Don't know egg age in incubator

So I was at Tractor Supply Co. earlier today and they had just gotten in a batch of one day old chicks, selection of sexed or straight run. Thinking it would be nice for Mort to have a little friend and a guaranteed female I asked to buy one and apparently the lowest amount of chicks you can buy is 6 :/. I can't have more than 4 because of the local laws so I explained the situation and was told it's their rule so that people won't buy them as pets and then get bored...Which I totally understand, I just know Mort seems a little sad and lonely and I just can't have that many chickens, especially considering the batch of eggs I'm incubating. Hopefully 2.5 weeks and he'll have some friends :fl
 
I've really enjoyed reading about your hatching adventure! I hatch hundreds of babies every year but I still get uptight during the hatch. It's nerve wracking trying to decide whether to assist or not. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I'm glad you have a healthy chick.
The 1st time I ever tried to hatch eggs I only had one chick survive. She was thoroughly spoiled and still thinks she's a house chicken at 10 years old. I put a mirror in her brooder when she hatched and it made her feel less alone.
Congratulations! :wee
 
I've really enjoyed reading about your hatching adventure! I hatch hundreds of babies every year but I still get uptight during the hatch. It's nerve wracking trying to decide whether to assist or not. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I'm glad you have a healthy chick.
The 1st time I ever tried to hatch eggs I only had one chick survive. She was thoroughly spoiled and still thinks she's a house chicken at 10 years old. I put a mirror in her brooder when she hatched and it made her feel less alone.
Congratulations! :wee
Good idea! I'm actually shopping on Amazon for some toys for him lol. Since you hatch so often, maybe you can offer some advice on this current batch I have going...I have 8 eggs, 7 of which I know are developing and one I'm monitoring because I don't see development, but it's also a really dark egg so I might just not be able to see it. Anyhow, 4 of the eggs, the embryos seem stuck to the sides, I guess my tuner is messing up, so my question is, is there a way to fix this and do they have any chance of hatching?
 
I wouldn't give up on the eggs. I've forgotten to plug in my turner for several days and the chicks still usually survive. Mark a side of each egg and make sure that it does get turned. Even tho it's tempting, you don't need to candle every day. 3 or 4 times during incubation is plenty. Believe me, I know how hard it is to stay away from them. :confused:

A small soft plush toy next to the mirror will give him something to cuddle with. And don't be surprised if he peeps a lot for attention and company. That's how my 10 year old chicken got her name, Peep. :D
 
Good idea! I'm actually shopping on Amazon for some toys for him lol. Since you hatch so often, maybe you can offer some advice on this current batch I have going...I have 8 eggs, 7 of which I know are developing and one I'm monitoring because I don't see development, but it's also a really dark egg so I might just not be able to see it. Anyhow, 4 of the eggs, the embryos seem stuck to the sides, I guess my tuner is messing up, so my question is, is there a way to fix this and do they have any chance of hatching?

Still 2.5 weeks to go? They will look one-sided for the first week to 10 days (assuming you are incubating them laying down?) After that they should fill more of the egg. You can actually candle and roll one and see it come back to the top within a few seconds. :D
 
Still 2.5 weeks to go? They will look one-sided for the first week to 10 days (assuming you are incubating them laying down?) After that they should fill more of the egg. You can actually candle and roll one and see it come back to the top within a few seconds. :D
Oh I know that lol, I mean they are STUCK to the side, do not move at all when the egg is rotated while being candled.
 
Blarg! I hate having only one chick because you don't have any comparison for behaviour or feathering speeds to take a guess at sexing before obvious sex traits come in >.< Anyhow, chick is very shy and has pin feather on wings coming in fast :). Fingers crossed this means female. It's so hard to get good photos one handed lol. I tried the scruff technique, but chick was not having it (wouldn't hold still for me to get a good grab) so didn't get much from that.
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Blarg! I hate having only one chick because you don't have any comparison for behaviour or feathering speeds to take a guess at sexing before obvious sex traits come in >.< Anyhow, chick is very shy and has pin feather on wings coming in fast :). Fingers crossed this means female. It's so hard to get good photos one handed lol. I tried the scruff technique, but chick was not having it (wouldn't hold still for me to get a good grab) so didn't get much from that.
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Out of the bator into the brooder!?
 

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