Nov1- set 5 eggs -Skillet-bator... 3 live embryos

[shelleyd2008]

Not sure how much, but the eggs should lose weight before they hatch if there is a chick in it. It is a good way to keep track of development, I have read, but it's too much work for me!!

 

[SGM]

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Yay!!! I'm not alone. I'm an obsessive note taker too!!!

 

[swtangel321]

What day are the eggs on now ? Have you candled yet ?

 

[alalele]

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Thanks Willowcol and BeardedChick! Thanks that's a great idea! If I can't find a wiggler tonight in the toy section I'll look for the moisture crystals!

 

[alalele]

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Yes Swtangel, I broke down and candled on day 4 or 5ish with a box and the 100 watt bulb. I thought I might have seen some veins but wasn't entirely sure.

Then on Sunday (day 8 actually) I bought a strong LED flashlight (yipes 30 bucks!!! but thought I might return it if it's overkill but it's a pretty neat flashlight for being so small.. it's like a flood light outside... pretty kewl!!! Coleman with 115 lumens/ 4 LED's).

It's way easier to candle with it, as I can hold use one hand to cup the egg at the end of the light and see MOVEMENT and veins in TWO confirmed eggs... the Third egg I pretty sure there is movement (pulsing) but is little darker so harder to see. It's AMAZING to see the little chicky moving around!

The other 2 eggs I can see veins but what appears to be the yolk is darker and I can barely see anything else. I'm losing hope for those two eggs (they reside in what I've identified as the cooler spots in the skillet-bator so that could be the cause or maybe they are late developing because it) but I won't throw them out for another week unless they get stinky or oozing at the advice of Swtangel (thanks!)

SGM the obsessive note taking is helpful because my memory is so bad!

I'm not checking it but every 8 hours ..now

.... and make quick notes then while I'm turning them.

I did give up on weighing them though ShellyD... I couldn't find any documentation to help with that... so now I'm more concerned on the air cell development at this point and want to make sure they are losing too much moisture too soon or risk getting sticky to the shell. I've read so much of loss when hatching that it concerns me. My humidity has been between 25 and 30 lately and hope that's not too low.

I'm really trying NOT to count my chickens before they hatch... but it's tough.

 

[swtangel321]

Well thats good that you have some that you think are doing good !!

Its always fun to candle and see them move (kinda like an ultrasound)

I would try to keep the hum 30% - 35% You could add a small small amount of water !!

Yikes $30 for a flashlight

What were you thinking??LOL !!! As long as its works keep it, just dont lose it !!

The 2 you arent sure about, if they are in a cool spot they coud very well just be on the slower side.

Please keep us posted !!

 

[alalele]

NEW Questions about air cell and chick location in the egg.

I'm beginning to think it's normal for the air cell to stay kind of stuck in one place? All mine are diagonal to the top of the wide end.

Out of curiosity days ago I started to mark with pencil the air cells with pencil to note how they are developing.

Then on 2 eggs where I've regularly noted absolute Chick life... I drew a circle around that area as well to make it easier to find each time.

My 1/2 bath gets hot and muggy when I'm standing in there candling so it made it easier to FIND the chicks on subsequent candling (once a day so far since day 8 with small powerful LED flashlight).

I have 3 eggs that to me have been questionable and had truthfully begun to give up on.. but was going to keep waiting till day 14 or so (0r stinky or ozing) to toss or crack open.

THEN last night (day 11) while prepareing to candle I noticed the chick development circles and the air cells were related in location on the VIABLE eggs. Maybe experienced people know this, but I had not made the connection nor had I read it anywhere. Maybe I was thinking the contents swished around and moved locations due to turning or floated to the top side... I don't know... and it's my first time... anyway..

Well, after noticing this relation of air cell .. I candled the remaining questionable three and stood there with the LED light in that hot humid room longer than usual.......and lo and behold I found my eyes got accustomed the longer I was in there and I found pulsing movement on TWO of the Three questionable eggs... I stood there long enough looking to make sure it was Not my eyes playing tricks.... once I noted movement I kept watching until I was 100% sure.

So that is 4 out of 5.... the 5th one is the one with the crack in the large air cell end and it still just looks dark to me but I can make out some veins.

I won't know if they are healthy and normal unless they hatch I guess. Reading other posts about chicks with no eyes or are deformed in other ways, is preparing me to know that it happens... and reading on variable conditions in the incubater can cause abnormalities.....not nature related alone.... but right now I'm just amazed at this whole process and enjoying all that it's teaching me that I couldn't have learned from just reading alone.

The only nagging fear I have right now is that I hope someone can tell me that the air cell and chick development location IS absolutely related... and is normal? They aren't getting Stuck.. or sticking to the membrane at this stage are they? Anyone know? Thanks in advance!

Oh... this page on chick development is a good example... but looking at the air cell in illustrations... it's pretty central... not as tilted like all mine are.. so that is why I wonder if mine are sticking...
http://chickscope.beckman.uiuc.edu/resources/egg_to_chick/development.html