JANUARY ...OUR FIRST HATCHING OF 2013 ANYONE? come join!!

[Roxannemc]

Brook
What is that little chick in your avatar? HE/SHE sure has a chest. CUTE.
Guess i need to wrap a few presents and go to bed...that time

 

[lucyharper123]

im possibly setting eggs tomorrow!

 

[Brookhavens]

Brook
What is that little chick in your avatar? HE/SHE sure has a chest. CUTE.
Guess i need to wrap a few presents and go to bed...that time

That is one of the little Serama I hatched. Her name is Peewee because she was the tiniest chick I had ever seen. She is a week younger than the other 5 I have. I set 48 Serama eggs (3 different sets) and ended up with 6 chicks. Very hard to hatch. For once I got 1 roo and 5 hens.

 

[hereorthere]

Hi Everyone! I'll just be watching and learning off you guys on this thread! Am waiting for my incubator to come in.... ETA is around Jan 3.... sigh. But on the bright side, I should have some more Welsummer eggs - hopefully 24 for my 1st hatch. Am hoping the learning curve is not a steep one.

Can I ask a question about storing my current eggs? Have it in a non-drafty closet that's approx. 55-60F range in an egg carton, pointy end down.... but since reading a few threads here and there (and even from some of you guys....) I'm concerned about air cells now. So I've flipped the cartons to it's side (to replicate laying flat in nest boxes), but will this cause issues in the future?

Also will not p/u my ONE prized egg until evenings (work late) in these 30-40s cold weather potentially damage a fertilized embryo? Thanks!

 

[Brookhavens]

Hi Everyone! I'll just be watching and learning off you guys on this thread! Am waiting for my incubator to come in.... ETA is around Jan 3.... sigh. But on the bright side, I should have some more Welsummer eggs - hopefully 24 for my 1st hatch. Am hoping the learning curve is not a steep one.

Can I ask a question about storing my current eggs? Have it in a non-drafty closet that's approx. 55-60F range in an egg carton, pointy end down.... but since reading a few threads here and there (and even from some of you guys....) I'm concerned about air cells now. So I've flipped the cartons to it's side (to replicate laying flat in nest boxes), but will this cause issues in the future?

Also will not p/u my ONE prized egg until evenings (work late) in these 30-40s cold weather potentially damage a fertilized embryo? Thanks!

Store your eggs pointy end down and rotate the cartons a few times a day. Your temperature sounds good but make sure that the humidity is 65-70% (The higher the better.) You really do not want to store eggs for a long period of time. Usually 10 days max. After that the fertility of the eggs begins to decline. 5-7 days is usually the best.

Copied and pasted from another site:

You really do not want keep them more than 5 days without incubation, after that they become weak and the chances of them hatching goes down by the day.
Keep fertile eggs in a cool-humid storage area. Ideal storage conditions include a 55 degree F. temperature and 75% relative humidity. Store the eggs with the small end pointed downward.
Alter egg position periodically if not incubating within 4-7 days. Turn the eggs to a new position once daily until placing in the incubator.
Hatchability holds well up to seven days, but declines rapidly after that.
Try not to store eggs more than 7 days before incubating. A 14 day storage reduces hatch to near 50% and after 3 weeks of storage, hatchability drops to almost zero. Plan ahead and have a regular hatching schedule to avoid storage problems and reduced hatch percentages.
Allow cool eggs to warm slowly to room temperature before placing in the incubator. Abrupt warming from 55 degrees to 100 degrees causes moisture condensation on the egg shell that leads to disease and reduced hatches.
Start incubator 24 hrs ahead of loading to fine tune temperature and humidity settings.
Dirty eggs should not be saved.Slightly soiled eggs are fine. Do not wash dirty eggs.
Removing the bloom triples the chance of sick,deformed chicks. Of those that do survive the hatch, mortality is high the first week.

 

[hereorthere]

Thanks Brookhavens! Did break open an egg laid about a 1 1/2 wk ago, and yep it had a blood ring around it. Kinda bummed that I can't get my hens to lay more fresher eggs, but I suppose one can't rush a good thing.... And now it looks like a few are starting to molt - Oy vey!

 

[Roxannemc]

HI ALL... i have a hatch coming Jan 9, 2013 BBS Orps and one Jan 14th LO aNd White Orps HINKJC (PLEASE HATCH!!

i m very excited .
My bator is full. Also got a new GOOD flashlight ahd was thrilled to see movement in my eggs that will lockdown tomorrow (in mail 7 days).Need to candle the next batch tomorrow.They are a week along and not turned
.

 

[Brookhavens]

HI ALL... i have a hatch coming Jan 9, 2013 BBS Orps and one Jan 14th LO aNd White Orps HINKJC (PLEASE HATCH!!

i m very excited .
My bator is full. Also got a new GOOD flashlight ahd was thrilled to see movement in my eggs that will lockdown tomorrow (in mail 7 days).Need to candle the next batch tomorrow.They are a week along and not turned
.

Hoping for a good hatch for you. Keeping my fingers crossed for your candling tomorrow

I usually candle them right before I start turning them. Even if I don't see anything I leave them in until day 10 and then candle again. I have had a few that showed nothing on day 7 and then there was something on day 10.

 

[Roxannemc]

Yeah i use to wait until day 10..... now i am getting too anxious or curious these particularly as they were the 7 day shipped ones. The next took 5 to get here . ...better but not good.
Usually candle again day 10.This good 200 lumen flashlight I have now i can REALLY see SO MUCH MORE!! So excited about it working so well. (did isay that before)
As you say you see a lot more day 10
.I am getting where i leave everything in. Even sometimes the clears!!
I am gonna have a blow up one day.
I do take the leakers and stinkers out ..


By the way ...the previous thread abut setting...Mine wre so late the last 2 or 3 times i have started to set them just 12 hours in room temp then IN THECARTON big end up for another 12 IN the bator. then leave up or lay down after that.
The last 3 sets i have gotten i am lettiing set in the carton without turning for 7 days as Brook and a few ppl have said better hatches if done so.

 

[Roxannemc]

Candled 6 ...hard to tell but did see veins in at least 3 so somethings growing! Will do all at day 10.