to 100%. (My eggs only. Shipped eggs are a whole different story.)
So especially if you have some eggs you're really hoping to hatch, less may be better in the candling department.
Congrats! That's great!My eggs have hatched - out of 36 I have 21 chicks, and I am thrilled! 6 weren't fertile and the rest didn't make it, probably due to my trouble with stabilizing the temperature.
I gave up on candling - it was too stressful and I never felt confident with what I was seeing. Now they are in the brooder and doing well mostly. 2 have a funny foot, which I have taped, and put those chicks in a separate box. They seem to be getting stronger and doing better every day.
Thank you everyone for your encouragement and advice!!
I have 7 Barred Rock and 14 Production Reds. Obviously I don't know yet how many females/males. I am hoping for about 10 hens.
what day was the video. I have an extra lamp like yours so I may do the same thing. I had a temp spike too but not for very long. We shall see. I am preparing to candle Sat.day 7. First time for us with doing incubatuob so we have our fingers crossedI think anyone who has hatched has had some mishaps. You can put a piece of tape over the crack. It maybe ok. I have had cracked eggs hatch. I use a 65 watt mini flood lamp. I put aluminum foil on the inside of the cardboard otherwise the cardboard may catch fire. I have been using this for several years. If there are any hairline cracks in the egg shell you should be able to see them. I put them in the incubator anyway and they usually hatch. Mouse over the lower left corner for the video.