Early February 2016 Hatch - Who's In?

[TJordan]

I've heard of them candles every day 1-18 and left after lockdown... But the more you candle the greater risk of dropping one, possibly on others, tranfering germs and accidental flipping of egg to small side up. Be careful. Always handle eggs with CLEAN, DRY hands and never if your tired.

if in doubt... LEAVE IT ALONE. I am candling every 3-4 days until lockdown because my humidity gauge is wrong and I'm also making a video diary with my 8yr old daughter for her class. Rule of thumb is days 7,10,18... More or less as you feel. Good luck with your babies.

 

[Triplecross]

Why do some places say to turn your eggs an odd # of times a day?

 

[RookyChickMama]

Why do some places say to turn your eggs an odd # of times a day?

So each night they will be on a different side. Because at night is when they go the longest without turning.

 

[NTBugtraq]

Seems like there are lot of ppl in this thread who haven't hatched before (or hatched much), I skipped the first 42 pages...sorry.

I am setting 96 of my inbreeding project tomorrow, so not hatching in your time frame, should I join another thread? I am right now in day 22 of my first setting of the year, and it would seem I had a lot of eggs that got froze on 2 particular days of the 9 days I collected eggs from. My eggs have darker shells, so its been difficult (even with a Brinsea Ovascope) to tell if the unpipped eggs are infertile, or fails. My hatch right now is at 57+%, which is good for me but should get better.

Anyway, a couple of suggestions; Weigh, don't candle...and weigh them all at once, rather than individually. Granted, infertile eggs will not lose weight, but its more important to know whether to add water or take it away. You want 2% weight loss every 3 days, that's a goal. 2% of the original weight. If you aren't getting that much, reduce the water, if you are getting more than that, add water.

Have fun, and do tell me if my hatching date is out of the range you wanted in this HaL.

 

[ambe0487]

How often does everyone candle their eggs? I've been hands off as much as possible thinking that's what I was supposed to do (1st time incubating) but I'm reading on here some candle a lot of different days.

I thought I read someone candled even on day 21! Isn't that "lockdown time"? How scandalous and daring!

Just to be sure I'm doing it ok, the days are 7, 14 and 18 traditionally? I'm going nerdy this first hatch, but some of you out there are so brave and bold!

So far I did a full candle on days 4, 7,10, and 14. I will do a final candle on day 18. I figure any time I need to get in there to add water I will at least partially candle them. As we've talked about before, I'm struggling to get my humidity in the right place. I figure when people hand turn their eggs, they touch them multiple times a day and their hatches turn out just fine. As long as I'm not keeping the Bator open too long they should be fine. Hell, a broody mom gets off her eggs more than 4 times during incubation! HA HA!!!

 

[ambe0487]

Just so you all know, I can't stop thinking about candling eggs now, lol

HA HA, I always think about candling my eggs any time I walk past the incubator.

 

[CoopDeDoo]

Quote:
Welcome - please join us And thank you for the experience and advice you bring!

 

[Triplecross]

I'll have to weigh my eggs on my next try; it's too late to do it now for mine, tomorrow is lockdown.

BTW all: this has gotten so fun (albeit stressful at times) I went and bought a 2nd bator! Now I can have ~hopefully~ chicks every 10-12 days hatch instead of waiting 21+ days!

Has anyone hatched a chick yet? I'm 4 days away. I wonder who's the soonest?

 

[ambe0487]

Seems like there are lot of ppl in this thread who haven't hatched before (or hatched much), I skipped the first 42 pages...sorry.

I am setting 96 of my inbreeding project tomorrow, so not hatching in your time frame, should I join another thread? I am right now in day 22 of my first setting of the year, and it would seem I had a lot of eggs that got froze on 2 particular days of the 9 days I collected eggs from. My eggs have darker shells, so its been difficult (even with a Brinsea Ovascope) to tell if the unpipped eggs are infertile, or fails. My hatch right now is at 57+%, which is good for me but should get better.

Anyway, a couple of suggestions; Weigh, don't candle...and weigh them all at once, rather than individually. Granted, infertile eggs will not lose weight, but its more important to know whether to add water or take it away. You want 2% weight loss every 3 days, that's a goal. 2% of the original weight. If you aren't getting that much, reduce the water, if you are getting more than that, add water.

Have fun, and do tell me if my hatching date is out of the range you wanted in this HaL.

Welcome to the hatch! I love the experience you're bringing to some of us newer hatchers!

I am weighing eggs this round (29 on day 14). My numbers and air cells are not syncing up so I'm going more on air cell as that is what I'm most familiar with.

I think they are having a Valentine's day hatch as well on here if you haven't popped over their yet!

 

[ambe0487]

I'll have to weigh my eggs on my next try; it's too late to do it now for mine, tomorrow is lockdown.

BTW all: this has gotten so fun (albeit stressful at times) I went and bought a 2nd bator! Now I can have ~hopefully~ chicks every 10-12 days hatch instead of waiting 21+ days!

Has anyone hatched a chick yet? I'm 4 days away. I wonder who's the soonest?

My husband would kill me if i got a second bator! . That doesn't mean in the course of this year he won't bring up the idea to me! He is the reason I got my first duck, first incubator, more ducks.... So I think hate may come around!

21 days for me would be Thursday so I'm after you.