i just finished an attempted hatch of 15 eggs in my new bator that were started at the same time my broody claimed 6 in the coop. I did not get one chick and she got three (50%) rate. I am trying again and set eggs on the first and hope to see chicks on the 21st so i am in!
Hey yall, today was day 4.5 for my 3 RIR/Sex-Link eggs so I decided to check them out and see if anything was visble as much as it could be in those lovely brown eggs of hers....one I can't see anything at all, the other two have this like dark band about half inch thick I'd say right under or close to the air sac. Does this sadly mean they aren't going to make it? What should I do?
Put them back in the incubator and keep your paws off til day 10. I know its hard to do but especially on the darker eggs you won't see the veining til then anyways. The more you bring them out and expose them to room temp, the less your odds are of them hatching. Most of the time I just leave them til day 18 when I stop turning.
btw.... I set 7 dozen silkie eggs last monday and just set another 7 dozen last night too. Some of these last eggs were froze but not cracked open yet. I guess we'll just have to see if they make it. I also have alot of very young pullets and cockerels that I'm testing fertility on.
Another very helpful BYCer gave me a tip on an awesome flashlight (Coleman MAX mini) that even shows into the darker brown maran eggs so going to pick that up and wait until next weekend when I have to candle the Seramas and Silkies (also will be at day 10) anyhow and hope for the best!
Any of those mini-LED flashlights work awesome too. I have tons of them laying around in the barn, in my truck, and even a lil keychain one.
I'm just kind of hoping less than half of mine hatch. On these first few batches, I cull out anything with improper toe spacing and stuff like that. Anything left over is held for fall show prospects. Its going to be alot of birds in the house for a few months. Later in the spring is when I really start hatching chicks to sell. Not really much of a demand for them until May up here.
I'm setting at least 15 blue/black/splash silkie eggs on Thursday and putting 6 under my partridge silkie...I'm waiting for them to arrive in the mail. They should all hatch New Year's Eve
I'm setting at least 15 blue/black/splash silkie eggs on Thursday and putting 6 under my partridge silkie...I'm waiting for them to arrive in the mail. They should all hatch New Year's Eve
Good Luck!!! Destiny-are there any good books or sites you can refer me to as far as show birds go? Also where do you find listings and what not for shows in your area? It's something my husband and I would like to do but have no clue where to start. Thanks!