Just started my first chicks today at 6:45 need some help!

[snazzyboots]

i also just put some shipped eggs (and some local) in last night. one batch of mine was pretty broken but there are a few i'm going to give a chance. my first time ever. good luck to you. sending positive hatching vibes

 

[bigtime400]

I sorta understand. I was curious about that. I saw alot of posts about people hatching together and not really sure what was going on with that. People who are hatching just start a thread comparing their experience?

I did mention that I candled the eggs. Some I could see the air sac some it seemed to move around. or perhaps that could have been the yoke. Not sure.

I thought about calling the post office.... guess I should have.

Thanks alot for the links. I really appreciate it.

 

[bigtime400]

Well I got all my eggs now. Not a single one came broke or cracked. So thats a good thing. Now what do I do with the extras???? I really dont have the room. I was thinking of maybe just stacking them on top of the other in an egg crate sorta like they come when you buy them in bulk.... and then if I have some bad ones... which I am sure I will... pull them when I candle them say around day 5 you think??

 

[bigtime400]

Seem to be having a little bit of temp problems too.... Im keeping up on it but seems to be fluctuating quite a bit. (it was stable) The thermostat doesnt seem to be working properly.

I would have figured the thermostat that I have would work much better then a water heater thermostat as this one has an intended use of regulating room temp.

 

[youngbiddy]

Quote:
That sounds good, you'll know by day 5 which ones aren't fertile.

 

[adrian]

When you candle your eggs, shine your light through the large end of the egg. The air cell should light up and appear white, whereas the rest of the egg will not be like that. If your air cells are moving around you need to incubate in an egg carton and be careful with them. Sometimes air cells detach when eggs are shipped. Air cells are very different looking than a yolk, so I would suggest acquainting yourself with the anatomy of an egg so as to better understand and interpret what you see when you candle. It can be so frustrating and confusing to go into incubating without educating yourself on some basics, so I highly recommend it. It's also good to look around for candling pictures so that you know what to look for.

 

[bigtime400]

I am incubating in an egg carton. It is set in my turner though.... Should I not be turning the eggs that possibly have the detached air sack? I have read a ton of stuff and looked at pictures of developing eggs and candled eggs. Unfortunatly I must have glossed over the part on detached air sacks. I know now. From everything I was reading people candled at 2-3 days or so and if nothing by 7 they are dead.


So you think thats a good idea to set the extras in a carton on top of the other eggs?

 

[Cynthia12]

Quote:
On the egg crate idea..guess it's an ok idea...I have never done it that way? Maybe someone else has?

Don't candle yet..too soon! You usually can't see the air sac until a few days anyway. I like waiting until the third day, I can usually see a little something..then on the 4th, or 5th, sometimes you can see a little embryo floating to the top of the egg...cute!

By the 7th day, you really should see a black eye spot. And it wriggles around. My husband made me a nice candler..out of a can. Used a LED light bulb..doesn't get as hot. Works great!

 

[bigtime400]

The temps have evened out very nicely. The only problem I seem to have is the eggs are furthest from the heat source seem to drop in temp when I turn that side down.... when they are up they are exposed to the radiant heat they will maintain 100* easily. and when they are turned down the one thermo in the egg will drop to 97. Im thinking about adding another fan...... I didnt have this issue till I added the eggs. Not sure if its due to the eggs blocking more air. I guess I should have added some plastic eggs to test the bator but I didnt figure this would be an issue being that my fan is larger then a computer fan.

Here is a picture before I finished it up. I had since then moved the stat to the other side in front of the light. I also put my egg crate in the tray to hold the eggs.

in therory the fan is supposed to suck the cold air from the bottom and shoot past the hot bulb to help convection. Does this look ok? I was thinking about tossing another fan in there...... they are on their 3rd day.

Also currently the tray is away from the light about an inch more with foil on the wire between the rack and the lights.

 

[MMPoultryFarms]

for future please allow the eggs to sit for 24 hours point down to allow for the air sacks to settle. also Candle going in and candle at 7 days. Happy hatching.