It has begun!!! 1st Time

[fire370]

Sad part is, they’ll probably set them on the counter just like you would and ship when you asked them to next week.

 

[RoosterML]

Was not able to to delay shipment already in the mail. However it looks like incubator will arrive earlier than expected. So I will not be doing the 2-3 day test run on the incubator. Going to plug it in give it several hours to adjust and set the eggs. So @aart any other tips you have on the incuview would be great or others that have one. I plan to start with the outter ring full of water to get humidity in the 40-50% range for starters. How many turns a day do you set the unit to? I did order a scale to weigh the eggs prior to placement, I will weight them again at day 8 to see what the weight is at hopefully 4% less. I can adjust humidity accordingly at that point with the info I have. So is day 1-8 normally just 40-50% humidity range? It's not like you have any info to go off of yet?

 

[aart]

You'll have to play with humidity as the ambient will have an affect.
I try to keep humidity in the 30-50% range for day 1-18.
I usually don't weigh but definitely trace air cells when I candle.
Remember that the humidity average over the first 18 days is what is important,
so don't freak out if it goes outside that range fro a day or two.
I left the turning at the default, I don't remember what the number is.


Here's my candling notes from first hatch:
Candle before setting eggs to look for cracks.

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.
Avoid 'blinding' your self with and stray light from candler/flashlight.

Good candling vid:

 

[RoosterML]

@aart your right that video is perfect. Wonder what kind of glue he it talking about using over the cracks?

 

[RoosterML]

Ok no laughing now !!!!
I was messing around grabbing various extra parts that I have laying around to see what would work as a homemade candler. Here's what I real quickly made. I like that I found a rubber piece for the egg to sit on. Question what is the buld wattage you guys/gals use if you use a homemade one? I have to turn it just right to see what I think is the air sack.
This is not one of the eggs I am incubating. It's at most 2days old. Is this about all I should be seeing right now? I am not expecting veins are anything but is this about as good as a store bought candler would "lighten" the eggs up? Maybe I am having a hard time seeing anything because there is really nothing in the egg to see yet. Again no laughing at my preliminary set up!!!



I am guessing the airsack is what I am seeing at the fat end? Looking at the picture the bottom.

Yes that is a toilet flange and no it has not been used.

 

[aart]

I like it.
It's bit tall tho.
Could go shorter with smaller bulb.
Get rid of the light leaking at the bottom of cylinder.
How flexible is the rubber?
That could be a very nice feature, have thought of it myself.

Yes, that's the air cell...and that's all you'll see.
Bright spots on shell are probably porosity.

 

[RoosterML]

I like it.
It's bit tall tho.
Could go shorter with smaller bulb.
Get rid of the light leaking at the bottom of cylinder.
How flexible is the rubber?
That could be a very nice feature, have thought of it myself.

The kids were getting ready to go bed so I didn't want to fire up the table saw. I think instead of the round duct I will make a small wooden box. With the nice square cuts it should make it simple to stop the light leaking thru.
Ductwork is tough to cut perfectly with snips. The rubber piece is actually a plumbing part. The rubber I would put it equal to a tire. Semi flexible but would be tough to crack an egg on it. It also grips the egg nicely to hold it in position. If you want I'll get a close picture for you when I am done making the would set up today.

 

[aart]

The rubber I would put it equal to a tire.

A tire or an inner tube?
Yeah, if it's easy snap a pic or two.

Have often pondered the perfect rubber material to make a light tight candling aperture.
I tried using some 1/8" thick 40 durometer silicone sheet I have, was about the perfect flexibility...problem was cutting a very smooth edged hole...almost needs to be die cut, unless you're very good with an x-acto blade. Got frustrated with that pretty quick.

My first candler was a hole cut into a piece of cardboard and OD cut to fit into utility light shade....it worked OK, but really wasn't comfortable to use.
Now I just use my hand around an LED flashlight in a windowless room that is conveniently close to the incubator, I put 6-8 eggs in a carton and carry them in there.
I also don't candle as much as when I first started hatching.

 

[WVduckchick]

The first one i made, I used a salt box! Stuck a flashlight up inside it.

Now I just use a maglite (200+ lumens works best) with a piece of craft foam taped over the end to make it soft against the egg, and to shrink the light beam

 

[fire370]

A tire or an inner tube?
Yeah, if it's easy snap a pic or two.

Have often pondered the perfect rubber material to make a light tight candling aperture.
I tried using some 1/8" thick 40 durometer silicone sheet I have, was about the perfect flexibility...problem was cutting a very smooth edged hole...almost needs to be die cut, unless you're very good with an x-acto blade. Got frustrated with that pretty quick.

My first candler was a hole cut into a piece of cardboard and OD cut to fit into utility light shade....it worked OK, but really wasn't comfortable to use.
Now I just use my hand around an LED flashlight in a windowless room that is conveniently close to the incubator, I put 6-8 eggs in a carton and carry them in there.
I also don't candle as much as when I first started hatching.

Ha! I do a down and dirty candling at lockdown (used light on my iPhone last 10 years) and whatever happens, happens. Funny after 10’s of thousands of chicks how it’s easy to set and walk away.