Hands on hatching and help

[Ravynscroft]

I guess this is the third wave... 2 hatched!

:yiipchick

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I guess this is the third wave... 2 hatched!

 

[Sarkchick]

Mine at a month old still fit in my hand!

Ravyn, are yours "calls"?? I really would love a couple of calls. Maybe next years project. After I recommend most of these.
Linda

 

[Sarkchick]

So sorry to hear that!

Thank you. But it was expected.
Linda

 

[Sarkchick]

Ok, so this looks like my last candling progression compilation collage. I can barely get anything on pic with my amateur camera. Even tried some different settings. The eggs are pretty full and pretty dark with limited open areas for enough light to pass through to catch on my cam. Days 11-15. We are now on day 16- getting close!! Can't wait!!

Those are great pics. Lookin good. Best of luck with hatch Linda

 

[Ravynscroft]

Ravyn, are yours "calls"?? I really would love a couple of calls. Maybe next years project. After I recommend most of these.
Linda

Yes, they sure are!

Be careful... I started with 'just a couple', lol...

 

[Sarkchick]

I've got a midnight hatcher!!

Cool, keep in up

 

[Sarkchick]

Yes, they sure are!

Be careful... I started with 'just a couple', lol...

But they only take up 1/3 the room...........yes, I understand. They are soooo cute. That's a year away. Need to thin down and build new,VERY safe duck coop and pen. But half the fun is dreaming and making plans.
Linda

 

[Sarkchick]

Ravyn, are yours "calls"?? I really would love a couple of calls. Maybe next years project. After I recommend most of these.
Linda

OOPS, I hate spell check. Was supposed to be rehome not recommend. I need to read before I hit submit

 

[Blooie]

Did the day 7 candling last night. So many floating air cells again. But this time we have more eggs that look good than not, unlike the last fiasco, so that's encouraging. Some of the air cells seem pretty doggone big for 7 days. Upped the humidity a bit and put a second hygrometer in there - both calibrated using the salt method. I have on one side of the incubator and the other directly diagonal from it on the other end. Checked this morning and they were dead on with each other...how cool is THAT? Thermometers are another issue. Got 3, with 3 different temps reading. But they are all super close, so I'm going with it and hoping the law of averages works in my favor. The two bulb thermometers were calibrated, but it's a little hard to plunge the transmitter of a digital thermometer in ice water, stir and read. Yeah, that'd be accurate after it came out, right? If there is an error, is it better to err on the high side or the lower side?

I still have doubts about the 2 bantam eggs. Not sure I see anything in them at all, but Ken spotted a little dot in one. I don't see any obvious veining in them. The 3 Australorp eggs are so porous it's like trying to find a cobweb against a field of stars. So they stay too. The Silkie egg is just plain clear. Nothing, nada. Easter Egger and Leghorn look great - better than any of the eggs I had last time...very strong. But the air cells in both still wobble and bobble like mad. The Nankin has development and a distinct saddle bag shaped cell. The Naked Neck looks good on both counts. The Cochin is a total guessing game at this point - looks to be some development but man, the air cell is huge and wobbly.

So that I don't repeat the mistakes of last time, do the air cells just look large to me because they wobble? I don't turn them on their sides and candle through the air cell - they are held upright through the entire process with the light shining down through the air cells. Did you ever try to trace the outline of an air cell that's over here one minute, and bobbles over the other way when you slightly move your hand to re-position the egg to continue tracing? Like trying to catch a two year old after a birthday party....all over the place!

So I have the humidity up to about 45% from around 30. Like I said, some were pretty big. Should I keep the eggs upright throughout incubation again or lay them on their sides, even with the wonky cells? I'm almost afraid to disturb them but keeping them upright didn't seem to make much difference last time. Last time I got 2 chicks out of 28 set and 8 going into lockdown. I hope to do better this time. If I made mistakes last time, I don't want to repeat them. I have a pair of big blue eyes that belong to the sweetest little face, and naturally every one of the eggs I'm the most doubtful about are hers. Grampa bought her 2 Bantams yesterday just in case, and let her put them in the brooder with Sweet Pea and Yokel.