new batch..join me!

[featherbabes]

It is sooo hard to NOT candle EVERY DAY!!! I'm not too sure yet, as this is my first attempt, but I see movement in a lot of my eggs, but I am thinking this will be a very low hatch rate. It seems that more than half of the eggs are not showing veins or movement. But, like I said, being my first hatch, I'm going to give it some more time.

 

[JulieZ]

Hope it is not to late for me to join in on the talk? I posted a note that I put in on 5/15/12 & someone directed me over here. Been reading everyone's success, and sad losses. Now that it is gearing down to the time of lock down, I'm battling temp's since yesterday. Florida had tropical storm Beryl come through & since then, it has been a battle to balance it out. Thankfully I'm a stay at home chicken mama.

I placed in 73 Buff Orpington's. I've "lost" 22 ... 12 from non-fertilization & the rest to pre-beryl reasons. Not sure why, just did. My temps run 100 & humidity 50-58%. Had a few minor hiccups that were correctly quickly. Ordered these from Ebay so maybe travel played a role. Was over charged on Shipping, she offered a refund & I think I will take her up on it for shipping purposes, then order more eggs for the ones lost. Really was hoping for a 90% hatch rate.

Sinful Confession : I candle almost nightly now. Have been for the last week. Just can't help it. Need my hand smacked.

Julie

 

[Avonshire]

Julie soooo (well first welcome!) what do you see every night when you candle? Are there differences? I have a friend who is an eggspert coming over tomorrow to help me determine if the rest of my eggs are any good. Well I have four that are suspicious. I cant wait to candle them with her! We are having a little candling party! Lol!

 

[shardean]

Thanks for joining us Julie! I can't believe its so close...almost lock down time! I'm so addicted, I am already working on my next batch! I won an auction for 12 silkie eggs...hope they hatch, I am so excited to have silkies! And I've been collecting polish eggs..already have a dozen! Then I'm going to try eggs from this health store..maybe there will be some fertile ones in there! This is just too much fun!

 

[JulieZ]

TY for the welcome.
Each night I candle, there is growth. Rather from the body itself or the veins getting thicker. It takes me about 5 minutes to go through the eggs & it is very humid in the back room with the incubator. Would love to linger and enjoy the chicks-in-eggs but too risky.
Candled a couple of hours ago. About 10 of my eggs are WELL advanced. By at least 3 days. Makes me wonder how long the lady I bought them from kept a hold of them or if they started growth on the way to me. They were packed super snug. Can barely see anything in the egg. Worried how this is going to play out. Hate the thought of losing them. What I did do was place them all to the side together. Not sure if there is anything else that can be done.
Candle party. Sounds like fun! And it is extremely enjoyable to watch the heart beat, veins throbbing from blood flow and the acrobatic baby in the egg. WOW! WOW! WOW! I want to hear all about it.
Know that addiction feeling. LOVE my chickens ... LOVE incubating.
Julie

 

[shardean]

I just tried candling again...I don't see what everyone else sees! The eggs now seem so dark...guessing that its because the chick is taking up the space! My giant egg was clear...but that was the only one. I did not check all...A few more days until lock down! It went to fast! Good luck everyone!

 

[hollymh]

It's lockdown at my house! Eggs should be hatching in the next 2-3 days!

 

[shardean]

It's lockdown at my house! Eggs should be hatching in the next 2-3 days!

How fun...sounds like yours will be the first to hatch from out group! Mine should start hatching on Monday! So lock down Sat. morn???Or should I lock down tomorrow?

 

[Avonshire]

Shardean--what day did you set them? I set mine on a Tues morn and for me tomorrow is day 18 for me so I plan to do lock down tomorrow. Is hatch day, day 21 or day 22? 21 days of incubation with hatch on the next day?

 

[FoxyMom]

Better late than never, but I'm joining in on this! I set my eggs on the 15th as well, at 10:22am Pacific time. It is my first hatch, and I have 42 eggs! The majority of them will go back to my friend's farm where she has a few broody hens that should hatch the same day. I've candled a few days here and there, and all looks good from what I can tell. It's hard to see because the eggs are pretty dark (Red Star hens) but I'm hoping for a somewhat successful hatch!

I can't believe we only have 4 days left! I'm getting so anxious and looking at hatching videos on YouTube. Haha! Last day to candle, and then it's lockdown time!