First try at incubating

[EricMd01]

Wskline- I initially had them in the cartons but found turning much easier with them just lying on their sides. Good luck!

 

[Aacre]

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I have decided not to candle at all this time. I think the handling of the eggs affected my last hatch.

With my second hatch, I candled every day. I was so eager to learn, but I was also careful to wash my hands before I started and would be quick about the ordeal. I have 6 chickens from that hatch, and they are ones that I am very close with and they are very tame (not from candling, but I grew very attached from the whole experience). All other hatches after this second hatch, I have candled less and less, and so this is my first one that I haven't candled at all. I'm very anxious to see what comes of it! Luckily, I haven't smelled any stinkers yet!

If you are going to candle eggs, it's best to candle at days 10, 14. and just before lockdown.

 

[Lizz9311]

With my second hatch, I candled every day. I was so eager to learn, but I was also careful to wash my hands before I started and would be quick about the ordeal. I have 6 chickens from that hatch, and they are ones that I am very close with and they are very tame (not from candling, but I grew very attached from the whole experience). All other hatches after this second hatch, I have candled less and less, and so this is my first one that I haven't candled at all. I'm very anxious to see what comes of it! Luckily, I haven't smelled any stinkers yet! 

If you are going to candle eggs, it's best to candle at days 10, 14. and just before lockdown. 

Last time I candled 7, 10, 14, and 17. Then I had one last candle on 23 to confirm they were goners. This time I will only candle at lockdown or if I see an issue with an egg.

As for tracking humidity, I'll be doing weight measurements on every 3rd day and going by average weight loss. I have my eggs in cartons to make this a swift process.

I'm determined to make this work!

 

[EricMd01]

I candled like crazy this time and I might get %100 hatch rate! I did turn the eggs 5-7 times a day and raised temps in the incubator so that could probably be the reason I got more hatches this time. Im 10 out of 15 so far with pips on 4 of the remaining 5.

 

[wskline]

I candled last night and was bummed out. I'm not seeing movement anymore. 2 of them I can see the air sac but they are pretty dark so cant see much else. This is my first time so I may lose them all but I will keep trying. I'm not sure about the humidity thing. I have a little giant and I just fill the water thing at bottom.

 

[wskline]

Would I have more luck if I bought the egg turner and a humidity reader and only checked eggs at day 10, 14 and right before lock down?

 

[Lizz9311]

Would I have more luck if I bought the egg turner and a humidity reader and only checked eggs at day 10, 14 and right before lock down?

So, I saw in your previous post that you have a Little Giant incubator. Still air?

I have a little giant too and am on hatch #3 with still no chicks to show for it. Keep in mind, I got mine used. Also, LG incubators, from what I've read here on the forums, are one of the most temperamental incubators to use. I've even read that if you start with an LG, it will either make or break you as a hatcher and that if you can hatch in an LG you can hatch in just about anything. I don't know about those claims, but I can tell you I can see why it might make or break someone with hatching.

My first batch I didn't do any research so I just really put the eggs in the egg turner, closed the incubator and walked away. Needless to say, no chicks resulted.

My second hatch I removed the egg turner and turned them by hand. I also added a thermometer/hygrometer and jars of water to up humidity. Still no hatches. I had growth, some grew to day 12 or so, but that was it. I did research during that hatch and learned a few things about the LG still air, like that it is infamous for having different temps/humidity in different spots around the incubator. I learned about another way to monitor the eggs... weighing them instead of candling them. I also learned about a different hatching technique called dry hatching that has been known to work wonderfully with the LG.

So here I am, day 2 of my third batch of eggs.
-Still no egg turner, but I do have my eggs in cartons to make for swift "turns". (I'm using Jenga pieces to prop up one end of the carton! It's working wonders. Then when it's time to turn, I move the piece to the other end of the carton!)
-I now have three thermometers and two hygrometers in different spots within the incubator. Additionally, I calibrated my hygrometers.
-I add little to no water, but keep a very close eye on the humidity readings. Currently, my humidity is hovering around an average of 25%, which according to the dry hatch method is right on target if a little low.
-I also have a thermometer/hygrometer in the room where my incubator is set up. This also me to monitor the fluctuations of room temp/humidity and adjust things in the incubator accordingly, if needed.
-I have a food scale and will be doing an "average weight loss" chart to check my eggs rather than candling. I will way each tray of eggs and divide it by 6 for the average egg weight. (My trays hold 6 eggs each.) I will then be checking a weight loss chart to see if they are losing moisture on track or too fast/slow and adjust humidity in the incubator accordingly.

Sorry for the long winded reply, but what I'm trying to say here is NEVER GIVE UP! While you wait for your eggs to hatch, read and learn about new things that you can adopt and try just in case your hatch doesn't work or you don't get a good hatch rate and you want to improve it. A lot of things are personal preference, but some things are common practice. Read, read, read. Take notes and plan for your next and future hatches!

 

[wskline]

Thanks Lizz9311. I have definitely been reading anything and everything and taking notes. I just purchased a


IncuTherm Plus | Digital Egg Incubator Thermometer Hygrometer w/ Remote Sensor, which should be here by Tuesday. I will be ready for 2nd batch and will do things different. Think I will try
the egg carton thing to hold eggs still in incubator. Also bought a cool-lite egg candler which i think will be better than my flashlight.lol

 

[EricMd01]

The final count is 13 out of 15. I'm really happy with this hatch!

 

[Lizz9311]

Oh my gosh! The fluffy cuteness! Congrats!