October Hatch-A-Long

[DRGLENNON]

For all of y'all worried about killing your eggs, candle at day 7, 14 and 18 for chicken & 7, 14 and 21 for duck.

That does seem to be a good schedule but as long as I don't candle more than 3-4 times It should be fine, Right?

 

[Black Bird]

That does seem to be a good schedule but as long as I don't candle more than 3-4 times It should be fine, Right?

As long as you keep your hands and candler pretty sanitary, you can candle all you like. What I do is I candle at day 4, move the "maybe duds" to one side of the incubator and keep an eye on them. Then toss them by 14 days or so. Haven't had an egg explode in years since i started doing this. Another thing many people do is write a humidity loss mark on the egg according to the candling schedule. But I think that's only convenient when you have less than 30 eggs and/or no hygrometer.

 

[AmericanMom]

First 8 are out... All from the EE and all look almost identical.. 1 More out in the incubator, 2 are starting to work the shell (zipping) and several more pips... 2 Of my Orpington eggs have piped with the other 5 internally piped (yes, I plugged in the humidifier and got the room nice and moist, removed the first 7 and took out the empty shells and candled)

Hoping the orpingtons don't look anything like these ones so I can tell the difference enough that I wont have to tag them, all the EE's are sold

Day 21 is at 1pm.... I added the orpington eggs a day after starting all these so they are coming up on day 20

The first 7

 

[DRGLENNON]

As long as you keep your hands and candler pretty sanitary, you can candle all you like. What I do is I candle at day 4, move the "maybe duds" to one side of the incubator and keep an eye on them. Then toss them by 14 days or so. Haven't had an egg explode in years since i started doing this. Another thing many people do is write a humidity loss mark on the egg according to the candling schedule. But I think that's only convenient when you have less than 30 eggs and/or no hygrometer.

Next time I will definitely mark the air cells. with darker eggs I have a hard time so that will help. I also think I need a better candler. Mine does not seem bright enough.

 

[CharterChick]

Yeah having done this once now I'm going to agree, especially as a novice I wasted a lot of time worrying of eggs that I didn't know enough about to tell if they were okay. Day 10 was when it was finally clear something was happening.

As long as you keep your hands and candler pretty sanitary, you can candle all you like. What I do is I candle at day 4, move the "maybe duds" to one side of the incubator and keep an eye on them. Then toss them by 14 days or so. Haven't had an egg explode in years since i started doing this. Another thing many people do is write a humidity loss mark on the egg according to the candling schedule. But I think that's only convenient when you have less than 30 eggs and/or no hygrometer.

Next time I will definitely mark the air cells. with darker eggs I have a hard time so that will help. I also think I need a better candler. Mine does not seem bright enough.

I have almost all dark eggs. I use a mini flashlight I got at the auto parts store and I check air cells and mark them. When I'm looking for movement to show off I use a spot light with a toilet paper tube so I don't get the eggs too hot. I tried "egg candlers" the handheld ones are junk for dark eggs and he good ones will cost you! The flashlights

Little flashlight

Big flashlight

 

[DRGLENNON]

I have almost all dark eggs. I use a mini flashlight I got at the auto parts store and I check air cells and mark them. When I'm looking for movement to show off I use a spot light with a toilet paper tube so I don't get the eggs too hot. I tried "egg candlers" the handheld ones are junk for dark eggs and he good ones will cost you!

The flashlights



Little flashlight



Big flashlight

That's great! I have that flashlight, and TP roll is no problem. Thanks!

 

[CharterChick]

That's great! I have that flashlight, and TP roll is no problem. Thanks!

We end up using tp rolls for lots of stuff but mostly to use as megaphones lol

 

[DRGLENNON]

We end up using tp rolls for lots of stuff but mostly to use as megaphones lol

LOL, I remember those days, my youngest is 21 so not so much anymore.

 

[birchwoodchooks]

Hatch is finished. In summary I started with 12 eggs, 2 clears and 1 early quitter, 9 made it to lock down, 6 hatched 3 dead in shell, only 1 had internally pipped. I hate the late deaths most of all, so sad to see them fully formed but not make it past the final hurdle. The 6 that did hatch are happy in the brooder and out, they all come running when the boys come near. 1 Seems weak and its legs are mildly splayed, so will keep a close eye on him. This is their first outing into the chickie playground the boys made for them, they seemed to quite enjoy it. Good luck to all with hatches to come. x

 

[appps]

First 8 are out... All from the EE and all look almost identical.. 1 More out in the incubator, 2 are starting to work the shell (zipping) and several more pips... 2 Of my Orpington eggs have piped with the other 5 internally piped (yes, I plugged in the humidifier and got the room nice and moist, removed the first 7 and took out the empty shells and candled) Hoping the orpingtons don't look anything like these ones so I can tell the difference enough that I wont have to tag them, all the EE's are sold Day 21 is at 1pm.... I added the orpington eggs a day after starting all these so they are coming up on day 20 The first 7

They are soooo cute!