Jan./Feb. 2014 hatch a long

[Cynthia12]

I candled all my eggs yesterday the Rhodebar I set on tuesday are still all clear I candled them in the bator as some had detached air sacks, I am hoping that come this time next week I will start to see signs of life is there any way of knowing whether or not they were even fertile from the beginning? I am scared I may have bought a dozen infertile eggs off ebay????

As for my barnyard mix eggs from the local farmer they are all showing excellent growth with even little black dots (I believe those are eye balls) showing I am so excited as are my kiddos all though not near as excited as I am. My youngest keeps saying ok so they should hatch tomorrow then right mom lol.

It is so hard to keep my hands off them and not candle them everyday this is so addictive.

If you just set your eggs on Tues..give them until 7 days at least to start seeing veining. Some take longer than others to see into. Waay too early to give up yet.

 

[Cynthia12]

Seriously, this is the only thread without super arrogant jerks. I am sooooo tierd of people being rude, acting like they are the all knowing chicken farmer, shooting down what others say without anything to back it up. People have been raising chickens for a very long time. That does not mean it has always been done in the best way. People are learning new things all of the time. If you do have a different opinion, you don't have to say it LIKE THIS!?! That means you are calling me stupid. I have proof to back me up and you have cause an old person said so. ARRRGHHHH!

Sorry had to vent. Back to hatching....

 

[Cynthia12]

Hi everyone I have a question. I put my eggs in the incubator this morning and its been just over 6 hours and the humidity is at 40% is that too high? Iv'e read nothing above 45 and nothing below 25 so I'm guessing its alright but just wanted to get another opinion on it. Thanks!

Someone's probably already answered..it sound good where you have it.

 

[Cynthia12]

The coloring almost reminds me of a heeler type dog??

I agree, looks like a heeler. They can be hard on flocks. :/ But, who knows? Might be a good protector. They are for cattle and sheep herding. So, they also like to nip at peoples feet when they run away.

Sorry, never have liked them, could go on with some bad personal stories, but won't.

 

[Cynthia12]

Humidity started dropping in my incubator again last night, so today it was time to pop it open and add some water. Candled while I was at it. Day 15 candling is much less interesting than day 9 candling was. On day 9 I could clearly see little heartbeats going a mile a minute and it was really cool. On day 15, it's mostly just a big black blob with some veining and every now and then it jiggles a little.

Also, it seems to me that I can see more detail when I candle the small end rather than the large end. Candling the large end I can see a very well defined air sac, but nothing else. Candling the small end, I can't see the air sac but I do get to see veining and the outlines of the baby-chick-blob as it moves - that seems much more interesting. This could be related to the fact that I have dark brown eggs though - white eggs probably show a lot more all around.

Lockdown is on wednesday - I wish it would get here already.

I love it when you can see the heart beating! Isn't that cool? And, a foot is fun to see too. All of the toes up against the shell. )

 

[Cynthia12]

I am officially in lock down I have to work till 10p tonight and when I left a couple of eggs were rocking glad I am working the next 3 days 2p to 10p or I know for sure I'd be clued to the uncubator watching like a hawk my dog has upgraded this morning from looking at incubator to looking and whining she knows some things going on but can't figure it out

Yaay, I'm caught up with most of the reading. Aren't ya glad? Good luck to all that are going into lock down. I only have a few more days of turning myself. JD, that means you too!

 

[gimmie birdies]

Oh we are 1/2 way there OHOH liven' on a prayer!

 

[gimmie birdies]

sorry day 12 is more than half way ...

 

[Gen9]

Nah it's ok, in fact I have just started a practice where I take the lid off my incubator for 10ish minutes per day to simulate a hen getting off the nest! It lets the eggs cool down a little bit, no harm done. The reason I started this practice is to see if I have chicks hatch on day 21 instead of day 20, like I have been. I was thinking that by letting them cool, they would take a little bit longer to "cook." Ha.

We humans with our perfect incubators keeping the temperature sooo perfect isn't really what happens in nature.

That IS smart if she's hanging her butt off the nest, good for her! she knows what she's doing, let mama do her thang :cd  

I was reading this back when I was incubating my eggs! Yes, I do think it really helps to keep the lid off. I've had one hatch at day 19, with an open umbilical, another one hatched at day 20 with an open umbilical, both died. I think if I left the lid off for 10 minutes a day I could have saved them.

Meyer hatchery and Ideal poultry are selling now.

I was just on ideal poultry & everything I looked at wouldn't be available until mid-Feb... Meyer Hatchery has very limited available now, I'd have to call them, but I'm kinda doubtful with commercial hatcheries since I got my first flock from commercial hatcheries & 3 pf my hens had to be put down for hereditary issues.. I just want a few & I don't want to pay a boat load for shipping - we'll see what happens in a couple more days, I just might order... If there's any left to order :-/

 

[Gen9]

Last time, my broody hatched 4 boys, 2 girls... Hoping for a better ratio this time. *fingers crossed*