Moon’s first time incubating eggs, and also Hatch-Along!

[catsndogs4us]

Okay not yet stabilized but humidity is going down. Picture featuring “the dirty white egg” as I’ve called it. It is unique in that it’s clearly just so dirty lol, and it have thin spots, maybe cracks, for some reason.

Lots of best wishes for this egg to hatch and be healthy for you!

 

[MoonMoon]

Alright, today is Day 7/Day 6/Day 3.

I did a stupid last night I think, I left the water dripper in because I knew that would keep the humidity up but it was too high this morning. 72% humidity. I have no idea how long it was in 72% but I panicked again as always, but didn't do anything but remove the water dripper. Now it's stable 56% humidity and I'm just hoping all was fine. I was not home most of the day, I have no idea.

Today outdoor temp was coldest at 8°C, so we turned the heater on, now room temp is about 27°C which I think is too hot but my parents disagree. At least it’ll help the incubator stay consistently heated. I suspect there’s a cold spot in the incubator because thermo/hygro, when on the right side read 36°C while left side read 37°C...well, we’ll see. It is just a theory for now.

 

[MoonMoon]

Midnight of Day 8/Day 7/Day 4.
Well, the entire day was coolest at 8°C. Brrr. But the room temp was hot at around 25°C, 60% humidity. No rain today.

The incubator ran stable at 27-28°C, this morning it was ~50%, and came home to 39% but I fixed it to become ~50%. Keeping humidity exactly 45-50% is pretty hard. Add water: it evaporates immediately. Don’t add water: It dries out fast. Pain.

It’s a holiday tomorrow so I’ll get a whole day off at home to check the incubator and hang out with the chickens...well, between chores. Home is a mess when everyone goes to work 12 hours a day lol

 

[MoonMoon]

Day 9/Day 8/Day 5.

Outdoor temp 14°C on average, room temp ~22°C. The heater, or I should specify, the house’s radiator system, was turned on for half the day, and then now it’s off again.

I’ll be honest, the incubator was 62% humidity for almost the entire day. I added water early morning and it stayed 62% throughout the day. I didn't let the humidity fall like I said, I did add more water smh.

Removed an egg today. Twas a white egg on clutch one, laid and set on 29th of April. Had movement candled on 3rd of May but developed bumps and stopped moving yesterday(7th of May). I know it’s recommended that I leave hatching eggs on counter for a day(24 hours?) before setting but...well, no buts, my fault and inpatient alone.(Random thought but I wondered if that was why 3 eggs had already quit so early.)
So far 27 out of 33 eggs are viable at least. Currently there’s 27 eggs in the incubator.

It was the only egg not veiny out of a dozen eggs I checked today(pretty quickly)

Here’s a pic of a healthy egg at least. Same age.

I know I am candling too often. Seems like daily at this point but it’s so addicting aaaa. Impatient and just like watching chicks move, smh.
Gotta try harder to wean that habit off

 

[MoonMoon]

Day 11/Day 10/Day 7.

Not going to report the weather anymore lmao unless notable. Incubator temp is 36-37°C? The incubator’s monitor is reading 38.0°C though. The thermo/hygro could be wrong, or the incubator’s monitor could be wrong. I can’t test before the hatch date though I think. I want the thermo/hygro in there, also don’t have time for testing temps I’ll just trust it’s close enough...we’ll see.

Humidity is stable 44-52%. Only adding a few drops of water every day and it’s working. I’ll not open the incubator to keep heat and moisture in and only candle tomorrow.

 

[MoonMoon]

Day 12/Day 11/Day 8.
I increased the incubator heat to 38.3°C yesterday actually.(Factory setting is 38°C) Hygro/thermo is reading 38°C, 50%
Unfortunately, one mid term quitter, a pretty big yellow egg, golden comet’s.

Zero movements, decayed veins, loose embryo and opaque content. Unfortunate as I’d candled this egg 2 days ago and it had movements and stuff. I wonder if it’s my fault for candling too much, fluctuated temperature, unstable humidity or just a genetically unviable. I’ve gotten good at candling(honestly whatever doesn’t move is probably dead) at least.


Finally can candle the darker eggs, probably from the same hen? Snowy which was probably marans line CZdominant breed crossed mix something. She was slightly more expensive.

Well unfortunately all of the dark eggs are infertile. Really wanted to see what the heavy bloom one would hatch but it wasn’t even fertilized. Clear all the way. Pictures for reference anyway.

The probable mom is lowest in pecking order and the rooster keeps bullying her out of food instead of ever mounting her so I guess it makes sense her eggs weren’t fert. Next batch I’ll seperate breeders out for better fertility rate.

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We still have 23 eggs at least, and the dozen I candled have healthy veins and movements so we will just have to believe I am doing well. I’m doing as best as I can with what I have.

Next candling date is 16-18th of May, I’m not sure. Final candling before “lockdown” which I will maintain humidity ~60% and hope for the best as I have 2 stagger clutches. The three eggs three day behind will be most at risk but I think they can live with just occasional manual turning.

 

[MoonMoon]

I think Day 14/Day 13/Day 10 ???
Darn it I already lost track! But I think eggs set on 29th April due 20th of May. Eggs set on 30th due 21st and eggs set 3rd of May due 24th of May.

Thermo/Hygro keeps reading 36°C occasionally. I’ve been surprisingly successful on maintaining humidity around 40-50% now.

Because I am too stressed about the reading though, I’ll probably candle again tonight. Currently at work right now, morning. It’s 13th of May.

A source said I should only turn 6 times a day and more will shuffle the embryos too much. Another source said broody hen turn her eggs 60+ times a day so whenever I am home I just turn eggs every 30 minutes-1 hour. I trust the more I turn the better(in moderation of course, spaced apart, and partly because the problem with cold spots)

Will post candling pics tonight.

 

[MoonMoon]

I almost forgot to take pictures

Luckily had only gone through 4. I usually candle very quickly because I don't want to lose heat so I should’ve kept going but ehhh. I wanted pictures...anyway.

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All I’ve checked is fine and have movements! And I checked about 20 I think? At least most of them. I had lost track a few. There are still a long while, 8-12 more days till everyone hatches but I’ve seen the miraculous kicks today so I’ll be real sad if any dies soon. Even the pretty big eggs are still fine, for now. I expected those to be early quitter from what I’ve observed and read tbh. I don't have anything to weigh the eggs so all I did was put whatever I have on hand into the incubator anyway, deformed eggs or not. Next batch I’ll probably choose pairing and ideal eggs but this batch, no idea on mothers, can only guess, is 80% accurate but still can only guess. Hopefully I get some half wyandotte, leghorns and friendly chicks
I wanted Snowy’s chicks too but they’re all duds or maybe one of the slightly light but still dark brown egg may surprise me any that’s born with feathered feet is Snowy’s(the only one with feathered legs)

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Actually a few eggs have specks of separated tissue and smallish air cell, but because there are movements, I trust it will work out...

Honestly I am too tired to sort and number the eggs so I can’t tell you which is 13 days old and which is 10 days old. I’ll probably stop candling now, let hope none of the eggs explode for the last 7/8/11 days push. Then again maybe I’ll candle again near lockdown? I like keeping track, just don’t want to do it at the expense of the eggs. Easiest way to see if egg is dead or not is candling duh. At least I know the incubator still work well for now. The hygro/thermo is probably incorrect or these eggs are surviving 36°C? Hm.