May Hatch-a-Long!

[Farmer Viola]

picture time!!!

I have started putting the plastic tote on it's side with deer netting, 4 clamps, and a piece of wood to close in heat (when very little).

It works well with the brinsea so I can see underneath it:



babies!!!

1 seems to have a foot problem, will be making sandals for that one when DH gets home to help

 

[JenBoughtHens]

 I've only hatched a few times, but last year especially was agonizing. Had fertility AND humidity problems, ended up setting 35 eggs or so and only 6 were fertile--of which 5 hatched!

Steady progress is not generally how it goes, unfortunately. It seems like they pip, then go dormant for a long time, and then suddenly zip and pip within a few minutes to an hour!

What colour are the membranes from the pips? A solid white or transparent colour is good. Yellow/brown indicates drying, but I've had slight yellowing even in this hatch with very high humidity and still egg after egg is hatching.

Currently: 20 chicks plus 7 pips out of 51 eggs! The first egg to hatch was a miniscule bantam, named Earl E. Bird. Likely a rooster.

5 out of 6 is good though! You cant count the infertile

I can't see any membrane from the pips. They dont have it open enough.. or else it is transparent. I have 5 pips now though. 2 ees and 3 silkies.
I have been cleaning the house to keep from staring at them! Dh has too!
I read something about candling after the pip... but I cant do that?.. if I open the incubator to candle- they will shrink wrap right?

 

[Wishapup]

5 out of 6 is good though! You cant count the infertile

I can't see any membrane from the pips. They dont have it open enough.. or else it is transparent. I have 5 pips now though. 2 ees and 3 silkies.
I have been cleaning the house to keep from staring at them! Dh has too!
I read something about candling after the pip... but I cant do that?.. if I open the incubator to candle- they will shrink wrap right?

No, you don't need to candle at this point - could endanger humidity and for the most part you know what's happening. The chicks are probably all resting, and will soon begin to enlarge the pip! You might hear clicking or see the egg tooth working away

5 pips is excellent so far! You sound far more on schedule than I am.

 

[JenBoughtHens]

See the pips. Been this way about 12 hrs but new eggs are pipping.

 

[Wishapup]

See the pips. Been this way about 12 hrs but new eggs are pipping.

Looks good! I have a couple Silkies that look exactly like that right now too...

 

[JenBoughtHens]

Wishapup
Your optimism is a God-send

 

[lacychick]

I have my first one out, the one that has pipped at the wrong end hasn't changed

 

[Wishapup]

22 chicks out now. Incidence of pips is really slowing down... 9 shipped Marans doing nothing.

 

[Cynthia12]

Wishapup- thank you thank you. I am so glad you have some experience to share!
I never would have dreamt waiting for eggs to hatch would be this nerve-wracking! I guess I expected steady progress.

You will probably be sound asleep tonight..ahem..if you can sleep, the be awakened with the loud crying they usually do when they hatch.

 

[Cynthia12]

picture time!!!

I have started putting the plastic tote on it's side with deer netting, 4 clamps, and a piece of wood to close in heat (when very little).

It works well with the brinsea so I can see underneath it:



babies!!!

1 seems to have a foot problem, will be making sandals for that one when DH gets home to help

Wow, congrats! What are those blue ones? I love me some blue chickens.