May Hatch Thread--Fill up those bators n' broodies!

[BearSpringsFarm]

Day 14+15 for me. i candled the eggs a little while ago and saw a foot!
Im using a homemade incubator and i am amazed that anything developed. this started out as an experiment but now Im planning for more larger hatches lol.
I think Im addicted

It's easy to do - good luck!!

 

[Missyktsm]

Time will be on your side.  You might be able to tell better by day 10.  It will get darker and darker as the chick develops.  I have a couple brown porous ones and I could just barely see development by day 7.

Thank you for that! It's so difficult to see through the spots and I've been wondering if it's just me.

I candled last night, day 4, and had really mixed results. I have 3 that I could see the embryo and veining, 20 that look good but I couldn't make out the veins, pretty sure i have 5 with blood rings, 5 saddled, 3 I'm pretty sure are clear (gonna wait a few days to be sure), and 6 that I'm just completely unsure about.

Is it normal to find that many with blood rings and saddling? I was really surprised by that. I left them in the incubator and am candling again Friday which will be day 8. If there is no change should I toss them?

I was hoping for much better results than this.

 

[gingerly1983]

If the blood rings are obvious, toss them. I wouldn't toss the saddled air cells though. I've had several hatch out with those wonky air cells. You just have to keep an eye on them during hatch. The may need a little help.

 

[bird-brain]

My first batch is due to hatch on 5/10. It's a small hatch of 8 eggs. Day 7 showed all eggs fertile. Day ten showed good development. I have another 12 that I candled at 5 days. They are due the 17th. All fertile. I am hopeful. But nervous as a cut rat in a cat house.

I told y'all I would drive myself nuts with this. Eventually I have to sleep. Lol

 

[jnjmanning]

My first batch is due to hatch on 5/10. It's a small hatch of 8 eggs. Day 7 showed all eggs fertile. Day ten showed good development. I have another 12 that I candled at 5 days. They are due the 17th. All fertile. I am hopeful. But nervous as a cut rat in a cat house.

I told y'all I would drive myself nuts with this. Eventually I have to sleep. Lol

LOL I have my 1st batch due to hatch the 9th(6 Polish Frizzles) and my 2nd the 16th and my 3rd on the 22nd! So when mine start pipping on the 9th I will post and get you all excited!!!!

 

[MayDayMel]

I have 15 in the incubator. Really REALLY hoping that we get a good hatch out of these. My son is super excited, and my husband is probably just thinking "great, more animals."

 

[Partyfowl]

My son is super excited, and my husband is probably just thinking "great, more animals."

Yup. That's what they all think!

 

[18Peeps]

One more day! I can barely wait.

Anything happening over there?!

I love the flower in your avatar by the way. That is huge!!

 

[18Peeps]

Thank you for that! It's so difficult to see through the spots and I've been wondering if it's just me.

I candled last night, day 4, and had really mixed results. I have 3 that I could see the embryo and veining, 20 that look good but I couldn't make out the veins, pretty sure i have 5 with blood rings, 5 saddled, 3 I'm pretty sure are clear (gonna wait a few days to be sure), and 6 that I'm just completely unsure about.

Is it normal to find that many with blood rings and saddling? I was really surprised by that. I left them in the incubator and am candling again Friday which will be day 8. If there is no change should I toss them?

I was hoping for much better results than this.

It's not just you! Sounds like you are doing a great job candling to me...maybe it's just too early to tell for some?

Are they shipped eggs? If so, I would say yes to the saddling in the air sacs. Blood rings means they are dead though and that can also be from shipping. If shipped eggs aren't packaged well, they just have a really hard time developing. I got some that were mailed on their sides and they all had detached air cells. They can hatch alright even with the funny looking air cells though so think good hatching thoughts. The only problem I saw was it made it difficult to follow the standard air cell pictures (so much space by day 7, 10, etc...).

Have you seen this article? https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/step-by-step-guide-to-assisted-hatching If you scroll down toward the bottom you can see some photos of the saddle bag air cells....from shipping.

 

[Missyktsm]

It's not just you!  Sounds like you are doing a great job candling to me...maybe it's just too early to tell for some?

Are they shipped eggs?  If so, I would say yes to the saddling in the air sacs.  Blood rings means they are dead though and that can also be from shipping.  If shipped eggs aren't packaged well, they just have a really hard time developing.  I got some that were mailed on their sides and they all had detached air cells. They can hatch alright even with the funny looking air cells though so think good hatching thoughts.  The only problem I saw was it made it difficult to follow the standard air cell pictures (so much space by day 7, 10, etc...).   

Have you seen this article?  https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/step-by-step-guide-to-assisted-hatching  If you scroll down toward the bottom you can see some photos of the saddle bag air cells....from shipping.

Thanks so much! I had not seen that article and WOW at the great information. After reading it, I REALLY hope I don't have to assist lol.

The eggs were not shipped. A breeder and I met half-way. I had only ordered a dozen from her but she brought me extras - 45! About a year ago, this woman took over a beautiful SQ flock from a 20+ year breeder. I'm hoping for gorgeous birds lol! I tried to be extremely carefully while transporting and have followed all the info I've found but still had a mixed bag when candling. We'll see what happens.