First incubation ever! Help me get it right!

[Weeg]

Hey I am so sorry I never replied!!! My phone died before I could finish writing, and I completely forgot. So so so sorry.
I will finish writing this time.
Yes, I would count it as day 1. If they were heated at above 85 temps for a while though, I would be concerned that there may be deformities from that. Hopefully there isn't though.

Just play around with it. You can wrap the incubator in a blanket, just leave the vents uncovered.
More water surface area = higher humidity, smaller water surface area = less humidity.

I candle daily. As long as you wash your hands first, are careful, and you don't take too long, it's fine.

Wait for a couple days and then candle again. Usually there would be some growth by now, but they haven't exactly had a perfect incubation with the heating pad and stuff.

Thank you for all this info! I appreciate it!

 

[MGG]

Ya, the incubation has been far from perfect. When I wake up I swear, every time the humidity is at 50%+, (I have a super tiny paper towel in there folded put for less surface area). And the temp is either at 100 degrees, or 98. The temp doesn't do that overtime though. Usually its 99.something.
I'll update in a few days, I'll probably candle tomorrow to, just because I'm so hopeful to see veins, and if I see any changes I will update you, and even if I sent see anything different I'll repost pics on day 7.

Yeah, it can be tough to keep everything stable.
Ok! Fingers crossed for the best.

Thank you for all this info! I appreciate it!

No problem!

 

[Weeg]

Well, I candled them again tonight, today is day 7, and I am still seeing absolutely 0 signs of any veins.
Good news-
The air cells are huge, and have definitely been growing. The yolk in at least one of the green eggs doesn't seem to move around much when I turn the egg. It moves a tiny bit, but not like it did before. I would send a video, but I don't have Youtube. I will also post more pics tomorrow.

So, what do you think? No veins, large air cell, and yolk no moving? Are these good signs or bad signs? I know that no veins is not a good sign, should I risk opening one of the eggs and see if I see anything? Tell me what you think, I'll give you a better idea tomorrow with pictures. Thanks guys!

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

Well, I candled them again tonight, today is day 7, and I am still seeing absolutely 0 signs of any veins.
Good news-
The air cells are huge, and have definitely been growing. The yolk in at least one of the green eggs doesn't seem to move around much when I turn the egg. It moves a tiny bit, but not like it did before. I would send a video, but I don't have Youtube. I will also post more pics tomorrow.

So, what do you think? No veins, large air cell, and yolk no moving? Are these good signs or bad signs? I know that no veins is not a good sign, should I risk opening one of the eggs and see if I see anything? Tell me what you think, I'll give you a better idea tomorrow with pictures. Thanks guys!

I'm loath to guess without seeing photos, but the eggs sound like they may either be significantly delayed in development or not developing. I think you've seen the candling charts that show (typical) incubation at 7 days of a fertile egg, and it's usually clear when an embryo is growing...but your situation is a bit different. My personal recommendation: post those photos so we can opine in a more informed manner before you go opening them up.

 

[Weeg]

I'm loath to guess without seeing photos, but the eggs sound like they may either be significantly delayed in development or not developing. I think you've seen the candling charts that show (typical) incubation at 7 days of a fertile egg, and it's usually clear when an embryo is growing...but your situation is a bit different. My personal recommendation: post those photos so we can opine in a more informed manner before you go opening them up.

Ya, I'll get photos and post them this morning for sure, but I also forgot to mention that the eggs seem darker as well, definitely not as bright as they were a few days ago.

 

[Weeg]

Well, I was going to finally post pictures today, but ended up eggtopsying one I thought was infertile. It was. The yolk was already broken in the egg, and it smelled. I cracked another one with the same result. I think there all infertile. The bantam rooster must have had a hard time fertilizing the eggs. I'm going to leave them in until my candler arrives, though I have no hope for the rest.
I am going to order some fertile bantam eggs off of Ebay and incubate those next. Hopefully that will work better.

 

[Weeg]

Is there anyway to help the rooster fertilize the eggs? I'm imagining no, but, though I would ask anyway. Thanks for all your help guys!

 

[Weeg]

Okay guys! update:
I got 7 Cochin bantam hatching eggs 5 days ago, they are on day 5 now in the incubator, and seem to be doing good! There may be one infertile one, but the other 6 all have veins, and I can see the embryos eye!

 

[Weeg]

Should I be concerned about these air cells? They seem HUGE for day 5, and they seem really wonky? I tried to get pics of the random shapes they are, and its really odd. Am I looking at the air cell? Whats going on here?

Egg #1

Isn't that weird? All the eggs look like that. I will post pictures of the other eggs to, and note I can also see clear veins in all the eggs I have pictured. The camera just wouldn't focus on them.

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

Is there anyway to help the rooster fertilize the eggs? I'm imagining no, but, though I would ask anyway. Thanks for all your help guys!

Just saw this - and I think you answered it, yourself. Realistically, creating close quarters, ensuring the rooster's not trying to cover too many hens or is distracted by another flock roo, having young and healthy roosters (and hens)...a few factors that may help. Is there a fertility problem?