Hatch-Along - Setting eggs week of February 8th!! Who's joining me?

[Pyxis]

Strangely, it looks like one of my refrigerator eggs is coming along. At least, I think it's one from the fridge. Developing really slow, though. Not so good on the buff orpingtons. I have 14 that look like they were doing something, but a bunch of those may have been early quitters. I'm about to lock down some of the eggs I pulled from under my broody, since they look like they're further ahead.

 

[ddpbk1]

I candled again day 18 and have two that look like they are developing but behind compared to the others is this common? Also do sebrights have a more dominant air sac compared to Large fowl. They look different than others. thanks for any advice new to hatching.

 

[Pyxis]

I candled again day 18 and have two that look like they are developing but behind compared to the others is this common?  Also do sebrights have a more dominant air sac compared to Large fowl.  They look different than others.  thanks for any advice new to hatching.

Day 18, yay! You made it to lockdown. I'm not sure about the sebrights - I've never hatched any. Maybe someone else will know.

 

[Adam7]

I have my first pip! She is coming early its only day 20!

 

[NestingHillsSC]

 

[NestingHillsSC]

Well lock down is tomorrow morning. So I went ahead and candled this morning. Started with 20 eggs. 5 where infertile. Those where thrown out last week. So out of 15 only 4 are going tomorrow.

I cracked one open and it looked like a bean with the eye forming when died. So I'm guessing around day 10ish or so. So back to the drawing board to figure out why!!

 

[Crisses]

well everyone, i candled eggs last night; guess it's time for an update on my eggs:

12 barred rock eggs: got too chilled before i put them in the incubator ....0 veining (all bad)
8 mixed bantam eggs: got too chilled before i put them in the incubator.... 0 veining (all bad)

Can they get too chilled? Then I guess my guys are miracle workers. I collected eggs when it was pretty brutally cold out -- temps in the single digits some days, and the eggs were sometimes frozen and a few cracked (tossed those). I ended up with 2 batches of 7 eggs, and of those only 1 didn't show action when I candled on Day 5. I quit early on that one and tossed it (perhaps prematurely...), the other 13 are doing very well -- lockdown on the first 6 is today. The other 7 go into lockdown Thursday I think... I've seen movement in all the eggs, and they're developing well. About to check on them again -- and check the hatcher temps & humidity one last time.

I got my flock from eggs my mom brought to NY from Missouri, the eggs were at least 2 weeks old by the time they got here. Of the 24 she brought, I hatched 9, culled 2, removed 1 nasty rooster and lost one to broody insanity (I think she ran away or got caught when she separated from the flock during free ranging). I'm left with 5 (3 hens, 2 roos) banty RIRs, so it's their eggs in the bator. I figure this flock must be pretty hardy genetic stock to have hatched out from such old road-worn eggs in the first place....mom kept the eggs in cartons in a cooler with a wet paper towel to moisten them. Maybe they're freeze-proof too... *shrugs* Maybe I should trade out my roos instead of getting them ready for a soup pot....let someone grab these genetic anomalies.. lol

My goal for this year is to have 8 hens....roos optional. I like having roos around when I free range them, but our tractor is built for about 8 chickens. Of course, these are bantys, so I could squeeze in an extra or 2. But with the boys, it's so hard to tell how mellow they'll be after puberty, even hand-raised.

I'm excited about having pips and peeps and poops!

I have my first pip! She is coming early its only day 20!

Congrats! Yay!!! Someone's gotta be first -- and goodness knows it can take 24 hours to zip.

 

[NestingHillsSC]

What kind of temp and humidity gauges you all have. Spent about $20 on 2 already and there both not even close.

 

[ddpbk1]

I tested mine and it was ten off. Frustating to say the least.

udovichtony --Hope that they hatch

 

[NestingHillsSC]

Not holding my breathe but have seen 3 of the 4 rocking. So we will see.