Lockdown

[PD-Riverman]

Yes, I've candled several over the last couple of nights.... I thought one was moving, a couple days ago, but when I candled it, I couldn't tell for sure it was alive - probably just wishful thinking on my part! I'll give them until tomorrow evening and then pull the plug. Have you ever heard of eggs hatching after day 23?

You almost feel like you've lost a child

. Bizarre. Those eggs probably never had a chance!

Yes I have heard of eggs hatching after day 23---even day 25 mainly because the temp was to low. I personally have never had it to happen.

Question, how does the inside of the egg look when you candled them last? If you are candling them now----they should be just a dark egg inside--not really see anything----if you are seeing a lot of light and some little dark globs inside---they are no good?

I am not a pro----in my opinion but I did hatch over 6000 from mid 2014 to mid 2015 and a few more hundred in the last year. I will try and answer questions if you have some.

 

[n8ivetxn]

Well, there are a few that are so dark I can't see anything, but there are also a few (like you described) that seem to be mostly dark or have dark globs.... I don't know for certain, but it looks like the chick got stuck to the side??? - I do have (did) a turner in there and it worked fine, so I guess maybe damage from shipping?

6000?! Wow, thats a lot!

 

[n8ivetxn]

I also had multiple thermometer/hygrometers in there and I did calibrate them.... I had one day, after the first candling, I guess I messed up the foil baffle on the light close to the thermostat, but the temp fell for a few hours (95-97) but I caught it and made adjustments. Other than that, the temp and humidity were very stable.

 

[mrchicks]

Mine aren't due until tomorrow, but I had 2 pips before I left for work. I'm bailing out early.

 

[n8ivetxn]

I don't blame you - I would too! Many times I had lambs coming and I'd take some leave from work just so I could be home.... ya know, just in case!

 

[mrchicks]

Rushed home to no ducklings. More pips, but that's it. We went out for dinner so I would stop staring. Rushed home, more pips but no ducklings. I think I'm getting more gray hair today.

 

[dana0710]

This is our first time hatching. I haven't slept well for days! We are on day 23 now and out of 7, I think I see one tiny pip, but I don't even trust my eyes anymore! Yesterday, before the pip, we candled a few. I have a feeling that two of them may be duds, but the one that is pipped, we could see it working inside. I just hope we get more than one so I'm not in a frantic rush to find friends for it.

I think I may be more stressed about these chickens than I was when I had my daughter.

Good luck!

 

[n8ivetxn]

Rushed home to no ducklings. More pips, but that's it. We went out for dinner so I would stop staring. Rushed home, more pips but no ducklings. I think I'm getting more gray hair today.

LOL! Yeah, I think I developed a few more grey hairs during the last 3 weeks! - They're comin' momma, they're comin'!

 

[n8ivetxn]

This is our first time hatching. I haven't slept well for days! We are on day 23 now and out of 7, I think I see one tiny pip, but I don't even trust my eyes anymore! Yesterday, before the pip, we candled a few. I have a feeling that two of them may be duds, but the one that is pipped, we could see it working inside. I just hope we get more than one so I'm not in a frantic rush to find friends for it.

I think I may be more stressed about these chickens than I was when I had my daughter.

Good luck!

I just finished my first attempt.... I say attempt, because none hatched. The few that were viable became early quitters.... I did the same thing - couldn't trust my eyes!

Yes, it is stressful! I don't see how people do this back to back - I didn't sleep well the whole time, always staring at the box !

It upended my whole life

And, as it turned out, for nothing! So, what did I do? I bought more eggs to try again!

I think it's more stressful than waiting for my ewes to lamb, for sure!

 

[AustralorpsAU]

I never understood the hatching addiction until now! lol I feel entirely responsible for these little lives and it's making me crazy. Even my laid back husband sits in front of the incubator for hours.

Haha i know. There is a storm here and all the surrounding towns have their power out so i am glad ours is still on because i was stressing big time if the power would turn off to my incubator!