How to count Hatch Days?????

[ADozenGirlz]

I'm new to chickens as of July 2009 and had my first successful incubation and hatch last week! However, I'm confused about how to count the hatching days. I have a Brinsea Mini Advance incubator and it starts the countdown for you when you set it at 21. It seems to me that lots of books say to candle on days 3 and 7, etc. My question is: when should the chicks be EXPECTED TO HATCH by counting backwards that way, on day 1 or on day 0? Also, which days should I candle on (counting backwards)? My first hatchlings hatched on day 2 on my incubator, so was that 2 days early or 1?
I just set a new batch of eggs at noon on February 13th, so what is the hatch date? Thanks for clearing up my confusion!


Soupy, our first hatchling from our own eggs! She was named by my 4yr old during lunch. Creative, huh?

 

[Revelle]

Counting backwards, they can hatch from day 0-3!

Usually smaller the egg, the earlier it would be. For candling, on larger eggs candle at what would normally be day 8, so for you would be day 13, and then again before lockdown, day 3-4. If you set on Feb 13ths, it'd be March 6th! My hatch date is that as well!<3

 

[ADozenGirlz]

Thanks Katrina, that helps a lot!

 

[Revelle]

You're welcome, hope you have another awesome hatch!