Hopefully just need some reassurance

[Darlene28073]

Please bare with me, I over explain everything & try to be detailed. Lol
So I got a couple of breeder hens from a friend that was downsizing her farm last month. After roughly a week of settling in the silkie started giving me eggs. So, I get the idea to do an experiment & order a cheap incubator on Amazon. Money's tight right now so I spent like $40 on this.

It's actually not BAD, but not great either. I also got a little humidity gauge thing as it has nothing showing humidity. I learned quickly that it needs a towel around it to hold temp/humidity but I leave the hole on top uncovered.
I took her 1st 4 eggs & put them in on Dec 1st. On the 7th I candled & only the 1st egg looked like it was developing. From what I've seen since there may have been 1 or 2 more but at that time to me they didn't look like it. Anyway, I only kept the 1 in there. I know it's a long shot at this point for sure to hatch.
Everything looked great each time I candled. I refrained my excitement & candled as little as I could. On Dec. 15th it looked like this. I could see movement pretty good. I could see the egg rock a little, I'm assuming getting into position.

I hope the pictures are attaching ok.... I'm still getting the hang of this.

I read that silkie eggs should be put in lockdown on day 16-17 somewhere & took the turner out & put in lockdown on Dec 17th. Somehow I missed that you don't count the 1st day, but hope I'm ok.
I know lockdown is the hardest part & hope that I'm overreacting. I haven't noticed the egg rocking in 2 days now. Do they keep rocking or stop when they get in position?
No pipping so I couldn't take it anymore! I candled it just now. I'm going to add a reply with what it looks like now.

 

[Darlene28073]

I could still see movement but didn't seem as 'lively" as before. It wasn't just the egg movement. I could distinctly see the wing or beak move. I'm wondering if once in position they focus on absorbing the yolk and completing development & don't move around as much. It would make sense, kinda. The air sac has grown more & you can see my marks of where it was. One side of the egg is completely filled by the chick & black. The yolk area is getting smaller. I see everything that I think I should. The only thing that has me even questioning is the less movement now than there was. I really want it to make it but also try to be realistic in the fact that with 1 shot & a complete novice for a "mom" it might not.
I'm just hoping that everything is ok & I just need to chill out.

 

[HuffleClaw]

Looking good so far!

 

[Darlene28073]

Thank you!! ❤ I really do think that's all I need. Some reassurance. I'm a huge worry wort, I feel my anxiety building. Thank God I should only have a couple more days?

 

[Mmanist]

I think it just needs time! Good luck!

 

[JadeFarms]

First of all, I love that incubator, I have one myself. I’ve had it for over a year and it works great. Also the egg looks like it’s doing great. I see no problems.

 

[MissMonty]

Everything looks great so far! I have a couple friends that have used this incubator and they all had great luck with it!

 

[HuffleClaw]

Oh yeah! One last thing- during lockdown, after positioning, the chicks usually "rest" for a day or so. Which may be why you’re worrying about it not being lively.

 

[CanadaEh]

just a quick note on your candling technique - it is easier (unless you need to snap a picture) and probably safer for the chick to keep the egg always pointy end down (as it sits in the incubator) while moving the candler along the sides of the top of the egg.

 

[Darlene28073]

Oh yeah! One last thing- during lockdown, after positioning, the chicks usually "rest" for a day or so. Which may be why you’re worrying about it not being lively.

THANK YOU!❤ That was my biggest concern. Whew! It made sense but I tend to rationalize things sometimes.