May 2020 Hatch-A-Long

[mandi427]

We candled tonight (day 7) and only saw one egg with development, but not giving up! We'll try again in three days and hope to see some more eggs developing.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

We candled tonight (day 7) and only saw one egg with development, but not giving up! We'll try again in three days and hope to see some more eggs developing.

 

[MandaRae]

Day 10 we have Veins & i can see the dark circle (eye?) On some of the lighter color shells!!!
6 maybe 7 fertile eggs

 

[CindyinSD]

Goosies finish in 8 days--but with geese, hatch day seems to be more of a suggestion than a consistent prediction... from what I can read. I wonder whether I can put them in with the ducklings, who will be a week old by then... and what on earth will I do with the other thirteen goose eggs I added because my broody goose wasn't committed yet--since I already stuffed the other incubator full to the gills (knowing my one rooster can't possibly cover all my many girls)? By then I'll be able to toss clears, but 13 goose eggs need a lot of space. Of course by then I'll be likely tossing some goose eggs, too... Oh dear--maybe another incubator?

 

[ShannonsChimkens]

Goosies finish in 8 days--but with geese, hatch day seems to be more of a suggestion than a consistent prediction... from what I can read. I wonder whether I can put them in with the ducklings, who will be a week old by then... and what on earth will I do with the other thirteen goose eggs I added because my broody goose wasn't committed yet--since I already stuffed the other incubator full to the gills (knowing my one rooster can't possibly cover all my many girls)? By then I'll be able to toss clears, but 13 goose eggs need a lot of space. Of course by then I'll be likely tossing some goose eggs, too... Oh dear--maybe another incubator?

Yes! You’ll need another for a hatcher too.

 

[Honora]

I candled yesterday at day 10, tossed 1 quitter. 2 others look like they have probably stopped developing but 17 are looking good! When I candled at day 7 I thought only 13 were developing, so I am happily surprised. Most of them looked very active and strong.

They'll need to be, to hatch with those messed up air cells. Almost all the air cells are saddle shaped & a couple are still wobbly. We have done assisted hatching before though, so if we need to help out with hatching we will do our best. I will be happy even if we only get 5 chicks!

 

[Vantic]

We candled tonight (day 7) and only saw one egg with development, but not giving up! We'll try again in three days and hope to see some more eggs developing.

 

[Erin80]

Candled last night on day 7..... the 8 I can actually see into are developing great! The 2 maran eggs though.....besides a black speck that I can see (hoping it’s an eye), I really have no idea. Those eggs are so hard to candle! Will candle again around day 10 or 11 and see if I can see anything else. I’m new at this and my biggest challenge is finding air cells. I’m also nervous to rotate the egg on the candling light too much to look for air cells......I don’t want to disrupt anything.

 

[SharW75]

We set 28 eggs yesterday and today. Most of them are shipped eggs, but 7 of them are our own. Temp has been steady at about 100.4 and humidity at 42%. Hoping for some babies in a few weeks!

My nieces' teacher is also incubating a dozen eggs for us, which will be a very early May hatch. They're a bunch of our barnyard mixes, which will be exciting!

We also have a broody on day 7 with 5 eggs (3 of which are for sure developing), for a May hatch.

 

[CindyinSD]

Candled last night on day 7..... the 8 I can actually see into are developing great! The 2 maran eggs though.....besides a black speck that I can see (hoping it’s an eye), I really have no idea. Those eggs are so hard to candle! Will candle again around day 10 or 11 and see if I can see anything else. I’m new at this and my biggest challenge is finding air cells. I’m also nervous to rotate the egg on the candling light too much to look for air cells......I don’t want to disrupt anything.

You don't need to worry about rotating the egg. You won't hurt anything by doing that. Just don't drop it. It's easy to loosen your grip as you concentrate on what you're seeing or not seeing. I have caught myself doing that on occasion.

You will (or should) find the air cell on the broad end of the egg. Sometimes with very fresh eggs it will be very small. It will appear later. Put the flashlight against the big end of the egg. (If the egg is especially round, try both ends.) Don't be afraid to move the egg around--the hen will not be. When using a flashlight, hide the brightness at the edges. I use the fleshy part of my hand, between the thumb and first finger.

If you have spotted eggs (like quail), try a phone light. Its tiny beam can shine between the spots. I have been told (have not tried) that with difficult eggs it may work to use a different-colored light. Be aware, though, that very hot flashlights can melt a colored film quickly. It might be helpful, once you decide in a good color, to paint the lens of a second, dedicated light with a translucent fingernail polish.