OMGosh! I can see something moving around in my eggs!!

[littledirtlane]

Should I be excited?

I am hatching my eggs just under a heat lamp in a basket with a small cup of water and a wash cloth on top...and on day 8 in 4 out of the 5 eggs that I am hatching I have little movers and shakers! When I candled tonight I could see it plain as day! Am I imagining things? LOL - I am proud of my little hatch basket - I won't call it a bator - it is not worthy yet - haha...

As I am sure you know, this is my first time...is that supposed to happen?

 

[debilorrah]

Yes!! That is awesome! I love seeing them moving around.

 

[SilverPhoenix]

Isn't it fun seeing them moving around? That's one of my favorite parts of incubation.

 

[littledirtlane]

It is an absolute blast! I have very happy hands though - I keep slapping myself - I am proud to say that I did not candle on day 7 - but I did on day 2,3,4,5,6 and now 8 - haha...I have got to stop!!! The chicks must grow pretty rapidly now, right? My little mover was so tiny...it is amazing how fast they grow! The bad part is, I have no clue what type of chickens they are...I saw the flock they came from, I was told the roo was a show bird...they looked like New Hamshires to me though...

 

[debilorrah]

That depends on the temp. Because you are not using an "incubator" so to speak, do you have a thermometer with the eggs? If the temp is low they will take longer to hatch.

 

[littledirtlane]

Yes, I have a hydrometer in the basket...I am having a fluctuation from 96-100 degrees...they probably will take longer...the temp is staying on the lower end. My humidity is between 40-45% - so I guess it could be worse...I do have a little chick bator incubator with some BO eggs in it right now and when I take the eggs out they feel much warmer than the others in my little homemade thing. Should I be worried?

 

[debilorrah]

Quote:
Nope. Dont worry at all. Your homemade thingy is probably a bit cooler than the bator, so they may take an extra day or two to hatch, but that's ok!!!!

 

[littledirtlane]

Thanks so much for the advice!! I truly need it!

 

[debilorrah]

Quote:
Usually being new means you need information. You should seach for my first posts!!!! Hilariously naive. I knew NOTHING about chickens except that I had 6 in my backyard.