I THINK I might want to try this. Any advice on hatching?

[lightchick]

Anybody? I've never hatched anything before. I've let my pigeons hatch their eggs, but I never had to check heat or anything.

 

[lightchick]

Just started incubation!

 

[lightchick]

So far the temp has been staying about 100-102 degrees. I hope the egg hatches into a little pullet!

 

[Xiao Casa]

How's it going? Is the chick developing, or have you had to cull the egg?

 

[lightchick]

I don't know.... I have the egg in a box with a towel under it and in a closet. The closet is helping the heat stay at the right temp better. The temp has been staying around 99-102 degrees, but a few times I've had it go a little too high or a little too low. I guessing that too low is better then too high right?
The egg has been incubating a little longer then a week and I decided to add two more eggs a day or two ago.
When I candled the egg I was confused. It looks like there's a dark spot in the middle, but I don't see any veins or anything. Then yesterday I candled it and I noticed that the dark spot seemed to be on the top of the egg all the time (at least I think so). If I turned the egg it wouldn't be there for a second and then it would. Kinda hard to explain. Does that mean that it's dead?
Also. I have to be gone all day and there's no one to turn the eggs. I could turn them in the morning but then I couldn't until late that night like 9:30 or even 11:00.
Is that OK? Or do I have to ask a neighbor to turn them once?

 

[Xiao Casa]

I'm afraid I don't know much about hatching... I only did it once as a school project, I was about eight then and all I remember is that we turned them 5 times a day. Hopefully someone with experience in hatching will come along and help you.

Your egg might not be fertile, that would explain the lack of veins. The dark spot could be the yolk but I don't really know what I'm talking about here, like I said I hope someone else will advise you. Here's hoping your chick is developing and growing!

 

[lightchick]

I candled a plain non incubated egg and it was totally clear....

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101
This is a great read. From what you have described no veins and a dark blob that's moving in the egg I would say that the embryo has started to develop but then quit. The embryo should move slightly but not follow you round the egg when you candle.

Eggs need to be turned at least three times per day but 5 is better always an odd number so they are not left on the same side two nights in row.

 

[MeepBeep]

First off as said, you have a 50/50 chance of getting a pullet, nothing you do is going to change that... Trust me if there was a way commercial hatcheries would be all over it vs giving away the cocks as packing peanuts or feed...

As for the eggs, why are they in the fridge, are these store bought? Do you even know if they are fertile? It's best to avoid refrigeration if you plant to hatch them...

If they are white shelled, the veins should be clear as day after a week with light and even medium colored shells, if you are not seeing veins chances are it's DOA...

As for turning, as said 3 times a day minimum, if you fail to turn the eggs the embryo will usually die... More is better in this instance, a broody chicken turns the eggs up to 52 times a day... So if you are gone for over 8 hours a day, someone should be turning them for you...

 

[lightchick]

The eggs are brown. Except a new one that's green. The egg that's green is from a farm and we know that they have a rooster.
The two brown eggs are from my own hen, but I got rid of my rooster 2 weeks ago so the only option is getting eggs that were in the fridge.
I DID put aside a egg yesterday from my girl, but yesterday was the 2 week mark of not having a rooster so I don't know if it's fertile. I have it sitting in a cool place. I put it aside because I'm really doubting that I'll get anything at all, but we'll see......