Hatch-A-Long (May-June)

[AmandaGrace]

This is a hatch along for people who will be starting their eggs in the month of may. This is my first hatch along and I am very excited to do it. It is also my first time hatching chicks on a larger scale. I ordered three different breeds of chicken eggs Ameraucana, French Black Copper Maran, and Silkies. The only types of these chickens i have had before are the Ameraucanas so I am excited to try the new breeds (especially silkies). They should be coming in this week anywhere from Wednesday to Friday! I cant wait to get them and put them in my incubator ( im already testing the right settings and temp), so join along with me, come one, come all I know we will have tons of fun!!!

 

[chickenpooplady]

Mind if I follow along? I just set 14 eggs yesterday. 10 BCM, 2 EE, and 2 SC. They are due to hatch on June 2nd. This is my first time hatching with an LG incubator. My first hatch was with a homemade incubator and I got a 0% hatch rate.

 

[AmandaGrace]

That sounds great I'm excited to here of your progress. We're both starting out pretty new, the first time I tried hatching I used one of those small incubators that looks kind of like a UFO (I think they were actually meant for quail eggs). I put two eggs in I got from my friends and I had almost no idea what I was doing, I just turned the eggs three times a day and hoped for the best. My dad even told me when it hatched he doubted that it ever would so we were all surprised. That chick grew up but sadly died a few years ago it made we want to try again so I did but sadly both eggs I put in died during incubation. I don't think I had the temp or humidity right and the small incubator wasnt working very well. This made we wan to order an actuall incubator so I ordered a hova bator off eBay and hope it works I've heard some bad and good things about them. Hopefully mine is one that works and I hope the best for you as well.

 

[chickenpooplady]

Sorry about your chick and the eggs that did not hatch.

I have heard a lot of good things about the Hova Bator. I hope that you have a great hatch!

Also, if you are having trouble with getting the temperature stable I learned a few tricks while playing with my LG. So far it is very steady at 99 degrees. When I open the lid to turn the eggs, 4 times a day, it only goes down to 97 degrees. Ten minuets later it goes right back up to 99 degrees and stays there!

 

[AmandaGrace]

I would love to here any advice you have! As of now mine seems like its gotten to a stable temp but I haven't opened it yet to see how long it takes to get back.

 

[AmandaGrace]

The last of my eggs came in the mail today and tomorrow I will be putting them in the incubator. I'm getting so excited all the eggs came intact except one with a hairline crack which I may still try to hatch after putting on a little candle wax to fill it in. How are yours doing? Have you candled any yet? I think that's one of the best parts, to see them moving in the egg and know that your doing it right!

 

[AmandaGrace]

Also I put a fan in the bator and that helped for a more even temperature and I here it helps bring up the hatch rate so I'm happy for that!

 

[chickenpooplady]

That is so exciting that your eggs came! I am glad that the fan helped the temperature! I hope that you have a great hatch! I get to candle tomorrow night!!! Candling is my favorite part! I love seeing the tiny embryos and the bright red veins. However that was part of my problem last time. I candled way to much. Like every other day.

This time I told myself that I would only candle on days 7, 14, and 18. Then the other night when I was turning the eggs I grabbed the flashlight and put it against one of the white eggs. I did not take it out of the incubator and I only had the lid open for a little bit. It was only day 4 so I was really surprised to see a tiny embryo and beautiful veins! I did the same thing to the other white one and the green ones the next day and they were moving!!! I will take them out one by one to candle and mark the air cells tomorrow. I will let you know how it goes! By the way, how are the air cells on your shipped eggs?

 

[AmandaGrace]

I think all but one of the Ameraucans are detached, and about for of each of the Marans and Silkies. I'm letting them sit today to try to help that and I'm going to incubate them in the cartons, I heard this helps especially if the air cells are detached. I'm probably not going to candle them very much because I want the best possible hatch rate but it is very hard to resist and I know I will do it at least a few times. I'm glad to here yours our doing well, I'm excited to here about your candling! I hope it goes well! You should take some pictures I would love to see them!

 

[KathyJB]

I bought 8 Black Copper Marans eggs and lost one. I still have 7 inside, one is peeping. I was wondering how you candle an egg that dark? I have been told to leave them alone. I only lift the lid to add more water when it gets low.