I've blown it!!! I can't begin to know what I was thinking!!!!!!!

[darkbluespace]

Well, I just took the ones that did not hatch outside to see what happened. There were only a couple that started to form and didn't make it. The rest were unfertile. I didn't candle them.
I was able to hatch out 4 Lemon Cuckoo Orp, 2 Jubilee Orp, and 5 Blue Orp. None of the Golden Lace Orps hatched. So I ended up with 11 out of 25. One of the Lemon Cuckoo was deformed so I had to put it down. Bad spradle legs. So that makes it 10.

It appears that it is harder to completely ruin a batch after all because I did about everything wrong with these little guys.

I am so glad you got some chicks!! I notice that we have all these rules for hatching, but the chicks don't care about rules and will hatch anyway!!

Sorry you lost one that hatched.

I haven't seen spraddle leg that was so bad it couldn't be corrected with tape/bandaid and making them sit in a small box for a day.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Well, I just took the ones that did not hatch outside to see what happened. There were only a couple that started to form and didn't make it. The rest were unfertile. I didn't candle them.
I was able to hatch out 4 Lemon Cuckoo Orp, 2 Jubilee Orp, and 5 Blue Orp. None of the Golden Lace Orps hatched. So I ended up with 11 out of 25. One of the Lemon Cuckoo was deformed so I had to put it down. Bad spradle legs. So that makes it 10.

It appears that it is harder to completely ruin a batch after all because I did about everything wrong with these little guys.

Congrats on the hatchers, sorry about the others.

I haven't seen spraddle leg that was so bad it couldn't be corrected with tape/bandaid and making them sit in a small box for a day.

xs 2

 

[FridayYet]

Chill! Mama hens don't sit on the sharp pointy ends of her eggs. Their eggs lay on their sides during natural incubation. Eggs are stood on end because:

1. You can fit more eggs in an incubator that way.

2. This is the only way a machine can turn eggs gently during incubation.

#. Repost and tell us how your hatch went.

Actually, there is a #3. Shipped eggs often have loose or damaged air cells. It is recommended to keep the eggs fat end up (never the pointy end up) and even hatch upright to increase their chances.

Well, I just took the ones that did not hatch outside to see what happened. There were only a couple that started to form and didn't make it. The rest were unfertile. I didn't candle them.
I was able to hatch out 4 Lemon Cuckoo Orp, 2 Jubilee Orp, and 5 Blue Orp. None of the Golden Lace Orps hatched. So I ended up with 11 out of 25. One of the Lemon Cuckoo was deformed so I had to put it down. Bad spradle legs. So that makes it 10.

It appears that it is harder to completely ruin a batch after all because I did about everything wrong with these little guys.

Sounds like you had a good hatch for shipped eggs! For most people, 50% is a great hatch when shipped, especially if long distance and even more if you have a change in altitude.

Congratulations on your chicks! If you decide to order shipped eggs again, you might want to read this article:

https://mbasic.facebook.com/notes/f...beth-white-via-cheryl-shires/548615281826504/

PS: If the eggs were clear, is doesn't necessarily mean infertile. They may have been so scrambled with shipping damage that growth couldn't start.

 

[cd3farm]

It was more than just spradle legs. He couldn't hold up his head and was just in really bad shape. Our goal is to build up a rare breed poultry farm specializing in English Orpingtons and will have to cull heavily to have good breeding stock I now have 16 different colors and other rare breeds as well. Still trying to get used to the big incubator and keep making stupid mistakes.

 

[cd3farm]

Thank you for sending such an excellent article! I have been letting them sit in the incubator for about 2 - 3 days before starting the automatic turner, but will now let them sit longer! I really need to get this new incubator down pat. (with out my mess ups) My first attempts at hatching shipped eggs was an absolute failure. I have been having much greater success since I have started letting them rest and heal. I had just never taken them out earlier than the usual 3 days after the 18. I really appreciate all the help and advice everyone has sent me.
Thanks
Cindy

 

[darkbluespace]

It was more than just spradle legs. He couldn't hold up his head and was just in really bad shape. Our goal is to build up a rare breed poultry farm specializing in English Orpingtons and will have to cull heavily to have good breeding stock I now have 16 different colors and other rare breeds as well. Still trying to get used to the big incubator and keep making stupid mistakes.

It sounds like you know what you are doing and have a cool flock!! I have 4 incubators and find I have a hard time keeping track of all the details in each one. With so many details to remember it is easy to make dumb mistakes, and I find myself making them regularly ; ) I bought a bunch of shipped eggs and my incubator was too hot and they all failed. I must have turned it up for some reason and then the thermometer which has been right on was reading 99 when it was more like 102...

That's life, I guess. I think I finally got it straightened out!