July Hatch-a-long

[sbrown]

Ok , starting to get a little worried. Day 21 was Sunday night. I think I have 16 that have hatched so far. But 22 eggs still in the bator. I started with 14 RIR eggs and 24 Marans. Most of the RIR have hatched I think but a good many left are Marans. I read that Marans can take longer. I just did the float test and don't know if I trust that. According to results, almost all the eggs floated with the large end up, about 1/4 of the egg maybe above water. One kinda wanted to float on its side. So does that mean they are still good. None sank and none completely floated with majority of the shell out of water. No smell at all in bator or at least not a rotten egg smell. Had an excellent hatch last month but I used my eggs and this month I got eggs elsewhere. So I guess I'll give another day or so. Any thoughts?

 

[sharol]

I have little experience with this, but I hatched 12 Marans eggs this month. My broody hatched 3 of her 6 on day 19 and 20 (1 clear, 1 quitter, and 1 that died shortly after hatch), and I hatched 3 of my 6 in the brooder (1 clear, 2 quitters). They hatched on day 23-24. I wouldn't give up on them. You can candle them with a bright flashlight. The one I used was a Coleman from Walmart that is rated at 240 lumens, and I could pretty much see what was going on inside (and 3 of the eggs were REALLY dark brown). By my count,you are only on day 23. I wouldn't give up on them yet. The high float would not be a good thing, but my float test last month was a complete bust -- completely wrong. If I had tossed the eggs, one of my chicks wouldn't have had a chance to finish developing. It is completely nerve wracking, isn't it?

Ok , starting to get a little worried. Day 21 was Sunday night. I think I have 16 that have hatched so far. But 22 eggs still in the bator. I started with 14 RIR eggs and 24 Marans. Most of the RIR have hatched I think but a good many left are Marans. I read that Marans can take longer. I just did the float test and don't know if I trust that. According to results, almost all the eggs floated with the large end up, about 1/4 of the egg maybe above water. One kinda wanted to float on its side. So does that mean they are still good. None sank and none completely floated with majority of the shell out of water. No smell at all in bator or at least not a rotten egg smell. Had an excellent hatch last month but I used my eggs and this month I got eggs elsewhere. So I guess I'll give another day or so. Any thoughts?

 

[BY Chicken Lady]

Ok , starting to get a little worried. Day 21 was Sunday night. I think I have 16 that have hatched so far. But 22 eggs still in the bator. I started with 14 RIR eggs and 24 Marans. Most of the RIR have hatched I think but a good many left are Marans. I read that Marans can take longer. I just did the float test and don't know if I trust that. According to results, almost all the eggs floated with the large end up, about 1/4 of the egg maybe above water. One kinda wanted to float on its side. So does that mean they are still good. None sank and none completely floated with majority of the shell out of water. No smell at all in bator or at least not a rotten egg smell. Had an excellent hatch last month but I used my eggs and this month I got eggs elsewhere. So I guess I'll give another day or so. Any thoughts?

While floating was there any movement? I havr seen chicks bounce whrn floating.

 

[Gen9]

I don't trust the float test, it mostly shows you how big the air cell is, the only thing I'd look for is movement like BY Chicken Lady mentioned. The air cell will become larger the older the egg is, doesn't matter if it's fertile, embryo, or clear. I think I'm going to invest in a brighter flashlight next time.

This is all from what I've been reading on the float test. I'm also going to start weighing my eggs. It's suppose to be more accurate than checking the air cell.

 

[EverMystique1]

I remember having a similar event when I was a kid. Discovered a rotten smell in one egg. My dad said to carefully take it outside...as I walked out the front door with this egg in my open hand the temperature change must have caused it to contract just enough...it exploded all over me. I was luckily outside in my Jammie's. easy to strip down and run inside to the shower. You still had to clean up your house after showering again! Nasty smell huh?!

Luckily... or unluckily... it all landed on me. I was only a few minutes from leaving for work and had to stop to replace a flat tire, plus get tge window we had ordered from the lumber yard. Not nice, let me tell ya.

What day are you on? Sorry to read this

I set them on June 28th, but had no true idea of hatch dates. My broody hatched 9 then left these on the nest. When I candled, i coukd see they had been added by another hen, on different days. 1 hatched last weekend, and one is still moving aroubd, nit yet ready. So, kind of a guessing game. Or Russian roullette with eggs.

 

[BY Chicken Lady]

I don't trust the float test, it mostly shows you how big the air cell is, the only thing I'd look for is movement like BY Chicken Lady mentioned. The air cell will become larger the older the egg is, doesn't matter if it's fertile, embryo, or clear. I think I'm going to invest in a brighter flashlight next time. 


This is all from what I've been reading on the float test. I'm also going to start weighing my eggs. It's suppose to be more accurate than checking the air cell.

I took over the hubbies LED Mag lite flashlight. I wrapped dark tape around the end, slowly making the hole smaller till it was slightly smaller than an egg, then folded the last round of tape inside so it doesn't stick to my eggs. It is really bright and my eggs fit right over the hole without letting any light out around it. Great for candling!

 

[jammyjammy2112]

my eggs are wiggling ahhh i cant wait lockdown is tommorrow today day 17 will i have babys soon i have 4 bantams and 3 black orps

bye july hatch hello augest hatch tread

 

[sbrown]

Ok Im back. Yea, the float test is worthless in my opinion. After getting in from work today and seeing progress on the remaining 22 eggs, I cracked all them open. Many of the Marans eggs were unfertile so the person I got them from must have an issue with some roosters or something. Only 8 out of 24 Marans eggs hatched which is terrible to me. 8 of 14 hatched of the RIR's which is ok I guess especially since they were dirtier than I would have liked. I hope this isn't an indication of what to expect with Marans. I did have several also that looked like they had developed almost completely. I don't know what happened there. Glad to have gotten what I did but was sure hoping for more Marans. Guess I got spoiled by lasts months hatch, which was my own eggs.

 

[DeannaA]

The first batch of eggs I ordered online came in a box that had the corner ripped off and the other end crushed. Only 1 of 16 formed a chick. I had a chicken get loose in the house a bump the heat adjust knob. Yesterday when I woke up the temp was down to 95' and this morning up to 108'. Little thing is still alive. It was supposed to hatch yesterday. I have been watching and waiting. I finally left the house for a few hours, to pick up supplies to build a new incubator, when I got home the bulb was out. Poor little chick. If it survives, it will be one strong chicken. Go, chick, go!

I haven't had so many problems with the rest of my eggs thank goodness.

 

[chickydee64]

Ok Im back. Yea, the float test is worthless in my opinion. After getting in from work today and seeing progress on the remaining 22 eggs, I cracked all them open. Many of the Marans eggs were unfertile so the person I got them from must have an issue with some roosters or something. Only 8 out of 24 Marans eggs hatched which is terrible to me. 8 of 14 hatched of the RIR's which is ok I guess especially since they were dirtier than I would have liked. I hope this isn't an indication of what to expect with Marans. I did have several also that looked like they had developed almost completely. I don't know what happened there. Glad to have gotten what I did but was sure hoping for more Marans. Guess I got spoiled by lasts months hatch, which was my own eggs.

Please don't blame the breed.I have had wonderful hatches with Marans.................
Also my largest percentage of broody hens.....................