March Hatch-A-Long

[GotCoop]

Hi All, hatching newbie with a question. i set my eggs last Sunday so it says Im on day 15 (the brinsea counts backward from 21) and I have not even opened the lid. Temp has been steady at 99.6 ish. Im using the mini brinsea with 7 eggs. When do I candle....and how do I candle....and what do I look for? and whats a blood ring....? I did tell you guys I would be annoying with questions Here's a picture of my crested cream legbat Kiki sitting on my lap just for something pretty to look at while you ponder all my dumb questions
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On some it will be easy to see veining, others the best you can tell is there is a darker area at 7 days. You don't have to be too quick to pull questionable eggs at the 7 day point. At 14 days, it is more apparent who is a keeper.

 

[Nekopan]

@Merrymouse
I’m a first timer too! I candled at 7 days and could see veins in most of them. I checked a few days later and it was even more apparent. I used a headlamp so I could take pictures with my phone. Get as bright of a light as you can, cup your hand around it and the egg and shine through the air cell (fat end of the egg).

I was planning to candle again at 14 days, but I’m having issues with my temperatures so trying to mess with the incubator as little as possible now. I will probably check one last time before lockdown even though there’s not much to see then.

 

[cppeace]

I plan to candle my first batch Monday which will be day 9 and then I will candle just before "lock down". Less is generally better. We are so spoiled these days lol

 

[HeiHeisMom]

Set a dozen Gin-Hen eggs 18 days ago.
Not sure if we have any fertile just yet as Guinea eggs are so dense shelled and my eye sight isn't what it used to be...but two more weeks should tell

 

[Nekopan]

@cppeace

I’m sure less is better, I just got excited after seeing embryos and movement on day 7

 

[cppeace]

lol Yeah I get it.

 

[Momof3teens]

When you first put eggs in, it generally takes 24 hours or so for the temp to normalize, better for them to be a little too cool in the beginning than too hot though.

We candled tonight and have 37 out of 42 good to go still!!!! I thought I cooked them all in the first 24 hrs.

 

[cppeace]

We candled tonight and have 35 out of 42 good to go still!!!! I thought I cooked them all in the first 24 hrs.

Sounds like you're doing great!

 

[cppeace]

Hey how much fan does it have to have to be considered forced air in incubators? For example, would this push hard enough to be considered a forced air incubator? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GCFVRYW/?tag=backy-20

 

[GotCoop]

It doesn't need to be that big. A 3x3 inch (80mm) flat computer fan works great for a Styrofoam type incubator. You can get them for a couple bucks on Amazon or eBay