I just set 5-21-11 in my home made incubator

[matlock585]

I guess Tom Petty was right, the waiting is the hardest part.

 

[chickenjoefan]

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yes three times a day is ok. and because its an odd number of times, it means they are lying a different way for the longer period each day.

fingers crossed

 

[chicksntexas]

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Boy is it ever!!!

 

[redonthehead]

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matlock585 - glad the eggs are looking good! I was so excited to see the veining and the spot in the egg the first time we candled these ones... We only turned our eggs twice a day too... I've seen some people mention that they only turn them twice, other people have said they're turning them like every hour... I don't think there's any set number of times you should turn them every day, as long as they're getting turned around.

LaGeniaLoca - I don't think the smell would affect the babies any, but I'm really new at this whole chicken thing...

I didn't even want to get chickens when my hubby decided we would... now they're my "babies" and I love having chickens.

It's Sunday morning, day 21. No change yet. We haven't heard any peeping or anything yet. I've got 4 kids, and this is as bad as it was waiting to go into labor...

For those of you who have done this before - do the eggs sit at an angle with the pointy end down if they're getting close to hatch? 5 of my 6 eggs are doing that... the one that isn't is one we questioned if it was good but left in just in case...

Last night we were looking at the eggs and both hubby and I swear we could see a "shadow" moving in one of the eggs. Is that possible or are we just so desperate to see some kind of action that we were imagining it?

I'll update later and post pictures as soon as we get some action.

 

[LaGeniaLoca]

matlock585 - I would definitely have to agree about the waiting. I want to candle my eggs every day to see how they are developing, and it's difficult to leave them alone.

redonthehead - Thanks for your reply. I hope you're right. I don't know if I could handle dealing with 8 special needs chicks, and the thought of culling just turns my stomach.

About turning the eggs, I turn mine 3 times a day. I was told that the number of times you turn isn't as important as making sure you turn an odd number of times. That way, the longest period in one position is different each day.

I have to confess that I broke down and candled again at 9 days....I just can't help myself! It was really awesome! I could see lots of veining, and 2 small dark spots in each one, and they were moving, too! I'm assuming one spot is the head and the other is the body. It was so cool!

 

[matlock585]

I'm in day 10 now, I tried to candle again tonight, but I can't see anything but black mass and the air pocket at the round end. I'm suspecting my temps are running high, but I'm not changing anything... If they hatch early, that's cool with me!

My gut just tells me they are ok. My bator works so well, I couldn't be much happier right now. If I get a good hatch on these 5 eggs, it's definitely on and poppin after that! The first lady already has me looking at cochin hatching eggs and she wants some more EE's. Always glad to get her more on my side, only increases my chicken budget!

 

[redonthehead]

matlock585 - yay! air pockets are good! LOL!

I'm in day 23 and still no action. I'm pretty sure they've all died, but I don't want to take the steps I need to to confirm it..

I think it was either the temps that did it (had a hard time keeping the temp at a somewhat consstent level), or I've heard thunderstorms can kill chicks during a hatch, and we had 2 of them on days 19 and 20. Either way I'm pretty sure this was a failure.

Oh well... learning experience for sure! Will be trying again.

Good luck to the rest of you with your batches! I'll be following and looking forward to seeing some fuzzy-butt pictures!

 

[matlock585]

Sorry to hear that red. I've got real high hopes for mine. I don't really expect all 5 to make it, but if none hatch, I'll be pretty heartbroken. It is a very consuming thing though, incubating. I think about that glowing styrofoam box constantly when I'm gone. The people I work with are probably sick of hearing about it.

I think you should try again and just monitor the humidity better. I gave 7 dollars for my digital therm/hygrom at wal mart. The thermometer seems pretty accurate and the hygrometer reads 1% low. I'm happy with it.

 

[oldcluck]

I'll join in. I set 5-21-11. candled again yesterday. 11 of 16 eggs are developing so far. my eggs were shipped in from out of state and my incubator is an old one. hoping for a few Dominique chicks.

 

[matlock585]

Glad to have someone else to follow. Keep us posted on everything. Nice to meet you, by the way.