January 2023 Hatch-a-long

[I Like Turkeys]

Is it weird that the mass of veins that encompasses the embryo is stuck to one side of the egg? It's like it chose one wall, and is slowly work its way to encompass the whole egg, and is about 1/3-1/2 there. I've seen candling pictures, but they all show veins and embryo, I didn't realize that if you hold the egg horizontally and then rotate it, basically the back half of the egg is clear when you candle it around day 5-6ish. Is this normal? This doesn't mean my egg rotation is faulty, does it? Cause the turner is working great, except for those three where I put the 23rd egg.

I'm no expert but I don't think it's weird. That's how all my incubations start; a dark spot on one side that stays still before spreading to darken the whole egg. I actually count early eggs that move or drift as potential dead ones, because as far as i've been told, it's bad? I can't remember exactly why.

 

[FunClucks]

I'm a little late to the thread, but I set my first batch in December and 7 of 8 in lockdown hatched between Jan 2-4. They are silkies so tiny and adorable. Not at all as loud as my Australorp chicks when I brought them home last year!

Pictures??? Because cuteness!!!

 

[FunClucks]

I'm no expert but I don't think it's weird. That's how all my incubations start; a dark spot on one side that stays still before spreading to darken the whole egg. I actually count early eggs that move or drift as potential dead ones, because as far as i've been told, it's bad? I can't remember exactly why.

Ok, thanks for that info! I just wasn't expecting to see that half dark/half light thing going on.

I've heard that the embryos can move or drift in the first few days of candling, but after that, it can be a sign of embryo death, so I was looking for some of that. Didn't see it except in the ones that had only been incubating for a few days, and it's apparently normal at that time. So exciting to see how they develop!!!

 

[gimmie birdies]

The 1/2 dark-light thing keeps getting darker, and by day 16-18 light will not show through the pointed end, if developing right.

 

[gimmie birdies]

Last night after putting the roo in the coop, he was talking to them, in a calming voice, like a coo. He stayed on the roost this morning.

 

[gimmie birdies]

I took him off the roost, he was too shy to come down. He didn't struggle, then he squatted for me. I just pet him and told him it is okay. He is 8 months old.

 

[gimmie birdies]

Here is his pic...

 

[Kool-Kemp]

I realized I have some cool spots in my LG incubator. I went to buy a hygrometer thermometer (here is the link AcuRite brand), and the temp showed to be only 91 degrees at the cool spot. I only put the thermo there for an hour, not sure if I have to wait long for accurate reading.
What do you guys do when you have cool spots in incubator?

 

[gimmie birdies]

I am sure i have cool spots in my LG incubator. My solution is to not over fill. I try not to have eggs touch the walls.

 

[junior67]

baby #2 hatched. may be another silkie or silkie mix.