JANUARY HATCH-A-LONG come join in

[Madcap621]

Well, I candled, and all I know for sure is that I don't know anything for sure!

With just one exception, nothing I saw looked remotely like any of the pictures I have been studying! None were as clear as day one. Many had a dark section at the bottom - one of the 'dark parts' floated to the bottom of any position -- not good, right? Most had dark sections in the middle. I thought I could see veins in several, and maybe one with a moving embryo.

I thought I had learned about 'blood ring, if so, a third of my eggs have them.

Thanks Save the Faverolles, for your words of wisdom and encouragement. Not planning to throw any out until after day 14. I got a 20 led flashlight for $5.00 today and that is what I used. I made notes on what I thought I saw in each egg so maybe I can compare for progress. Right now I feel pretty bummed.

 

[Ariel301]

I candled my little cracked egg today and it does appear to be still alive...I'm going to go patch it up with a bit of wax and hope for the best. Thanks for that idea!

 

[The Sheriff]

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Good news! Keep us posted. We may all end up with chickens named Humpty yet!

 

[SilverPhoenix]

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Oh, you bet I'll be posting photos! Probably tomorrow, depending on how much the little chick comes out from under its mama.

Also, I'm another person with a cracked egg! The egg is only very slightly cracked, though, and has been growing just fine. Let's hope it manages to hatch!

 

[chickenmeadow]

The Warden : Can I post the web address for your post showing the wax egg patch for your hatched chick Humpty? Or can you post it again? You're brilliant! I've kept it as an inspiration to never toss a cracked egg if I know it's a live one & not just a rotten, smelly, oozing egg ready to explode. I also saved that post address for a giggle, as seeing Humpty's little face was a delightful surprise.

Wax seems a more useable idea that makes a flexible surface instead of scotch tape or other tape which could possibly be too stiff for the chick to zip thru, but still a possibility in a pinch.

I had purchased some eggs for eating & had stuffed several cartons in to the fridge. Later I found that one carton had several cracked eggs inside, they had an apparent moisture loss which made dry spots near the crack. So, I would try the wax repair on a chick egg to protect the chick & its moisture.

 

[chickenmeadow]

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Madcap631: The great thing is that you said, "Many had a dark section at the bottom." That's a "bingo" in my books; so don't be bummed now, be happy. You've got a good chance at some viable eggs.

At day 14 or so, I throw out obviously clear eggs with no dark mass & any smelly egg.

 

[thechickonthehill]

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Oooh, Aaaah!

I have Silkie eggs in the bator - I can hardly wait!

 

[MarriedToTheFarm]

Thanks for all the great advice on candling! I feel much better about it now. I'm still going to try to wait until Sunday, that will be day 10 for me. I don't have high hopes since a lot of my eggs came out of the fridge when I got the bator. I'll be happy if some of the fresh ones hatch. My Sand Hill catalog came today so I wish I knew how well incubating is going to work out for me, otherwise I want to get my order in. This thread is so great, I love sharing in all the excitement!

 

[The Sheriff]

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You can absolutely re-post it if you can find it. I couldn't even remember whether it was Christmas or New Year's, that's how many eggs I've dropped!
Edited to say I haven't dropped any of the eggs currently being incubated! But I still have four days to go!

 

[chickenmeadow]

See the "wax egg repair" below, by "The Warden" (alias the repair expert, talk to Humpty for his testimony).

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=270500&p=68

There, I just corrected the address & took out the xtra word in it, sorry.