Our Egg Hatching thread! Hatch: Nov. 7th (Hatching Video PG 57)

[kodiakchicken]

Michigan, you have definitely lost your mind!!!

I think my whole family would mutiny if I loaded up another batch to incubate. Of course, it's probably a good thing we don't have a rooster, otherwise I might actually be tempted.

It's a sickness, I tell you! A sickness!

 

[pbjmaker]

Quote:
Hatch them Hatch them!!!!!!

 

[pbjmaker]

Well of my eggs that are due with you guys I have 13 out of 14 frizzle eggs that look viable - one of the 13 might be a quitter but I am leaving it for now - there was a definate chick but it looks smaller than the others and doesn't seem to move.
Then I have 5 out of 5 silkie eggs from Mrs. Ak-Bird-Brain still going strong and 3 Mille Fleur D'Uccles out 8 that made it safely.

As for my 3 silkie eggs that I had due this week - the one with air bubbles got tossed. I think it was a quitter that was liquifying - over half the egg was "air" and the whole thing was "sloshy". There was nothing living in there and I didn't want to open it.

The last two are going strong and I will quit turning them on Tuesday. I have a homemade Prissy-bator that gets up to right at 100.6 degrees and I think I will put the eggs in there to hatch.

I also added two eggs from my new serama hen. If they develop they will be an serama X cochin mix.

I need to go figure out when they should hatch...

 

[MichiganWoods]

Popped them in the bator this morning.

Your overall count sounds great, pbjmaker. All 12 of my remaining eggs from the first batch are movin' and groovin'. Two shells are exceptionally dark so I can't see much now that the chicks are getting bigger, but I do see shadows of movement so I think they're good to go. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this dozen hatches.

We'll see how the refrigerated ones do now that they are back in the fridge(bator)!

How is everyone else doing? Holding out for candling?

 

[kodiakchicken]

Hello, my name is Erin and I'm addicted to candling hatching eggs...

Yes, I checked mine AGAIN last night!!!! Somebody stop me, puh-leez!

I'm getting more and more certain on what I've got though! Last night there were 8 of the 9 confirmed embryos bouncing around. One I couldn't see well but it didn't appear to be moving. I'm still keeping my hopes up though.

The one that has been a maybe forever doesn't seem to be moving, but it appears to be growing, so I'm not sure what's there. Either it's a growing chick that doesn't move much or a blood spot that's getting larger.

Of the remaining three I've got one that I just can't tell, one that doesn't look like it was ever fertilized and one that appears to have a blood ring.

I'm going to keep faithfully turning them all though and will consider tossing the non-developers on day 14. Hopefully I can keep my paws off tonight and not candle them again! I may have to start baking to keep me busy.

I may gain 20lbs in the next 11 days, but by golly, I'll have chicks!!!!

 

[Jamie821]

hey guys come up with a way to add water without opening top at hatching. I am afraid with our heaters coming on the humidity is going to keep dropping. What I came up with is a siringe without a needle then went to walmart and bought some air tubing in the pet section. I cut a two feet long piece and when I need to add water I fill the siringe with water attach the tubing and stick it through one of the plug whole in the top and put the water in the tray that way.I tried it and it works great. That way I dont have to mess up my hatch by opening the top. Just wanted to share in case someone else needs a idea. My 18 wellies are not out of turner and into hatcher. Fingers crossed for all of us

 

[baldie]

Hi Cass, I have been following your thread, it has helped out with incubating my own babies!! I bought my incubator on 10/23 and put the eggs in that night. I candled tonight and I have fertile eggs!! I am so excited!!! Your candling pics helped to know what to look for. I wasn't sure if any were gonna be fertile, though I do see my roos getting frisky with the females. These will be mutts, but they are for my boys enjoyment, so who cares. We figured we would experiment with our own mutt eggs first, and in the spring breed some of our "show chickens". Anyway, I just wanted to say thank for starting this thread, it was very helpful!!Good luck with your eggies!! Chrissie

 

[klf73]

To keep up my humidity during hatching if I have to open the bator I just add hot water right before I close it back up and the steam brings the humidity right back up to where it was.

 

[MichiganWoods]

Hello and welcome to the first meeting of ECA, also known as Egg Candlers Anonymous. Does everyone have their flashlights or candler boxes? Good, then let the meeting officially begin!

Erin, I'm in the same boat. Can't help myself! But at least we are learning, and narrowing down what it is we've got. I think I'd keep a real close eye on that one that looks to be growing but doesn't have any movement. I may be wrong, but doesn't bacteria expand inside the shell too, and eventually explode? That had actually been my #1 concern when first candling my eggs... but then I got hooked on watching embryo development.

Jamie, good thinking with the humidity! I don't really think the gauge on mine is right. The temperature reading is always at least 10 degrees higher than my other thermometers, so I have to assume that the humidity is not accurate either. Can anyone recommend an online store where I can pick up a very accurate (and very cheap) hydrometer?

Chrissie, so glad I could be of help! Congrats on your fertile eggs and good luck with your hatch! Mutts can be so darned cute.

Krista, good thought on the hot water too. When I add my sponges in, I was going to do it by running them through hot water first.

 

[kodiakchicken]

Cass -

Growing bacteria is my thought too on that one egg. That's one of the reasons I keep checking. I would hate to have an egg explode in the incubater.

Here's a question that some of you might have thoughts on. I know that hatching eggs is kind of a personal preference thing, with some using auto-turners, so using still air, etc. I'm wondering what I should do when I get closer to hatch. I've got one of the old, round sheetmetal incubators. I've let the eggs rest on their sides on the wire screen, hand turning them 3 times a day. I'm wondering what to do for hatching though. I know I could lay down a mat over the screen to keep the chicks from getting caught in it, but what to you do to prevent the eggs from rolling all over the place? I have my bator up and out of the way in the laundry room right now to keep it from getting bumped, because the slightest bump and the eggs roll everywhere. I can just see what will happen when the chicks start rocking and rolling and trying to get free - Bumper cars!

So, should I put the eggs in an egg carton on Day 18, or find a way to keep the eggs flat but prevent rolling? Any suggestions are appreciated!

Uh oh, almost 5pm and I'm feeling the candling urge kicking in!!!