Incubating Napoleon's Babies

[aart]

Did you run the bator for a couple days before setting eggs....and test your therms and hygros??
ETA: pasted wrong link:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...incubator-thermometers-and-hygrometers.73634/

THis is what I did on my first hatch:
First Hatch - I candled on day 7-10-14-18.

Day 7 - didn't see much but the air cells, which I outlined with a pencil every time I candled, maybe some veining and lumps..maybe moving...I was very disappointed.

Day 10 - could definitely see veins and some movement...maybe some clears and blood rings.

Day 14 - saw much more definition of shape, movement and realized what I had seen the previous times. Clears and blood ring more obvious.

Day 18 - pulled the now very obvious clears and blood rings. Viable chicks almost filled egg and wasn't as much movement.


Knew much better what to look for the next time I incubated. It just takes some practice and experience.

Candle well after sunset or in a dark windowless room, I used a cardboard template with a hole cut to fit into a utility light shade with a 60watt bulb. Also used a very bright flashlight and just my hand in a windowless room after I got better at it.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

I didn’t, but my breeder said she did. Sigh, I was so scared, I came home and the humidity was at 20% or so... it’s back up to 50% but I’m worried now.

 

[aart]

I didn’t, but my breeder said she did. Sigh, I was so scared, I came home and the humidity was at 20% or so... it’s back up to 50% but I’m worried now.

The first incubation is a nail biter....humidity fluctuating is not as importunate as temps.
See my post above, I fixed the link.

Here some links that might help:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-beginners-guide-to-incubation.73350/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/incubation-humidity.73386/

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

How do you know your rooster was stolen?

 

[Frazzemrat1]

How do you know your rooster was stolen?

No body, no blood, no feathers, no animal tracks (chicken or otherwise) in the snow... The gate was closed and the girls are all there, including a clean faced araucana pullet.... I'm 99.9% sure he had human help out of my run. He didn't just get out, as devoted as he was to the girls, he wouldn't have strayed far. Additionally, if he had just gotten out, there's a bush about 20ft from the gate that he would have hidden in.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

The first incubation is a nail biter....humidity fluctuating is not as importunate as temps.
See my post above, I fixed the link.

Here some links that might help:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-beginners-guide-to-incubation.73350/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/incubation-humidity.73386/

Thank you Aart!!!!!

 

[aart]

No body, no blood, no feathers, no animal tracks (chicken or otherwise) in the snow... The gate was closed and the girls are all there, including a clean faced araucana pullet.... I'm 99.9% sure he had human help out of my run. He didn't just get out, as devoted as he was to the girls, he wouldn't have strayed far. Additionally, if he had just gotten out, there's a bush about 20ft from the gate that he would have hidden in.

Did you see strange people tracks?

 

[Frazzemrat1]

Did you see strange people tracks?

No, the day he disappeared was the day after our last snow. So there was already a 'path' of tracks down to the coop where we'd let them out, checked eggs and put them up. At the point the next day when I went for eggs, he was already gone and I probably walked in the same steps as whomever was on my property.

 

[aart]

No, the day he disappeared was the day after our last snow. So there was already a 'path' of tracks down to the coop where we'd let them out, checked eggs and put them up. At the point the next day when I went for eggs, he was already gone and I probably walked in the same steps as whomever was on my property.

Time for some locks....keeps the honest honest....and maybe some trail cams

 

[Frazzemrat1]

Did you see strange people tracks?

No, the day he disappeared was the day after our last snow. So there was already a 'path' of tracks down to the coop where we'd let them out, checked eggs and put them up. At the point the next day when I went for eggs, he was already gone and I probably walked in the same steps as whomever was on my property.

Time for some locks....keeps the honest honest....and maybe some trail cams

Totally agree. I'm all over it.