Hands on hatching and help

[jenniferlamar70]

they don't look very dirty! I would not wash them. If they have a couple spots in them I will just take my finger nail and scratch it off. The duck eggs I got locally were filthy!! I still didn't wash them just scraped all the crud off and set them.
No that shouldn't be a problem. Make sure you calibrate it when it comes in the mail. Did you candle and check the air cells?

I did but I'm going to be honest. As a newbie I couldn't really tell what I'm looking at. I planned on googling it later. I think it might be harder to tell cause some of the eggs are so dark..

 

[mikeldb]

You need a really good led flashlight for those dark eggs

 

[jenniferlamar70]

You need a really good led flashlight for those dark eggs

Yeah I bought one for candling. Just a cheap one though...

 

[mikeldb]

I bought a good one and it shines through like 2 in of anything...lol jk it's bright though like 10k lumins

 

[jenniferlamar70]

I bought a good one and it shines through like 2 in of anything...lol jk it's bright though like 10k lumins

Haha I'll have to get one of those.. hatching is definitely more complicated then I thought it would be and I don't even have the eggs in yet lmao..

 

[WVduckchick]

I bought a good one and it shines through like 2 in of anything...lol jk it's bright though like 10k lumins

10k?

lol

200+ lumens is great for candling.

Haha I'll have to get one of those.. hatching is definitely more complicated then I thought it would be and I don't even have the eggs in yet lmao..

You have been warned about the addiction also, right?

On the subject of washing eggs.... I don't wash mine either, just flick the junk off, like others have said. But... I would hesitate to set any eggs with anything other than dirt on them. I mean, if one cracked open in the nest and got goo on the other ones, or if they had poop on them I'd either not set them, or I'd consider washing it off. Anything that would cause bacteria to grow, could damage the embryo. I have read about people washing them, so I guess it can work either way, I just don't normally wash mine. Just my thoughts.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

We started the incubator yesterday and I'm glad we did. I wanted to make sure everything was working well. Unfortunately our hygrometer wasn't working. I ordered another but it won't be here until tomorrow. Hope that's not a problem.

I would just run dry until you get the hygrometer and check it out, especially with the darker eggs in there.

I did but I'm going to be honest. As a newbie I couldn't really tell what I'm looking at. I planned on googling it later. I think it might be harder to tell cause some of the eggs are so dark..

Make sure you are candling down into the egg from the air cell (fatter) end. Even in the dark eggs you should be able to at least see the air cell if nothing else. And when it comes to development, I prefer this thread for comparison: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...g-candling-pics-progression-though-incubation

 

[jenniferlamar70]

It's really only one that seems to have poo on it. I don't want to toss it though. I ordered 6 and got 9. I know hatching rate is not good with shipped eggs and this is my first time. Don't want to toss any that might be good lol

10k?    lol

200+ lumens is great for candling. 


You have been warned about the addiction also, right? 

On the subject of washing eggs.... I don't wash mine either, just flick the junk off, like others have said.  But...  I would hesitate to set any eggs with anything other than dirt on them.  I mean, if one cracked open in the nest and got goo on the other ones, or if they had poop on them I'd either not set them, or I'd consider washing it off.  Anything that would cause bacteria to grow, could damage the embryo.  I have read about people washing them, so I guess it can work either way, I just don't normally wash mine.  Just my thoughts. 

It's really only one that seems to have poo on it. I don't want to toss it though. I ordered 6 and got 9. I know hatching rate is not good with shipped eggs and this is my first time. Don't want to toss any that might be good lol
Ps. The addiction is real lol

 

[jenniferlamar70]

I would just run dry until you get the hygrometer and check it out, especially with the darker eggs in there.

Make sure you are candling down into the egg from the air cell (fatter) end. Even in the dark eggs you should be able to at least see the air cell if nothing else.  And when it comes to development, I prefer this thread for comparison: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...g-candling-pics-progression-though-incubation

I followed the directions and put the amount of water in that the directions for the incubator said. I almost wish I had just done dry. I worry so much lol. My hygrometers should be here today though so hopefully it will be ok.

 

[WVduckchick]

It's really only one that seems to have poo on it. I don't want to toss it though. I ordered 6 and got 9. I know hatching rate is not good with shipped eggs and this is my first time. Don't want to toss any that might be good lol

Don't blame you for not tossing it. It "should" be fine. Just keep it in the back of your mind, and if anything starts smelling bad, that's the one I would start investigating with. But really, it should not be a problem.

(which reminds me, there's some white, nasty, broody-poo on one of my broody's egg. I think it got stuck to her butt and she brought it back to the nest. I need to check on it again.)