Hands on hatching and help

[AmyLynn2374]

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.

I can't imagine trying to trace the air cell when it's wobbly!! All of mine firmed up in the first 48 hours, so I didn't have to deal with that. As long as they are wobbly, if it were me, I'd keep them upright in hopes that if they did firm up it would be somewhere at the top and if they didn't then they'd still be somewhere near the top if the buggers made it to pip.

I hope you get more out of this hatch!

At some point you need to find a local person you can get some eggs from so that you have a better chance of experiencing a really decent hatch. There's nothing like seeing three-four- five chicks pipping back to back and popping out. My first hatch resulted in 1 out of 17 and I was glad for the one, at least I didn't totally fail, but that second hatch seeing all that activity just made it so worth it!

 

[FridayYet]

I've still got about 5-6 wobbly air cells on the Barnie eggs on day 14. I trace the firm section with a solid line, then use a dashed line at the "best" position and at the "worst" position so I can evaluate for change.

Although they all show good development, I'm still expecting them to be DIS. They will be locked down tilted up in egg cartons where the ones with the good air cells will be laid down horizontally for hatch.

 

[Blooie]

I can't imagine trying to trace the air cell when it's wobbly!! All of mine firmed up in the first 48 hours, so I didn't have to deal with that. As long as they are wobbly, if it were me, I'd keep them upright in hopes that if they did firm up it would be somewhere at the top and if they didn't then they'd still be somewhere near the top if the buggers made it to pip.

I hope you get more out of this hatch!

At some point you need to find a local person you can get some eggs from so that you have a better chance of experiencing a really decent hatch. There's nothing like seeing three-four- five chicks pipping back to back and popping out. My first hatch resulted in 1 out of 17 and I was glad for the one, at least I didn't totally fail, but that second hatch seeing all that activity just made it so worth it!

Thanks, Amy. I'm keeping them upright then. And I agree about finding local eggs, but for me it's just about being able to replace the older chickens and keeping a nice variety of backyard chickens going. So I guess I'm one of those really oddball hatchers who hasn't been bitten by the bug. Just a few to add once in awhile. But doggone it, and occasional really nice hatch would be lovely! I posted on the Wyoming page because Ken and I travel so much all around Wyoming with his duties and I'd be more than willing to pick up some eggs from someone as we go through their area. Around here locally everyone pretty much has the same stuff, and frankly I wouldn't be willing to buy eating eggs from many of them, let alone hatching eggs. I think there's someone in Cody, too, but I can't for the life of me remember her name. Anyway, you have been very helpful, as usual!

 

[Blooie]

I've still got about 5-6 wobbly air cells on the Barnie eggs on day 14. I trace the firm section with a solid line, then use a dashed line at the "best" position and at the "worst" position so I can evaluate for change.

Although they all show good development, I'm still expecting them to be DIS. They will be locked down tilted up in egg cartons where the ones with the good air cells will be laid down horizontally for hatch.

Gotcha! Thanks!

 

[ultimatecluck]

Hey y'all
Can you guys tell me which eggs are alive ? They're 6 days old :O so glad!!

 

[ultimatecluck]

 

[RubyNala97]

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!!

Yes, they sure are! Be careful... I started with 'just a couple', lol...

Lockdown is tomorrow for me! I left the egg in the incubator that I was SURE quit last week and I decided to give it a good candle this morning since I saw Amy's video of the moving chick with no veins. And sure enough, I saw movement!! It's the craziest thing! There are no more veins in that egg. I know it won't hatch but these call eggs really have been a new experience! My one good egg is still alive but has about an inch where the veins receded. Only time will tell if it's strong enough to internally pip. What day do yours usually internally pip?

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.

Yes, I think sometimes the air cells do look bigger because they are damaged and wobbling. I would keep them upright and being tilted until they firm up. Usually they will firm up by day 12. I have had some that were doing ok and then quit the day after I laid them down. Maybe they would have quit anyway, I can't know for sure. Give them some more time to stabilize. And I liked Friday's idea about tracing the air cells. I'm going to try that on my new batch of shipped calls. I'd keep humidity alittle higher like you are. I've found my shipped eggs do better with higher humidity until the air cells firm up. If you ever want some silkie eggs I will pack them as best I can and send eggs with tiny air cells, just let me know!

I've still got about 5-6 wobbly air cells on the Barnie eggs on day 14. I trace the firm section with a solid line, then use a dashed line at the "best" position and at the "worst" position so I can evaluate for change. Although they all show good development, I'm still expecting them to be DIS. They will be locked down tilted up in egg cartons where the ones with the good air cells will be laid down horizontally for hatch.

Good idea on the tracing. I'm going to try this! for your eggs

Hey y'all Can you guys tell me which eggs are alive ? They're 6 days old :O so glad!!

This one may be growing. To hard to tell....

This one looks clear. But very hard to tell for sure by your pics. Can you hold the eggs with the air cell facing up and shine the light down into the air cell at an angle and take a pic that way?

 

[AmyLynn2374]

This one may be growing. To hard to tell....
This one looks clear. But very hard to tell for sure by your pics. Can you hold the eggs with the air cell facing up and shine the light down into the air cell at an angle and take a pic that way?

xs 2

 

[lovesanimals101]

I'm not home right now so can't post the picture till I get home but when I opened it it was dead it nipped the vein and looked like it drowned in it... It's really sad to see that I will post the pic when I'm home....that other one pipped last night and was moving a lot last night how long till hatch time and will it rest and not be moving in around in the egg as much or should it be moving?
Thanks for all the help!!!

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I'm not home right now so can't post the picture till I get home but when I opened it it was dead it nipped the vein and looked like it drowned in it... It's really sad to see that I will post the pic when I'm home....that other one pipped last night and was moving a lot last night how long till hatch time and will it rest and not be moving in around in the egg as much or should it be moving?
Thanks for all the help!!!

It can take 24 hours from internal to external pip and 24 hours from external pip to zip. Yes, it will rest in between while it's body is preparing for the next step.