I know its probably too early

[charlotteda]

Since it was the weekend... I "tried" to candle my blue/barred rock eggs and I coudl tell anything for sure... it is only day 5.. is it too early to be concerned ?

 

[Laskaland]

Quote:
I would say day 5 is too early. Even if something looks clear, there may be something happening.
Day 10 is a good day to judge. I have done day 7, but I feel more confident on day 10 to start eliminating eggs. And then I still leave questionables until day 18 when I move them to the hatcher, unless I smell something horrible, and then I check again.

Patience, my dear

I know...easier said than done, lol

Good Luck!
Christina

 

[Fresh Eggs]

Hi,



Dont make the same " opps! " that I did!!!!! Wait until they are about 7- 10 days old b4 u candle ' em!!! I lost all of my chicks to too much candling and workers bumping mi incubator! Give them time, they are only teeny tiny babies.


Fresh Eggs,


PS, Trust me, I understand your impatience! I could hardly wait 3 weeks for naught!

 

[charlotteda]

I was proud of myself because I hadnt opened the incubator even once since I put them in (auto turner). I'll leave them alone until next weekend and that will be about day 12.

 

[jvls1942]

Quote:
not only too early to be concerned, but too early to be candling.. after day 10 is plenty early.. eggs are very fragile at this early stage..

why do people candle?? to see if the eggs are not going to hatch.

you have a better idea of that after 14 days..

anytime before this is purely curiosity and serves no real purpose.. your eggs are not going to explode before day 14..
so you do not HAVE to remove them.

strictly my opinion..

 

[Suellyn]

Okay, I'm not saying that everyone should do this, BUT I got my hatching eggs as a Christmas surprise for my 2 little girls and REALLY REALLY wanted to know if any of them were developing before I told them about it.

Candled on Christmas Eve, which was only day 4, and saw DEFINITE development on 10 outta 12 of them!! All light colored eggs, and I was SUPER gentle about it... they are particularly delicate at this stage... and did NOT discard the 2 that looked "clear" (although they STAYED clear, so discarded around day 10). Looked like little red "spiders" at that stage, just some veins with a darker red "spot" in the middle.

I also candled fairly frequently afterwards so my girls could witness the embryo development, was INCREDIBLE for them (and me!) to see. Mixed reviews on this: some say fine to candle frequently if quick/gentle, others say are risking a decreased hatch rate.

Final numbers for my first hatch attempt: 12 eggs, 2 "clears", 1 arrested development around day 15, and 9 hatched and are doing very well.

I am personally very satisfied with the outcome.

Good luck!!

 

[charlotteda]

Thanks all... I'm usually pretty good about leaving things alone but since these eggs were shipped and its been years since I hatched any... I couldnt wait

These are barred rock eggs so they are not white.