Lockdown....now I'm freaking!

[buckaroo's wife]

Its lockdown day for me. I was worried about setting the eggs straigt down on the wire mesh (they've been in a turner in my LG still air) so I have them in egg cartons. I took the egg cartons, cut the tops off, and basically inverted them. The eggs are sitting in the "trays" made by the tops, which are sitting on top of the bottoms. Clear as mud?! ....but I'm worried they are too high and the chicks will burn their heads on the heating element....HELP!

 

[Pasha1]

I went on lockdown today too. I see your worry, but have no experience. Just wanted to let you know you are not alone... in stressing that is. Good luck!

 

[Sumatra55]

Lay them flat on the wire, the will be perfectly fine.

 

[buckaroo's wife]

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I have paper towels over the wire that are damp - is it ok to set the eggs right on them?

 

[buckaroo's wife]

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Thank you!!! Man - of all the things I've done, this takes the cake! Good luck to you too - be sure to report back on your hatches!!!

 

[Pasha1]

I will. Can't wait for baby chicks.

 

[buckaroo's wife]

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Me either. I'm pretty new to this chicken deal (I've had hens for just about a year) but this is my first attempt at hatching. So fun!

 

[gryeyes]

My first hatch was not really all that long ago, and I have only been keeping chickens since October 2009. Lordy, do I know how it feels that first time.... and the second time... and the third time... et al. The first time was a total crap shoot, so to speak. I truly believe I got live chicks ONLY because I had an excellent incubator (Brinsea MiniAdvance) and the eggs were prime breeder's eggs (Wynette's). I totally expected NOTHING to hatch, that I would do SOMETHING to muck it up somehow. I didn't candle the eggs, because I didn't trust what I would see. It was nerve-wracking.

But when that first chick kicked its way out of the shell, I was HOOKED. To think a little life came from something I could just have easily cracked open and cooked for breakfast 21 days earlier was just AWESOME, in the truest sense of that word: Awe.

I still consider it a bonus if ANY chick hatches, hope for at least two, and if more hatch I am eggstatic!

Happy Hatching! And if untoward things happen, keep trying until you get it right.

 

[Pasha1]

Just checking in to see how it's going? Not much here yet. Put mine in a hatcher yesterday morning. Today 3 are kinda moving. just a little wiggle. Guessing that's a good sign. I am hoping to start to see something. So nerve racking. I can't stop watching through the window.

 

[buckaroo's wife]

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Nothing yet. I have to work a LONG day today, so I'm dying of anticipation. Luckily DH is home and giving me updates. Nothing to report yet.....but fingers are crossed!!