March 2023 hatch-a-long

[CragbornCottage]

Evening all! Just joined and first post, what a great forum! I thought I would get involved in this thread as we have our first ever little batch in the incubator. We bought a small block last year and inherited some guinea fowl who have been laying well, so I bought a cheap small incubator to see what happens. There are 6 guinea eggs that have been in for 15 days, and from a neighbour we have in 5 assorted chicken eggs that have been in for 12 days (mostly Rhode Island Reds I believe but could be a mix). We candled last weekend and all seemed to be going well to my un-expert eye, except for one guinea egg which looks empty. All very exciting and looking forward to the journey! Thanks for sharing all your stories

 

[Iluveggers]

Here was my first candle last night at 70 hours! Most were too think & dark to see into, but I could see a couple of the lighter eggs growing!

 

[junior67]

Waiting on my shipped eggs that SHOULD be at the PO today....... But normally they are there at like 5am so not sure what the hold up is! I was going to go ASAP and get them before work so I could get them opened and set pointy side down to settle and set them tomorrow morning..... No updates besides (arriving today by 9pm which is all it ever says on the day they should arrive). Got a notice they left the main PO from NC on Tue evening, then one Wed that they were "on time" but it just says in transit to next destination.... no other updates......... UGH I am going nuts! If I have to go after work I don't know when I will set them since I work tomorrow, come home and have to leave ASAP to drive 2 hrs away to a cheer comp so won't be home till late. and if they don't come in until tomorrow I have NO clue what I will do since I offered to go into work early since I need to leave early which doesn't really give me time to get to the PO and open them.......... Unless I don't go in early........ I was so excited and now so stressed! LOL

 

[Iluveggers]

Waiting on my shipped eggs that SHOULD be at the PO today....... But normally they are there at like 5am so not sure what the hold up is! I was going to go ASAP and get them before work so I could get them opened and set pointy side down to settle and set them tomorrow morning..... No updates besides (arriving today by 9pm which is all it ever says on the day they should arrive). Got a notice they left the main PO from NC on Tue evening, then one Wed that they were "on time" but it just says in transit to next destination.... no other updates......... UGH I am going nuts! If I have to go after work I don't know when I will set them since I work tomorrow, come home and have to leave ASAP to drive 2 hrs away to a cheer comp so won't be home till late. and if they don't come in until tomorrow I have NO clue what I will do since I offered to go into work early since I need to leave early which doesn't really give me time to get to the PO and open them.......... Unless I don't go in early........ I was so excited and now so stressed! LOL

I have a love-hate relationship with the postal service…is someone there that you could ask about the eggs now & see if they are in fact there? Or have a neighbor or family member grab them for you during the day?

 

[junior67]

I have a love-hate relationship with the postal service…is someone there that you could ask about the eggs now & see if they are in fact there? Or have a neighbor or family member grab them for you during the day?

I am sure I could call but they are normally great about updating it. My friend works at the PO and will normally tell me too but of course she is off today, how dare she have a day off the day I need her. hahaaa.

My daughters could maybe pick them up, but the older one doesn't want to go alone and my younger one has to go into work at 12 so they would need to be in before then. tomorrow there is no one that can grab them if they aren't in today, well maybe my friend that works there after she gets out of work. LOL

The package says "Live Chicken Embryos" on it so my PO is normally good and treats it like a live animal.

 

[Kikilu]

I am sure I could call but they are normally great about updating it. My friend works at the PO and will normally tell me too but of course she is off today, how dare she have a day off the day I need her. hahaaa.

My daughters could maybe pick them up, but the older one doesn't want to go alone and my younger one has to go into work at 12 so they would need to be in before then. tomorrow there is no one that can grab them if they aren't in today, well maybe my friend that works there after she gets out of work. LOL

The package says "Live Chicken Embryos" on it so my PO is normally good and treats it like a live animal.

I found getting eggs shipped so stressful! I’m glad Im picking up locally this time but I do have more shipped eggs coming in April.

 

[junior67]

I found getting eggs shipped so stressful! I’m glad Im picking up locally this time but I do have more shipped eggs coming in April.

It is stressful waiting but with the 5 batches I had shipped last year besides the couple that actually went out for delivery it hasn't been too bad. I set it that it texts me all updates on the eggs and like I said normally around 5-6am I get a text that they arrived at my PO on the day they should. then I go in and pick them up. some that I couldn't get to on the app to "hold" them there I had my friend that worked there let them know so they just held the package for me at the PO. I have a feeling they aren't going to be here today but hopefully I am wrong!!!!!

 

[BarnyardChaos]

I am sure I could call but they are normally great about updating it. My friend works at the PO and will normally tell me too but of course she is off today, how dare she have a day off the day I need her. hahaaa.

My daughters could maybe pick them up, but the older one doesn't want to go alone and my younger one has to go into work at 12 so they would need to be in before then. tomorrow there is no one that can grab them if they aren't in today, well maybe my friend that works there after she gets out of work. LOL

The package says "Live Chicken Embryos" on it so my PO is normally good and treats it like a live animal.

Imagine the stress if you'd ordered live chicks. Now take a few slow, deep breaths and count your blessings. Fertilized eggs are still viable up to two weeks (even up to a month, but not as much) after being laid. As long as they're not exposed to incubation temps, they'll wait.

 

[junior67]

Imagine the stress if you'd ordered live chicks. Now take a few slow, deep breaths and count your blessings. Fertilized eggs are still viable up to two weeks (even up to a month, but not as much) after being laid. As long as they're not exposed to incubation temps, they'll wait.

Thanks! This is why I don't order live chicks! hahaa. I couldn't handle the stress of that.

It is more timing and when I can get them that has me stressed. tomorrow I (should) work 8:30-2. the PO opens at 8 which is when I would normally leave. technically I am not scheduled till 10 but should work till 3:30 but I have to leave early for the comp..... If I HAVE to I could run there on my way home tomorrow but would have no time to open them before I have to leave. Sat is a surprise party I am helping plan for so time is tight then as well since I have to prep food and help decorate...... fingers crossed they come today!!!!!!!!! If not they may not be able to sit for 24+ hrs before I set them since 3 weeks from Sat I am gone the whole day and I don't want to miss them all hatching. haahaa.

 

[Iluveggers]

Thanks! This is why I don't order live chicks! hahaa. I couldn't handle the stress of that.

It is more timing and when I can get them that has me stressed. tomorrow I (should) work 8:30-2. the PO opens at 8 which is when I would normally leave. technically I am not scheduled till 10 but should work till 3:30 but I have to leave early for the comp..... If I HAVE to I could run there on my way home tomorrow but would have no time to open them before I have to leave. Sat is a surprise party I am helping plan for so time is tight then as well since I have to prep food and help decorate...... fingers crossed they come today!!!!!!!!! If not they may not be able to sit for 24+ hrs before I set them since 3 weeks from Sat I am gone the whole day and I don't want to miss them all hatching. haahaa.

Grab them at 8 tomorrow and go straight to work from there and unpack at work (could you do that?) I could see retail or other jobs not working thst way, but office jobs or a place with an employee break room (or an understanding boss’s office maybe as a safe storage spot?) Bring a couple cartons to store them in and put them in a box so no one sees them, lol.

Just trying to help, hope I’m not infringing too much!