Just set my FIRST eggs!

[JoAnn_WI_4-H_Mom]

Not to mention the smell.

I think you candle at the end of the day.

 

[FairfieldChicks]

goodluck fellow hatchers! I hope you have as much luck as myself
I found incubating to be my niche... I had a 100% hatch rate with my homemade incubator 4yrs ago

I had hatched out 20 quail eggs by hand turning them 5 times daily, in a fish tank converted into my mini incubator and brooder.
I bought a cabinet incubator for a great price

and havnt had many problems at all

. I have about an 85% hatch rate, but mostly due to my infertile eggs my hens were dishing me for a few months

Now that spring is here and I have a more than happy healthy rooster, I think my rate should go up to at least 95% or higher

I have 50 button quail eggs setting now, along with a few random chicken eggs, one is going to hatch over the next few days and quail are due in about a week and a half

Im excited, and always get excited before pip date

 

[raimnel]

Me too! Me too! I'm warming mine up right now! I want to set the eggs tomorrow! I'm soooo egg-cited!

(sorry I coldn't resist) We just made our 'bator last night.

it has a pink fan with lights! My dear sweet father found it for me, he's such an enabler! We'll be setting what I think are silkie eggs I've been holding for a week waiting for her to be broody, but I can't wait any longer. I asked my DH for a 'bator 2 days ago and now WALA! I have one. I just have to put on the final touches. so I gotta run to the store!! TOO DA LOO!

 

[WhoaNellie]

Best of luck!

I am putting my first hatch into lockdown tonight. So I know exactly how you are all feeling.

Over the last 18 days, here is what I've been able to gather:
A mother hen does not keep everything 100% perfect all the time. You WILL have changes in temps and humidity, some of which look very scary. You just have to roll with it and not stress about it.
These three weeks are going to feel like FOREVER! Yet you'll get to lockdown day and realize you are soooo not prepared for the next step of this process.

(think I might want to purchase a brooder & lights in the next couple of days????)
Eggs that you are sure are doing nothing, will surprise you a few days later.
The thrill of seeing veining for the first time will make your heart pitter patter.
You will obsess and worry and act like a "mother hen" (pun totally intended), but make sure you have fun.

That's all my inexperienced brain can give.....hopefully, I'll have chicks in a few days to prove that I'm giving some good words of wisdom.

 

[brandyb]

I candled 3 of my 9 eggs tonight and I saw veins in all 3. It is the end of day 5, I think I'm seeing what I am supposed to be seeing. I saw veins, the air sac and a dark blob, the veins were coming through the dark blob, I hope this means that there is a growing chick inside. Does anyone know? I can't post pics because I'm posting this from my blackberry right now.

Thank you!

I am so excited!!!!! But I have a long wait for day 21!!!

 

[WhoaNellie]

It sounds like you are seeing what you should be seeing! Congrats!

 

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

Quote:
Awesome. And that's a forced-air incubator.

An LG still-air is different.

 

[lharper]

So, I candled last night. Out of the 10 eggs I set, 6 I saw definite movement and 4 were questionable. I didn't toss any, just marked with a ? to check again later. There was no smell or anything, so I still have so hope.

Lydia

 

[lharper]

Candled again late last night. Out of the 4 questionable eggs, 3 had movement, and 1 had a blood ring. I had DH open it. Kinda gross, but learning experience, I guess. It had started forming, but stopped soon.

Lydia

 

[JoAnn_WI_4-H_Mom]

Now, imagine me doing that 21 times as part of my high school embryology project, and having to put those babies in a jar of alcohol.

by the time they were developing toes and feathers and really moving around it was heart-breaking

Never again. The schools now will not even allow such a project as "no experiment shall knowingly cause pain or harm to animals" Glad the schools got compassion over the years.