How big should the embryo be at 11 days?

[Apriljc]

Does anyone have stats on the expected sizes of the chicken embryo at different stages? Mine seem small.... I am using still air at 100 degrees. Their shadows look about the length of my pinky.

 

[duckyfromoz]

Hi Apriljc Welcome to BYC have a look at this link - it shows what the chicks really look like each day of development.

http://www.boredstop.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=123&Itemid=31/#

Good luck with your eggs.

 

[ScissorChick]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=261876


Heres another great link

Good luck!

~ScissorChick

 

[Apriljc]

Thanks! I'm just so nervous that with only two embryos odds could be low we won't get a hatch.... Positive thoughts....

Is the blood vessel that seems like it's loose and floating bear the chicks back end the umbilicus?

Hoping it's normal to see a vessel moving a bit...

Life is so precious; I want the kids to see them hatch!

Thanks again for the links!

 

[ethingtonart]

I also use still air, and the optimal temperature is 102 degrees at 58 % humidity for standard sized eggs, but more like 100 degrees at 61% humidity for small or bantam eggs. (According to The Chicken Health Handbook anyway) I use the 102 degree with my hatches and have been very happy.

Hope this helps!

 

[Gypsy07]

Quote:
The yolk and the developing embryo are still loose and 'floating' in the egg white at this stage. This is why regular turning of the eggs is so important, as it allows the embryo to move around and absorb its nutrients from different parts of the egg. (This is a hugely oversimplified explanation of it. I'm not knowledgeable enough to be able to explain the process in detail, but essentially this is correct.) It's only when the chick gets closer to the hatch date that it gets bigger and can't move about inside the shell so much.

At a day 10 candling I'd expect to see a spiderweb network of veins and a very dark spot maybe about the size of my pinky fingernail. If I carefully turned the egg, I'd expect to see the dark spot slowly moving around inside the shell. What you describe sounds just about normal to me.

I'd agree with ethingtonart that your temp is a bit on the low side for a still air bator. 99.5-100 is what's recommended for a fan assisted bator, and a bit higher for a still air one. I'm not sure if you should try to raise your temp now, or just leave it the way it is. If you DO leave it, your eggs will probably hatch a day or two late. Good luck!

 

[Apriljc]

Thanks again. I've been letting the temp go a little higher to just above the 100 mark. They are still kicking in there

and are def getting bigger. I'm using a homemade incubator so I don't want to let the temp get too high and go out of control at night when I'm asleep. One week to go!

 

[ethingtonart]

Good Luck!!