July 2022 Hatch-A-Long

[UThobbyfarmer]

@FreedomFarm13 Here's is a link to a post I did about it. Back in April 2019. I know I did a post on it in the hatching section around that time too but didn't get much feedback. It works best at day 5. Although you might catch it anywhere between day 4-6 depending on your temps.

Hold eggs vertical and move your candler from the very top to very bottom of the egg. the entire length of the egg. Look for banding or "candy corn effect" (FYI I made that up, it's not an official term). As you slowly move your light the egg will change from light to dark then back to light. If you keep the candler right around the middle you can see all 3 layers at the same time.

This is something that's made possible by changes to the yolk as the embryo develops. An unfertile egg will light up completely. Or some slight darkening around the yolk. However it stays pretty round and bright. You will not see any clear delineation or bands like in a developing egg. Once you know what you're looking for you can see it horizontally too. It's much easier to see it vertically at first.

First picture is the full candy corn effect with a bright light source in the middle of the egg. Second pic is light source at the top of the egg only. The last picture is some of the eggs from this hatch, Marans and Sexlink to show egg colors. Very dark and this technique works on all of them. Note there is no obvious veining visible.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...byc-easter-hatch-a-long.1291653/post-21183310

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

Here is my original post on it. From way back in 2017! It's got some good pictures of dark eggs.

Maybe someone in this HAL with day 5 eggs can give it a try? Then share pics with us.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ke-this-day-5-candling.1200634/#post-19010062

I like this picture because it shows the developing embryo and the three colored banding.

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

Well that's it for me going through old photos right now. I had pictures of past flocks and even a dog we lost at a young age (probably an undiagnosed heart condition). No idea why I posted him on BYC. It was a VERY sad trip down memory lane but I hope these photos and old posts are worth trotting out to help other hatchers.

 

[Gammas Bearded Babies]

Still early and not technically due til tonight...but this lil one is such a floofy baby!

I hear other chirps n 2 external pips...so that's good.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

BABIES! 4 hatched over night and 4 more pips. There will be an incubator full when I get home.

 

[gimmie birdies]

I went to the store again and bought more local eggs since I had 34/36 my last batch. I have a neighbor that is hatching some eggs, and I thought I would join her. 3 to the front are blue eggs, one white one, another blue one, and spotty brown eggs. The last eggs that hatched were mostly blue eggs, and some pink. So it is nice to have diff Colors. These eggs look good in the candle.

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

Final numbers for 25 shipped eggs.

Hatched:
7 Legbars
2 Olive eggers
3 Silverudd’s
1 Welsummer
Total of 13 chicks!

Overall a nice hatch that I’m pleased with. I’m bummed about the Welsummers. 5 made it to lockdown. Eggtopsy revealed they just didn’t loose enough moisture. I wish now I’d have run dry a few more days but there’s always something to learn.

I have one Silverudd’s still in the incubator. It hatched by itself early on day 21 without fully absorbing its yolk. By the time I put it in a cup 30 minutes had elapsed and there was a significant amount of blood around the incubator. It’s a strong chick but I’m unclear if it is yolk or an intestinal loop that’s still outside the body. I’m dipping it’s beak a couple of times a day in an electrolyte mixture (Sav-A-Chick and Nutridrench for Poultry). I should know more in a couple of days if it’ll make it. If it starts to looks worse each day, rather that better, I’ll have to cull. You can tell from the pictures it’s very unimpressed with being left behind in the incubator.

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

View attachment 3176138
I went to the store again and bought more local eggs since I had 34/36 my last batch. I have a neighbor that is hatching some eggs, and I thought I would join her. 3 to the front are blue eggs, one white one, another blue one, and spotty brown eggs. The last eggs that hatched were mostly blue eggs, and some pink. So it is nice to have diff Colors. These eggs look good in the candle.

They are beautiful. You always hatch the loveliest chicks!

We’re ships passing in the night, @gimmie birdies. My hatch finished today but I’m feeling rather committed to this July HAL. I think I’ll stick around and see how everyone’s hatches turn out.

 

[gimmie birdies]

Nice- UT you feel like a sister since we both bought hatching eggs from Foxfire. Which was fun. I love hatching he-he, as you know.

 

[gimmie birdies]

My last batch I had black or chipmunk chicks, but one was silver-I hope to get another like her!