krstms and Potter Watch...and anyone else due to hatch around the 23rd

[Happy Chooks]

I as just wondering how it's going since you 2 are so close to me in hatching.

Mine are on Day 11 (

half way there!!!!). I candled Sunday night (Day 9) and I think I have 1 blood ring, but I'm leaving it to be sure. I saw some with movement, some with veins, and the rest were just so darn hard to see into. I could see the dark area, so I know they aren't infertile, but it was too hard to see veins. I'm going to check again tomorrow and see how they are doing.

 

[PotterWatch]

Yesterday (I think it was yesterday...), I broke open one that was badly cracked and most likely wouldn't have made it anyway. It had development! Hurray! I was so worried the temp spike the first day had killed any chances but apparently not. I'm not going to attempt to candle all of them until Thursday or Friday. Hoping to see some signs of life at that point!

Glad to hear yours seem to be doing well also!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Did the cracked one have lots of bubbles inside? The one I had that was cracked, I could see lots of little bubbles through the shell. I too cracked mine open and there were lots of bubbles and it too had some development. I figured the bubbles were from bacteria or air getting in.

 

[PotterWatch]

It actually looked fine at that point. I assume it wouldn't have survived as the crack it originally had, had gotten at least twice as big. If I had been thinking, I would have taken a picture of it.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Well, I candled again last night. I went over all the ? eggs that I couldn't see anything. I saw lots with movement. I have 5 of my 7 welsummer eggs that have movement.

The other 2 are just so darn dark. I still think the one BR egg is a blood ring, but still not 100% sure and maybe another one with a blood ring. (But it's so faint, it could be veins, I dunno) I can't see anything but the dark spot in the 2 BBS Orp eggs.

 

[PotterWatch]

I candled a few last night just to see if I could see anything. I saw movement! That was really cool. I am trying not to handle them too much, but it's hard. So far, all the ones I have looked at seem to be developing well.

 

[krstms]

Well not that great actually. I candled on day 10 and I have movement in two of the green eggs and one of my eggs. The other two of my own were definitely developing with veins and all. The rest of the green ones dont seem to be doing anything.

I've left them in just in case but I think some of them are infertile and I cracked a couple that were scrambled. Since I'm so new to candling it's hard for me to tell anything especially in the green ones. I think there is one with a blood ring as well but I left it to be sure. I'm not sure I was clear on the temp problem in the first 24 hrs but what happened was.... I had made a homemade incubator that didnt have a thermostat. I had it set up and the temp stable but when I put the eggs in it went all over the place. It would go down to 97 and back up to 104 so I was afraid none would develop. I went and borrowed my mother-in-laws incubator and set them in it and the temp has been steady ever since but I was worried that I ruined them. I was so excited that they started to develop. I think several have quit me though.

Oh well after my goof in the beginning I'll be lucky to get any to hatch. Right now I think all I have that are viable are 2 green and 3 brown . I'll keep ya posted.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Don't be discouraged. I didn't see anything in A LOT of mine, until last night. I still have some ? eggs which I will continue to check. I'm not taking any out unless they start weeping or smelling.

I found I had the best luck seeing movement by candling by the airsac. Right on the edge of the airsac is where I saw the most movement. I had to move the flashlight several times to get it just right.

 

[krstms]

Well after candling today I have definite movement in all three of my brown pullet eggs. The will be either buff orpington or a cross of buff orpington and white rock. I also still see movement in one green/blue egg and one has veins and all but is just to dark to see anything else.

I'm afraid the other six ee's I have left are not viable.

They have no veins or movement at all just a small dark blob which I assume is just a yolk. Like you I am not removing them just yet though in case I'm wrong. BTW glad to hear both of your hatches are doing so well!

I'm buying an incubator of my own before I try this again.

 

[PotterWatch]

Well, my boys just helped me candle and record every egg. We saw veining and movement in eighteen and five where we couldn't tell so are labeling them as inconclusive. It was so cool to see the little things move around!