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First Time Incubator! Help!

Discussion in 'Incubating & Hatching Eggs' started by pinathai, Jan 31, 2015.

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  1. Jan 31, 2015 #1
    pinathai

    pinathai New Egg

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    Jan 31, 2015
    Hi all,

    Due to certain circumstances, I'm helping out a friend with his petting zoo (he's unable to take care of the animals right now). I am enjoying it very much and using it as a learning opportunity!
    Of course the chickens and ducks decided that now would be the best time to start laying eggs.

    As of now I have placed 7 duck eggs and 3 chicken eggs in the incubator (37C Humidity 60%). Some have been in for 2 days and the others for a 1 day.

    I have a few questions:
    Only now I've found out that the eggs must be clean before placing it in the incubator. Is it too late to take a wet cloth to wipe them down?

    This is one of the chicken eggs that I candled tonight (2 days). Should I be able to see veins already? Is it considered a porous egg?
    I'd appreciate any help and suggestions!

    [​IMG]
     
  3. Jan 31, 2015 #2
    AmyLynn2374

    AmyLynn2374 Humidity Queen

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    The first few days you don't see much of anything. I don't usually see anything of certainity before 5 days, and nothing too inspiring until 7-10.
    That's going to be a hard hatch to control because not only do you have two types of avians that hatch out at different gestation dates, you've also got them staggered.
    In my opinion, (at least for chicken eggs) 60% humidity the first 17 days is too high.
    It also depends on the type of incubator you are using as to proper temp as still air incubators are recommended at a higher temp than forced air. (Still-102F or 39C I believe the conversion would be. With forced being 99.F or 37.5C)
    As for cleaning the eggs, there is a difference of opinion in this area as some say washing them is not a good thing, Some have ways to wash that are "better". Obviously if they are really dirty you don't want them going in the bator like that but they don't have to be sparkling clean either.
    This link is a candling link for chicken eggs. Gives a good idea what you should see when, just keep in mind that the poster is using bantam eggs that are easy to see and smaller.https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...g-candling-pics-progression-though-incubation
     
    1 person likes this.
  5. Feb 10, 2015 #3
    pinathai

    pinathai New Egg

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    Jan 31, 2015
    Thank you so much for the help :)

    After a week and a half, it seems as though the chicken eggs have not developed. But, we do have duck egg development! I'm very excited and hope to see some baby ducklings in a few weeks :)
    [​IMG]
     
  7. Feb 10, 2015 #4
    lazy gardener

    lazy gardener Chicken Obsessed

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    Yay for the duck! If after a couple more days, you don't see any dancing chicks in those chicken eggs, you'd be wise to remove them. could be a humidity issue. good luck with the ducks.
     
  9. Feb 10, 2015 #5
    birdman55

    birdman55 Chillin' With My Peeps

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