First time! Hello! :D

[MyMonsters91]

So I just started my first batch of eggs today! Did all the precautions- started the bator up 2 days before, collected 3 days worth of eggs, stored them in a 50ish F room, tilted them by propping the carton up on each side several times a day, handled the eggs with plastic gloves to prevent my germs from leaching into the pores. So excited! So far the bator is staying at a good temp and humidity. If this batch hatches well then I'll see what I can do about collecting some from neighbors and fellow bird friends that live within driving distance and do a 2nd batch to add a variety to my coop.

 

[antwon911]

Haha I have no camera gear. That's just my phone. I don't have much but trying to start learning so I can grow a small turkey selling business, maybe. It's just a thought for now but I will see what I can do with it.

 

[Knigge]

What side of the egg do you candle? Pointy end against the light or rounded air-sac?

I found that I can see the air cell the best if I have it sort of on its side but with the air cell part almost on the light. Does that make sense? We saw the babies the best with the egg on its side and sort of rolled it until we saw veining and the chick. Pointy end didn't really show us much. I think your supposed to candle from the air cell part.

 

[lazy gardener]

To all first time hatchers: Congrats on an other step in poultry husbandry! You're in for a fun ride! I suggest that if you've not already read it, check out: https://www.backyardchickens.com/newsearch?search=hatching+eggs+101 It should be required reading before plugging in a bator! I also suggest that you calibrate what ever you are using for a thermometer. Even if you have 2 or 3 that match in their readings, they could still be wrong! Check your bator to be sure there are no warm or cool spots. Even with a fan, most bators will not be consistent throughout. Don't follow the instructions that came with your bator re: humidity. Excellent article in HE101 re: "Dry incubation". Now, for brooding, check out this article: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/yes-you-certainly-can-brood-chicks-outdoors.

 

[swtmelissa]

Good luck to you. I just ordered my incubator and I have eggs on standby for when it arrives. I'll be in my first set of hatching

 

[Knigge]

I am on my first hatch with the exact same incubator. Do you have other thermometers in there? I have 2 other digital thermometers in there that agree on temp and humidity but my LG is set at like 97.7 to keep the other two around 100. The LG aren't the best and everything I've read says not to trust the thermometer that comes with it. I have not hatched out of this yet though so we shall see what I end up with. I like the incubator so far and i knew ahead of time to use different thermometers. This afternoon im going to candle the eggs and see how they are progressing at day 7. Good luck!

 

[MyMonsters91]

Knigge, no I don't, though I know it was recommended.. my husband didn't know what to buy when he got it and I was impatient to start. I have a friend with the same one and she was successful and only used the one that comes with it. We shall see. 6 days before I can do my first candling. Let me know how your candling goes!

 

[Knigge]

Knigge, no I don't, though I know it was recommended.. my husband didn't know what to buy when he got it and I was impatient to start. I have a friend with the same one and she was successful and only used the one that comes with it. We shall see. 6 days before I can do my first candling. Let me know how your candling goes!

I will let ya know. Also I got my hygrometer at homedepot.

It seems to work very well and it's only $10. Walmart had some too. I also ordered this one

It seems to read very accurate with my HD one. I'm glad I got them both since the LG humidity doesn't read well unless it's between 50-60% (per the enclosed instructions) so these others are good for measuring that accurately. If I had relied only on my LG I'd be eating scrambled eggs lol.

 

[Knigge]

I candled my eggs! It looks like I have 7 for sure good growing eggs. We even got to see movement and eyes on a few of them. The kids were really excited. I had 1 that had a blood ring for sure and we opened it up and sure enough there was a blood ring all the way around and the yolk was all over the place. What would cause that? I know it happens but wondered exactly what causes it. Oddly enough the shipped eggs I got are better than the ones I picked up locally, but the shipped are silkies and the local eggs are olive eggers. They are sort of hard to look through and this is the first time I have ever candled or hatched eggs so that changes things too. I am feeling pretty good about our hatch so far. Now we wait until next Friday to candle again and see where we are then. Why does it seem like 21 days is so short, but when we are waiting for candle time or hatch time it seems like it takes forever. How did I ever wait 9 months lol. Here is a blurry picture of the egg, but you can see the eye dot!

 

[MyMonsters91]

Awesome, thanks for updating me! I think I'll save the next few days eggs and carton them, just in case this batch is messed up at 7 days because of the thermometer reading wrong.. if that happens I'll run out and get one and start again. The delay will suck, but it's all part of the learning process I guess. Ha.