Hopeful Hatch-a-Long

[AinaWGSD]

That's so exciting! Congratulations! I think the one you're not sure of should be fine until day 10. I almost never see an eye spot when I candle my brown eggs.

 

[tviss711]

That's so exciting! Congratulations! I think the one you're not sure of should be fine until day 10. I almost never see an eye spot when I candle my brown eggs.

That is good to know. It was not bright enough in my opinion to be a "clear" or infertile egg, those usually light up like a nightlight, so I didn't want to toss it out because it may just have been up at the top hiding in the blob. Hopefully she will poke her little eye at me on Friday!

 

[tviss711]

I have another question. I know that just because the embryos are alive today, doesn't mean that they will necessarily make it to hatch. What is the usual hatch rate of embryos that are confirmed by day 7-10? While I'm excited and hopeful, I want to temper my expectations with reality. But I'm thinking I should surely get a couple that make it to hatch, right?

 

[Slothinc]

I have another question. I know that just because the embryos are alive today, doesn't mean that they will necessarily make it to hatch. What is the usual hatch rate of embryos that are confirmed by day 7-10? While I'm excited and hopeful, I want to temper my expectations with reality. But I'm thinking I should surely get a couple that make it to hatch, right?

I think it’s a very good sign to have so many of them developing! I think you are wise to only candle a couple of times, as the more you candle the more mistakes can happen (dropping, jarring, etc) I think that knowing now that so many are doing well, you could probably just re check the one you aren’t sure of on day ten, and then re candle everyone else on day 18 when they go into lock down. (If you can stand to wait that long, if not, I’m sure another time or two between now and then won’t do any harm!)

Then on day 18, I would just be sure to add extra humidity to bring it up for lock down, and trace the air cells (the chicks will normally pip somewhat close to the traced line.)

I am so excited for you!!!! I think you have a good chance of at least several of these little eggs making it!!

 

[tviss711]

UPDATE:

I candled egg #3 again this morning, and then eggs 4 and one for comparison to be sure. I think it is a quitter. I see a shadow where the embryo should be, but I really cant see any veining at all. I candled egg#4 to compare, and egg #4 had veining and I could see the embryo moving by itself, same with egg #1, but I will post pictures to get some confirmation that I should remove egg #3. I am always scared of ending the life of a baby chick prematurely but I really am afraid of compromising the other eggs if its a quitter.

What do you guys think?

The next two pictures are of egg #3 again, it doesn't look very different from day 7. The whole blob moves around when I turn the egg. But the main concern is I don't see any veins? I don't see a blood ring either but it is a little bit of a darker shelled egg.

Comparing those to these next pictures of egg #1, even with the crummy quality of my pictures you can clearly see blood vessels, and embryo. Not photographed is the obvious movement that we could see inside the egg (which was SO COOL). Life is such a miracle it's incredible to watch it unfold, to think that just 9 days ago these eggs were sitting on my counter and now are growing baby chickens blows my mind. I know it happens literally all the time, but it's so COOL.

So should I toss egg #3? Or wait a little longer? I just need some reassurance on the right thing to do. I'm still a newbie when it comes to incubating!

Also if people want to claim and name eggs, they can! I didn't realize that was a fun feature of hatch-a-longs until after I made this original post. Here is a picture of the eggs, but I don't think I'll include 3 as it is likely a quitter at this point. The names of my late flock and the parents of these eggs were:

Tilly (Silver-Lace Wyandotte)
Mosey (Barred Rock)
Penny (RIR)
Houlihan (Buff Orp.)
Hawkeye (we are MASH fans, he was our Buff Orp. Roo)
Pepper (Speckled Sussex... she was my best girl)
Baby Blue (Speckled Sussex)

You can name similar to the original birds or totally different. Might be fun to predict which eggs are what. I feel like the darker brown eggs might be from my speckled Sussex. Anyway here's a picture with the eggs if you're interested, but I'm not offended if no one is, its a little late lol.

 

[Slothinc]

I would have no reservations throwing out egg 3 at this point. The dark blob you are seeing is the yolk and the fact that it is moving around freely means that nothing is developing right now.

I’m so happy that you have the other 6 eggs!! I would love to root for one of them! I will choose egg 4 and call her Hunnicutt (or Hunni for short) since you love Mash. (I admit I don’t watch the show but googled the characters so hopefully I didn’t pick a bad guy!) Also no pressure to keep the name after they have hatched, feel free to rename whatever you want! I love the names of your original chickens, you are great at picking them! Fingers crossed for all the eggies, and especially little Hunni!

 

[gimmie birdies]

Good luck on your egg hatch!

I also had to start over. I gave away all my chickens (but 5) so I could go on a 2 week vaca. Everyone was fine when I got back-food and water to spare. And it didn't even get cold here. I was not planning on more chickens until spring, the 5 I had just started to lay. Not long after I got back a weasel took out my chickens 1-by-1 until I had no chickens left. I finally caught the weasel. Afterwards was glad my other chickens were rehomed after the trip. I had 3 hatches, since Dec. 2nd or so, and one order of shipped chicks to raise. The 3 hatches are from fridges/local farms from my area. A rainbow of colors. Chick wise I still want NN and or frizzles so I am not done yet.

 

[tviss711]

I would have no reservations throwing out egg 3 at this point. The dark blob you are seeing is the yolk and the fact that it is moving around freely means that nothing is developing right now.

I’m so happy that you have the other 6 eggs!! I would love to root for one of them! I will choose egg 4 and call her Hunnicutt (or Hunni for short) since you love Mash. (I admit I don’t watch the show but googled the characters so hopefully I didn’t pick a bad guy!) Also no pressure to keep the name after they have hatched, feel free to rename whatever you want! I love the names of your original chickens, you are great at picking them! Fingers crossed for all the eggies, and especially little Hunni!

Perfect! Hunnicutt is Hawkeyes' best friend on the show so that works out nicely!
#4 is yours!

 

[AinaWGSD]

Can I have Radar for #6?

 

[Slothinc]

Can I have Radar for #6?

Radar was my second pick for a name and #6 was my second pick for an egg Great minds think alike! Goooo Radar and Hunni!!!