New to hatching: so many questions!

[Smith Farmily]

So much thanks in advance. I’m hoping and praying someone can help us!

we have about 20 chickens and 2 roosters. Recently our Brahma went broody and I thought , well let’s Let her hatch this babies and see what happens. My 3 year old was collecting eggs for me and took her eggs. She is still there and now has about 8 eggs under her for about 25 days now since my son grabbed the originals and we have 2 other broody hens now so I decided to get an incubator as per a Freind’s recommendation but I am not sure what stage the eggs are all at so I don’t know what humidity level to set the bator to. Can anyone help me? Are they all a lost cause?

 

[LaurEliz]

Post pictures of them being candled and we might be able to help more.

You can also google egg candling in different stages and then candle your own at home to try and see what day you think yours might be on. I use this website a lot just to see candling pics and compare mine.

Start putting X marks with a Sharpie marker on the eggs that are for hatching and tell your 3 year old that those are the ones to leave alone. That's what my mom did for me when I was a little egg collector.

 

[LaurEliz]

Also the humidity stays about the same no matter what day you're on until lockdown. I usually have mine around 50-55 and then move to 60-65 just during the last few days.

 

[Smith Farmily]

Here are some of the eggs. I can’t tell if any of them are fertile or if they are just rotten. I saw movement in one of them I think

 

[Smith Farmily]

And here are a couple more.

 

[LaurEliz]

Although it's kind of hard to see, I think at least a few of those eggs are fertile. I think I even see some veining in some. I'd keep them in the incubator for a bit unless any start oozing or something.

 

[Smith Farmily]

Thank you so much for the glimmer of hope! I’ll keep them in there and cross my fingers!

 

[LaurEliz]

Good luck! Keep me updated.

 

[MGG]

Here are some of the eggs. I can’t tell if any of them are fertile or if they are just rotten. I saw movement in one of them I think

You've gotten good advice so far. The egg on the top right corner in this pic looks about day 14 to me, its looking good. I don't know about the others here though, they aren't quite clear enough to see. Leave them all in though just in case.

 

[MGG]

And here are a couple more.

I'm not real sure about these. Most of them had development at one point, but I can't tell if they're still good.