First time hatcher - Setting April 8 or 9 - Now what?

[1muttsfan]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/83951_incubator_2wks_11_4_20.jpg

Here is the incubator now, down to 43(from 56), still respectable for shipped eggs. 9 days and counting...

 

[PacsMan]

Quote:
Nice set of eggs!
How did you determine which ones were bad? This is my first batch, and I can't tell a blob from a air sac from a real embryo.
I'm afraid to throw any of them out!

I have used the smell test, and nothing seems bad to me.... yet...

Am I asking for trouble?

Oh, and I've got a hatch-cam all ready to go. I'll let it run next week. (Turns out, it's pretty boring watching the eggs turn every 4 hours!).

9 days for me too!

 

[1muttsfan]

I only remove the eggs that are clearly not developing, if I am not sure I leave them. Some people candle frequently, I am not sure if this is good for the embryos, since I have been using a very bright light (120 lumen LED flashlight) so I only take a quick peek once weekly. You notice there are all the dark welsummer eggs left, they are very hard to candle.

Any eggs I am not sure about I leave. Most eggs that are not developing will not go bad (rot), eggs are naturally resistant to infections unless the egg has been disrupted by cracking or pores that are too permeable; what usually happens is that is just sits there, and eventually does not hatch. You can take an egg and leave it at room temperature and it will gradually dry out until the contents are just solids, without it rotting; this takes a long time (in the months range depending on the humidity). Good science project! Bad eggs will smell bad, and if not removed explode (very nasty and smelly).

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

I have Domiques, Giant Black Cochins, Easter Eggers, and LF Lavender Ameraucanas due 4/26 ( next Tuesday ).

14 Olive Eggers and 3 Peafowl eggs due May 3rd ( two Tuesdays from now...

).

I have broodies hatching out babies all the time..so no telling when those eggs are due!

 

[PacsMan]

Mrs. Fluffy Puffy :

I have Domiques, Giant Black Cochins, Easter Eggers, and LF Lavender Ameraucanas due 4/26 ( next Tuesday ).

14 Olive Eggers and 3 Peafowl eggs due May 3rd ( two Tuesdays from now...

).

I have broodies hatching out babies all the time..so no telling when those eggs are due!

*sigh*....

Land baby... I just need more land...

We're on 1/3 acre, and with 20 laying - 25 more pullets - and 42 in the 'bater, we're cozy, but we do well. My wife only pecks at me once in awhile. (grin)​

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

Quote:
*sigh*....

Land baby... I just need more land...

We're on 1/3 acre, and with 20 laying - 25 more pullets - and 42 in the 'bater, we're cozy, but we do well. My wife only pecks at me once in awhile. (grin)

 

[1muttsfan]

ROFL, pacsman, your wife sounds like a gem!

The ameracauna banty eggs I have in the incubator are lavender, so I will hopefully have some mini versions of your LF, puffy

I was going to take an incubator break but just found some vorwerk eggs available next week so will have to find some more eggs to make setting it up again worthwhile -nothing like a good rationalization

 

[mrsp523]

Fun thread to follow!

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

Quote:
I hatched 13 or so Lav Am Bantams around 3 wks ago. They have such great personality's! I just love them! I also hatched out 4 Black and 1 Blue Bantam Ams.

 

[1muttsfan]

Starting to have prehatching pains - keep going in and looking at incubator! I am always amazed at how interesting an immobile object it is, seems like for the last week of incubation I drift in and take a peek, over and over, wondering what I am looking for. Thank goodness this all only lasts 3 weeks.