October Hatch-A-Long

[ChickyChickens]

Hi, I am hoping to join you also. I am setting up my incubator tonight and then will add the eggs either tomorrow night or the ay after. This will be my first hatch so fingers crossed it is successful. Wondering though, would you leave it to run tomorrow night just to be sure it doesnt lose too much heat overnight (it shouldnt as it hasnt been too cold) and if it does loose heat (as in a few degrees C) will that kill the chicks or delay hatch?
Thanks

It would most probably delay the hatch since it will only be on day 1!

I am hoping to join this hatchalong too. Also a first timer with my first broody hen, Snowy, who is a leghorn cross & is very keen to be a mum. I switched her eggs with fertile ones late this afternoon & hope that she is happy with them. I can't wait for tomorrow to find out how she took to them!

Assuming all goes well, I wasn't planning on candling my eggs. I've heard that broodies know which ones are not developing & was hoping to leave it up to Snowy to kick out any quitters before they explode. Does that sound like a good plan or do some hens not do this?

I trust my broodies (first timer or not) to take care of the eggs! If the eggs explode then I trust on her to clean it up! I have never had a problem with eggs exploding in the nests and I have had chickens since 2006! My method works well for me but it might not work with you! Just telling you how I do it!

 

[cwrite]

Cool we will be hatching at the same time
I've read too many threads about exploding rotten eggs under broodies to trust my first time broody. But like you I've no idea what I'm looking for so sort of dreading facing it.

I think it's going to be a very long three weeks! By day 8 I might be itching to candle the eggs so we will see. What are you supposed to see when you candle them anyway? Are you just looking for a few veins? It will be great to have someone 'local' hatching on nearly the same day. : )

 

[appps]

From what I can tell veins is good, blood ring is bad and nothing pop it back in case you just missed something then look again day 18. I think at the first candle I'll swap them around so I've got the definates under the broody and the maybes in the incubator.

I'm probably more in need of candling since statistics say 50% of these posted eggs are probably little time bombs waiting to explode. You may be fine since you drove to get yours. Think it's the curiosity after a week will be the killer though lol

 

[Paula Ashley]

This is very exciting. There are so many of us first timers in here!

We will learn a lot.

Enjoying the show!

 

[AmericanMom]

This is very exciting. There are so many of us first timers in here!

We will learn a lot.

Enjoying the show!

This is a great site for all things poultry, it never fails, when I have a question I can always find the answers here... I know folks who have been hatching for years and are still learning...


My Grandfather once said that once we quit learning the only thing left is death, I tend to agree

 

[birchwoodchooks]

I will not candle, I will not candle!

 

[Rainier]

I will not candle, I will not candle!

 

[MrsFitzDarcy]

I'm supposed to candle tomorrow, but I'm scared. I don't want to know if something is wrong!

 

[ChickyChickens]

I never candle!

 

[birchwoodchooks]

I'd rather have an idea sooner rather than later,especially with the children involved.