Disappointing Day 21 - Candling Pics

[PurpleChicken]

Thank you Jazz. Just please realize the eggs were fertile.
It was something I did that made them not develop.
I hope others learn from my mistake.

 

[jazzchicken]

Oh my bad.

I hope mine hatch well.

 

[MaransGuy]

I saw that other thread and was a bit surprised by that photo. I use the flukers (I sell them too) as well as a seperate Exo-Terra Thermomer and Exo-Terra Hygrometer to monitor my conditions. My thermometers are usually less than a degree off and the temp varies less than a degree during the whole incubation. One thing to keep in mind about hygrometers - affordable ones are NOT going to be super accurate. They should be pretty good but, having quite a bit of experience in the industry, truly accurate hygrometers can cost almost as much as the incubator itself. The good thing is that exact humidity is not nearly as important as steady temps anyway. (I think someone else mentioned this , too) I keep my humidity in the 30%-45% range during incubation, then up it to around 70% for hatching. another problem I think plagues a lot of incubators is poor ventilation. The last hatch I had a few days ago was my best one by far. I also did something entierly new. Even though I have an automatic turner, I would open up the incubator allowing for a complete change of air to take place. I figured if the hen leaves the nest for a bit every day it might benefit the eggs. I have a digital thermostat and it brings the temp back up to proper temp within a few minutes so this made it a bit easier but it might be worth a try. Adjusting temps with wafers is always a challenge. I have had good hatches and horrible hatches with them. They are somewhat finicky. I do think your temp may be a bit on the high side though. I hope you get it figured out. Believe me, I know how frustrating this can be!

Richard

 

[MandyH]

Could any of the problem be storing eggs too long before they are set? I know that will have a bad effect on an egg.

 

[speckledhen]

I can't speak for anyone else except myself and my own egg collection. I collect eggs for several days during the week, package them on Sunday afternoon and mail them out on Monday morning, usually by 9 a.m. Almost always, they arrive within two days, sometimes three. I don't know how soon they are set in the bators after they get where they're going, of course, unless they tell me.
I think egg storage of even up to two weeks shouldn't wipe out any significant percentage of a setting of eggs. I realize one week is optimal, but in reality, eggs stored properly up to two weeks should hatch, all other factors being satisfactory. We are dealing with so many other more likely factors than the storage here, I think. And it can be a combination of things, too, so perhaps difficult to pinpoint the exact cause.

 

[hinkjc]

PC - sorry to hear you are having trouble with incubation. I am sure you'll figure out what is going wrong. Sometimes it's a process of elimination, but once you have it figured out future hatches are more promising. I don't blame you and not to worry, you are welcome to eggs anytime.

As to age of eggs..all of my shipments are gathered within 2 days (unless a private request is made for something different). Typically, I collect on Sat & Sun and ship on Monday. Sometimes I only collect on Sun and add in from Monday for same day shipment. Regardless of the day I ship, they are always less than 3 days old when they go out my door. Don't think it has anything to do with age of eggs. I rarely have eggs around here long enough for them to age. They are sold before the hens can lay them most of the time.

Good luck with the hatch PC.

Jody

 

[speckledhen]

I bet you'll have an okay hatch with the remaining eggs and don't give up on hatching. Both Jody and I will be glad to send you more potential babies for your flock!

 

[PurpleChicken]

Thanks so much Jody & Cynthia for your forgiveness of an egg cooker.

Actually a silkie is poking her head out right now.

Last night we cracked open a Barred Rock we thought was dead. It wasn't.
It's a blob half out of the egg but I'm gonna do all I can to save it.

So now it looks like this hatch has been delayed, probably by me opening the bator
too many times. We even have a single Delaware at day 23 or 24 at about
the same condition as the BR.

I do learn by my mistakes and I make a lot of them.

 

[chicks rule]

Hey Don, Hope you have better luck with the rest of your hatch, and please keep sharing your mistakes, I need the help, as I failed miserably with my first try at hatching.