March 2017! Hatch with us!

[mich9510]

Well I candled my eggs tonight. I took out 6 of the araucana eggs as they were infertile. Two more are iffy. The other13 are going strong! I love seeing those little hearts beating away with the blood vessels developing. The two jersey giants I threw in the mix are developing. And I can't tell with the BCM eggs. They're too dark. I had a few definitely developing but can't tell with some so I left them all in the bator. Today is day 4.

 

[orrpeople]

Well I candled my eggs tonight. I took out 6 of the araucana eggs as they were infertile. Two more are iffy. The other13 are going strong! I love seeing those little hearts beating away with the blood vessels developing. The two jersey giants I threw in the mix are developing. And I can't tell with the BCM eggs. They're too dark. I had a few definitely developing but can't tell with some so I left them all in the bator. Today is day 4.

I have a love/hate relationship with the first candle - always a few to toss out, but so incredibly cool to see the ones that are developing!! Here's hoping they keep going strong!

 

[lilwildrabbit]

I have waited on my candling this time till lockdown I had to get a better candler I couldn't tell what was going on inside with the set up I had so I ordered a 2000 lumen flashlight might be able to see something then

 

[HenLeia]

So, on my first candling attempt, I see a lot of eggs with all the solids on one side of the egg. About 6 of them have what looks like a blood ring, but it doesn't go around the circumference of the egg, just a circle on the side of the egg. Is this an indication that my turner is not working? Are the eggs with the side rings no good?

 

[WVduckchick]

I'm at day 18 today!! Wahoo! One thing about my hovabator Genesis is that it takes me almost the entire day to get it to a good lockdown humidity. And I have two of them and they both are slow that way. But, once they're up, they seem to stay up pretty well. Anyway, I've never hatched cream legbar babies and I am so excited!
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I have 2 Octagon 20s for incubating, but have been using an FI styro for hatching. Same here, it takes a good day to get it stable humidity wise, but I like it once I get it set.

I'm excited for your CLs too, cause I really want some of them myself!!

I have waited on my candling this time till lockdown I had to get a better candler I couldn't tell what was going on inside with the set up I had so I ordered a 2000 lumen flashlight might be able to see something then

2000? Wow, that's gonna light them up for sure!

So, on my first candling attempt, I see a lot of eggs with all the solids on one side of the egg. About 6 of them have what looks like a blood ring, but it doesn't go around the circumference of the egg, just a circle on the side of the egg. Is this an indication that my turner is not working? Are the eggs with the side rings no good?

If they are laying down, I hear that's normal. I have done every set upright, until these call duck eggs. Supposedly they do better on their sides, and hand turned, so that's what I'm doing. Never saw the development on one side like this, and was shocked when I saw it. But I was told that was normal! I did notice last night they are starting to go all the way around, I'm almost half way with them.

And blood rings don't have to go all the way around. If it's a blood ring, all the veins will disappear and be obvious. Leave anything until you are positive!

 

[yeye5]

My power is back on. 100% hatch rate. All the chicks did just fine thanks to some hand warmers I got from the feed store. The two that were still just pips when the power went out had some major sticky-chick issues, but I was able to assist them out and give them baths. I'm not sure how the eggs are doing yet. I didn't want to open the incubator to candle until the temp got back up to normal. Will candle tonight and see how they are doing.

Great save! I'm so happy they hatched for you!

 

[yeye5]

Everyone's hatches are so exciting!!! (Especially now that I think I can stop worrying about my endless crazy hatch). My total is 3. I'm happy with that.
I did notice yesterday that the chicks look thinner, dare I say more "frail" than others have in the past. I mean new chicks are delicate but these need to get fatter.
I opened the nests yesterday but it got cool overnight so it looks like Mima has kept the hicks covered and stayed in the nest.
Today I plan to completely change the nest box to one that I know the chicks can begin to get out of it they choose. Keeping the 2nd "nursery" half story separated from the ground floor.
Ideally 2 nest boxes fit easily up there with room for others to roost in front of the boxes or not. I hope to create (then "suggest" to the 2 pullets that they start laying in one of the upper boxes instead of their preference for "wherever" on the ground. They are very silly.

I have some dried meal worms. I'd like to give some to Mima and maybe she can teach the chicks to eat them? Is this too young to be trying that? They're under a week old.
Thanks for responses. You all ROCK!
And now, I believe I get to sit back for the remainder of this lovely spring turning month and cheer all of your eggs on to become tiny little peeps!

I LOVE tiny little PeePs!

(in lieu of photos until later)

 

[GingersHuman]

I didn't plan on hatching anything, as I'm splitting an order of chicks due to come in the end of May. But my OEGB pullet had different ideas! So, I sat her with 2 LF eggs and 3 bantam eggs yesterday evening. This will be her first hatching. I don't candle or anything, just leave it to the mama hen, so hopefully I'll have chick pics the end of this month!

 

[orrpeople]

I didn't plan on hatching anything, as I'm splitting an order of chicks due to come in the end of May. But my OEGB pullet had different ideas! So, I sat her with 2 LF eggs and 3 bantam eggs yesterday evening. This will be her first hatching. I don't candle or anything, just leave it to the mama hen, so hopefully I'll have chick pics the end of this month!

Awesome! Welcome aboard! How great that you are letting your pullet give it a go! How old is she?

 

[lilwildrabbit]

You can't beat a good sitting hen worth their weight in gold!