First Time Candling, I'm Not Sure If I did It Correctly

[Wyorp Rock]

 

[Ezana4CE]

Tonight is the night! I’ll be locking my eggs down in a little while. I have shelf liner to put down. Do any of you wash or disinfect the shelf liner first? Does the smell of the heated material bother newly hatched chicks?

 

[Ezana4CE]

We are officially locked down! I had the eggs out and the incubator opened for about 30 minutes total before replacing the lid with all eggs inside. I put the like eggs next to one another. Two are touching. I hope that’s not and issue. I regularly see some of my hens set on eggs that are touching.

The second reservoir took a lot more water than I thought it would. I’m hoping this goes well. I didn’t see or smell anything that looked like it should be thrown out. The Marans eggs are really difficult to see into, but I could see the air sacs. I also saw darker areas I think are chicks in a couple. It’s tough to see veins in those eggs. I’m hoping all are still viable.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Tonight is the night! I’ll be locking my eggs down in a little while. I have shelf liner to put down. Do any of you wash or disinfect the shelf liner first? Does the smell of the heated material bother newly hatched chicks?

We are officially locked down! I had the eggs out and the incubator opened for about 30 minutes total before replacing the lid with all eggs inside. I put the like eggs next to one another. Two are touching. I hope that’s not and issue. I regularly see some of my hens set on eggs that are touching.
View attachment 4320200
The second reservoir took a lot more water than I thought it would. I’m hoping this goes well. I didn’t see or smell anything that looked like it should be thrown out. The Marans eggs are really difficult to see into, but I could see the air sacs. I also saw darker areas I think are chicks in a couple. It’s tough to see veins in those eggs. I’m hoping all are still viable.

I don't wash the shelf liner, but you can if you wish.

Eggs touching one another won't hurt anything. Once you have a chick or two hatch, they will start moving about in the bator and knock the eggs around, no worries there either.
Just hatch chicks will peep a lot and stumble around in there, then just suddenly go off to sleep and sleep deeply, giving a little peep now and again. Then they'll wake up and go again.
It's fun to watch them.

It seems you are doing all the right things. It can be hard not to touch or want to "help" if you see one pip, then partially zip. Chicks may pip and it will be hours before they begin to zip or complete the hatch, they take a lot of naps.

Sit on those hands! But if you find that you DO think you have one that needs assistance, read the article below about 10times. Sit on your hands again, then read it one more time then determine if indeed assistance is needed.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/

 

[Ezana4CE]

Wait a minute. I went into lockdown a day early. I should've checked my own notes before listening to this machine. It stopped turning my eggs today and said I have 3 days left. Should I just leave them alone?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Wait a minute. I went into lockdown a day early. Should I just leave them alone?

Yes, leave them alone. It should be fine.

 

[Ezana4CE]

Yes, leave them alone. It should be fine.

@Wyorp Rock I just finished reading some of info that I looked up on the topic. You're saying the same thing. Thanks for being so quick to respond. I got nervous for a second. I'm also noticing that my external hygrometer is reading wonky. The readings are now obviously incongruous. I read something about recalibrating it. I need to figure out how to do that and see if it helps, otherwise this unit is going back.

 

[Ridgerunner]

First, select an appropriate fruit and chop it, then enjoy it over vanilla ice cream while you chill. Then do what Wyatt said.

Lots of people lock down a day early, usually not a problem. Humidity does not need to be that precise. As long as you filled both chambers (assuming that incubator has two chambers) humidity should be fine. I don't worry about it being too high, too low might be a problem but with those chambers filled you should be OK. Wait until the hatch is over before you worry about calibrating it. Don't get distracted.

Good luck!

 

[Ezana4CE]

@Ridgerunner I needed to read that. Thank you. I can do that. Yes, the incubator has 2 chambers.

 

[_Alicia_]

@Ridgerunner I needed to read that. Thank you. I can do that. Yes, the incubator has 2 chambers.

We are at the same point. I set my first hatch ever in the evening on 3/13 and put into lockdown last night. Glad I did because I had a pip this morning when I woke up. I now have 6 pips and hear peeps coming from the bator every now and then. No zips yet, but I check every 3 minutes.