My Basic DIY Incubator

[kuhnse51]

Haha aww they're such awkward little things

 

[torilovessmiles]

These were my friday the 13th chicks last month

NN/frizzles 3 weeks old and awkward.

That awkward tweenage phase

They'll be so pretty when they get older though!

 

[torilovessmiles]

(Day 9) I candled today instead of day 10 because I may be busy tomorrow and I forgot to mark my good ones last time. I'm pretty sure the one I thought had a blood ring is, in fact, dead. The "dot" is no bigger and not moving, the veins are less visible, and the ring looks more visible. I'll probably take it out on day 14, just to be sure. On the bright side, my two good ones are doing well! I saw them moving, and I saw the eyes!

 

[kuhnse51]

Yeah definitely keep it in just in case! Its so cool when you see them move for the first time! Congrats

 

[torilovessmiles]

Yeah definitely keep it in just in case! Its so cool when you see them move for the first time! Congrats

thanks! I really hope both hatch! Watching them move was so cool, it almost felt like it was looking at me (though I know it wasn't xD)!

 

[torilovessmiles]

(End of day 12, round 2) Ugh this is stressful. I went ahead and candled because I have no self control, and I'm just not seeing much movement. The eggs are getting darker and darker, but I'm not seeing much at all in the big shadow. I'm sure I'm just overreacting but I was watching candling videos and they move like crazy!
Anyway, air cells growing, egg is darkening, big veins, so it may still go well.
It's so hard to keep the temp stable at night without a thermostat. If the room gets to hot, I cook them. If every night is too cold, I mess up their development or kill them. Note to anyone trying this as a permanent use, get a thermostat or a broody hen!

 

[gimmie birdies]

just remember after day 8 you don't see much. dark is good.- just keep an eye on the air cell, I try and candle only on days 5 just so I can move out any non-developers day 7 so I can pencil air cell day 14 penciling air cell again. day 18 before lock down and shine light on tip to make sure it is dark. some times people might say "I have 2 air cells on day 18 an upper and a lower." if on day 18 you can shine light in the eggs point it is not air it is undigested yoke, which just means it may hatch a day or 2 later. and it should not go into lock down just yet.


day 18 looks like this. I don't candle after day 18. not much goes on. they pip the inner membrane, then rest a day then the outer may take another day to hatch. good time for them to absorb liquid. see the space between the dark and the air cell? fluids. and it is best to not help, the chick needs to push off the egg shell to get strong straight legs. good luck! I am on days 5/7/8

 

[kuhnse51]

I barely saw movement in mine except one egg which moved when I candled at day 14 and 18 I believe it was, the rest were mostly just veins/dark. I think your still good as long as the dark space and air cell continues growing I'm on day 6 with shipped eggs and it is impossible to see through about half of them because of the color and thickness of the shells. I now know what you're going through with candling @torilovessmiles

Appreciate the info @gimmiebirdies!

 

[gimmie birdies]

I had a Maran egg I didn't know was developing until day 10 and I could see the air cell and the veining near the air cell.

 

[torilovessmiles]

Glad I'm not the only one! Thanks guys, I would go crazy without the two of you following this thread

Thanks for the candling pics and info, gimmie birdies!! It helps a lot!