Hatching buddies! Set eggs July 8, 2011

[Contrastphoto]

Oh how cute! I have 3 blue and 2 blacks orps that are now 8 weeks old. I can't wait to try for a Splash Orp. next spring!
I am very interested in the homemade incubators! Just seemed like the ones I read about on here still cost a lot to build.

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[rebel yell]

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Mine, total cost was about $30, & it works better than any I'v ever had.

 

[eeyore75]

I want to join too!!!! This is the first time I'm incubating- I borrowed my friend's Roll-X incubator!!! It is SWEET!!!

I set a few batches up last night/ this morning:

9 Millie Fleur D'Unccle (in mail w/ BBS Silkie eggs)
5 BBS silkie eggs (in mail w/ Millie eggs)
18 Tolbunt Polish eggs (took a road trip for those)
30 Silkie eggs (1/2 blue & 1/2 splash)

12 more Tolbunt Polish eggs added in Thurs night (yes I know it's 1 pm- but they will be added in at 10 tonight!!) (Settle started at noon)

Thankfully bantam eggs are little.............. cause my Tolbunts are LF- and they take up more space!!!

 

[eeyore75]

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Don't let her step on those tiny little chicks!!!! That will be too cute when they hatch- huge mommy- TINY babies!!!

 

[eeyore75]

On a good note my (borrowed) bater went down to 40% humidity this morning!! I've been in a mini freak out for a couple days!!

It had been at 50% for both days before eggs & the first day with them in (Sat), then extra water dripped in the pan when removing the lid- for fixing the eggs that don't roll right on the grid turner, some kinda want to to roll to the side. (Roll-X has a water bottle that kinda gushes when you pull it out/put it in slot to open lid).

It spiked to 65- 70%+ Sunday night, I pulled the water reserve for it drop & emptied the bottle out so it would let humitidy escape!!

I pulled the bottle so humidity could escape from it's hole (heat mantains temp fine) I got it to 60% Mon night, down to 50% yesterday afternoon after I put a fan in the room to blow air OUT, last night it was 45% . 50% is "the ideal" Jenny used to hatch with it, 90- 95%+ rate with fertile eggs!!

This morning I put the bottle back in the slot to stop drasic humidity dropping (empty of course!!) as it made it down to 40%. I'll just keep it about there for a week - maybe put it to 50% a few days before lock down & 60-70% jump!!

 

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My Brinsea says to stay at 45-50% and 99.4-99.8 degrees. Its has been holding steady. I will be out of town this week, but am dying to get home to candle the eggs. I guess it is a good thing I am not home, I don't know if I could keep my hands off the eggs. When does everyone else candle? When do you "need" to remove the non-developing eggs for fear of exploding etc....

 

[eeyore75]

I bought a mini mag lite.... but the Silkie eggs are darker than my Polish & D'Unccle. They are not due to be candled until tomorrow......

I did try the flash light out on a few of them last night to see if I would need a new one or not. I will- this one is 69 lums- I guess I will have to get a 80+ lum one.

On a cool note- 2 of the D'Unccle eggs I peaked at (only peeked at 3 D'Unccle eggs, and 3 Silkie) had what looked like a tiny embyro. (and veins- lots of veins) The silkie eggs I couldn't see as well in- need brighter light I think.

 

[eeyore75]

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Here is a helpful thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=261876

I did the 1st 14 I got in the mail last night with the new flash light (126 lums!! Found better ones in the camping department than the hardware deptment) There are only 4 of them that look promising right now..... but they were at day 4.

The thread I posted up said if you are new to candling- peek at days 6,12,18 (lock down) to wait until days 12-14 to pitch eggs (unless they smell) as you are still learning. But I found the thread after I looked at mine last night.

On Sunday I'll pull out the Tolbunt & Silkie eggs & candle them (they will be at day 7) write up what I am seeing on them..... and then when they are 13 days I'll recheck them & pitch any I KNOW don't look right at that point.

 

[eeyore75]

just trying to keep the thread from getting too buried!!!

How is everyones eggs doing?


No chicks yet to talk about of course

 

[Urban Chaos]

Well I candled last night (day 7 for me) and only 4/12 are looking good

I am not surprised as the box came very damaged - just a bit disappointed. So it looks like the largest embryo is toward the bottom of the egg (small end) is this normal?