My Hatching Journey: the Adventures of a Complete Newbie

[BYC910]

Eggtopsy results:
3 very dead eggs, fluid visible on candle 2/3. They have been dead for a while.... One looks infertile, the other looks like degraded embryos. Nothing that looks remotely like a chicken in there.

-Banti
@BYC910

what about the one that showed the most growth ? did you break it open . Don't worry about this hatch. worry about the next one. This is all part of hatching it happens . I 'm going to enlarge and get a better look .

 

[BantyChooks]

what about the one that showed the most growth ? did you break it open . Don't worry about this hatch. worry about the next one. This is all part of hatching it happens . I 'm going to enlarge and get a better look .

I broke it open, but I didn't get pictures. I forgot, sorry. There was some brown gunk stuck to the air cell, and that was it. Not sure why I saw so much on candle, I'm thinking what I thought was the beak actually was the whole embryo? It was too degraded to even see eyes. Lots of fluid in the egg and a slight smell.

 

[BantyChooks]

Here's the pics in size large:

 

[BYC910]

I broke it open, but I didn't get pics, I forgot... But there was some brown gunk stuck to the air cell, and that was it. Not sure why I saw so much on candle, I'm thinking what I thought was the beak actually was the whole embryo! It was too degraded to even see eyes. Lots of fluid in the egg.

I think you had fertile eggs at set you for sure had veins . two thing worry me . the ruptured yokes for one . and possible illness for another .The ruptured yokes make me think that temperature might have been higher or gotten higher than you thought.

air cell size was spot on from what I saw . the amount of what appeared to be growth in the one egg my have been due to illness passed on by the hen . Humidity I think was good . so look again at thermometers .and remember you are dealing with still air . I still haven't looked at the fan on amazon .But I will later might think about adding it to your LG . don't know why but something makes me think the temperature was wrong . but WV and I ran to a turner issue a while back wrong time to ask but is the turner working ? I have decided to set on the fifth with you don't know about the hatch along but will set the same day . this means I will be Incubating in the cabinet for the first time .I just need a 120 eggs

also have to put the new thermostats in . no big deal . I'll start tomorrow night and send you pictures of the works fan and heater. also I will video air flow . once it is back together . so here we go again I think I have cleared up enough brooder space

 

[BantyChooks]

I think you had fertile eggs at set you for sure had veins .
Actually, I only saw veins in one, the one I thought had a beak.

. two thing worry me . the ruptured yokes for one .
Ravyn said it is probably normal yolk degrading after sitting in a bator for a bit?
and possible illness for another .The ruptured yokes make me think that temperature might have been higher or gotten higher than you thought.
Hmm, maybe I'll run at 100 for the HAL than... Instead of 101..
air cell size was spot on from what I saw .

Yep, little small at day 18 but still well within the normal range.
The amount of what appeared to be growth in the one egg my have been due to illness passed on by the hen . Humidity I think was good . so look again at thermometers.
.and remember you are dealing with still air . I still haven't looked at the fan on amazon .But I will later might think about adding it to your LG .
OK
don't know why but something makes me think the temperature was wrong.
I'll have to recalibrate than....
. but WV and I ran to a turner issue a while back wrong time to ask but is the turner working ?
I sat by it for 5 hours the first day and it does turn. It was working up to day 18, believe me, I checked it very obsessively.

I have decided to set on the fifth with you don't know about the hatch along but will set the same day .

this means I will be Incubating in the cabinet for the first time .I just need a 120 eggs :/

also have to put the new thermostats in . no big deal . I'll start tomorrow night and send you
. also I will video air flow . once it is back together . so here we go again I think I have cleared up enough brooder space

Awesome... Thanks so much.

 

[BYC910]

I have enlarged both and still feel you are looking at illness or heat . and really think about eggs from a different source just few to set with yours .

 

[BantyChooks]

I have enlarged both and still feel you are looking at illness or heat . and really think about eggs from a different source just few to set with yours .

I am trying to get some bantam eggs from my neighbour, but mine are not laying so I'd have to combine LF and bantam. Is that a big no-no? Maybe just set bantams?

 

[BYC910]

Ok..... I am trying to get some banty eggs from a neighbor, but my bantys are not laying so I'd have to combine LF and bantam. Is that a big no-no? Maybe just set bantams?
-Banti

I wouldn't think so I think the hatching length is the same . and even if it isn't you can lock down a day or two early . good question for Ravyn though . don't do little chickens . she dose . and WV as well . you know I really don't know how many chickens I have but it is a bunch . I'll do some mixed and GLWs and AM roos over EE hens No Rooster with the BCMs right now or the SLWs .right now. fertile or should be fertile eggs I'm getting a bout eighteen a day . so I think I can do it . also I know someone who doesn't live to far away with eggs who loves me and might help me out .

hint hint I have to cook dinner be back later

 

[Ravynscroft]

Ok..... I am trying to get some banty eggs from a neighbor, but my bantys are not laying so I'd have to combine LF and bantam. Is that a big no-no? Maybe just set bantams?
-Banti

You *can* set them together, but I've found here that in a styro they both hatch better separate... the only bantams I feel comfortable really setting with my lf eggs are my Araucana bantams, but they lay a bigger around more med sized egg... plus I only combine them in my cabinet...

In a styro, bantams seem to do better with a touch more humidity than lf, at least here... we have very high ambient humidity...

Go with what you want most... if you'd rather hatch bantams, then I'd just go that route... or pop in a few lf eggs if you want to see if they'll hatch...

I wouldn't think so I think the hatching length is the same . and even if it isn't you can lock down a day or two early . good question for Ravyn though . don't do little chickens . she dose . and WV as well . you know I really don't know how many chickens I have but it is a bunch . I'll do some mixed and GLWs and AM roos over EE hens No Rooster with the BCMs right now or the SLWs .right now. fertile or should be fertile eggs I'm getting a bout eighteen a day . so I think I can do it . also I know someone who doesn't live to far away with eggs who loves me and might help me out .  hint hint I have to cook dinner be back later

Will see what I can do... am setting then too, plus shipping some out... getting our pen hopppers confined so their eggs aren't mixed into our pures...

 

[WVduckchick]

I've done different breeds together. Most bantams hatch a little earlier than LF, a day or so. But in my opinion, the biggest factor is shell quality, because regulating humidity can be tricky with different breeds and cause some to lose more moisture than others. I hatched ducks, silkies, lavender orpingtons, and mutts together. My silkies lay a small-medium egg. My mutts have the densest shells of the chickens, and only 1 of 4 hatched. I think the others just grew too big in the shell to hatch. Didn't lose enough moisture. But the humidity was great for the silkies and lavs. The ducks I believe were a day late, and only 3/8 (iirc) hatched. Duck egg shells are really thick.

So my theory is (for what its worth) similar shelled breeds, should be ok, but its something to consider if they are alot different.