Questions on my first incubation

[dekel18042]

Oh, WAIL! I candled my eggs in the incubator yesterday for the first time at day fourteen. (Wasn't sure what I could see with brown eggs so I didn't candle earlier.) Compared what I saw to charts then candled a fresh egg for comparison (That one was clear.). Looks like all ten are growing. I just wanted to try out my incubator and was told 8 eggs would probably get me 3-5 chicks the first time. That number seemed fine. I set two extras only because I brought in #9 the day I was setting the hatch and then I took an egg from the refrigerator because it was such a large pretty egg, but I certainly didn't expect anything to grow in it.
I realize all might not still hatch, but with this weather peeps will have to be raised in the house. I was willing to raise in the basement (Would that be all right?) but my husband thinks they should be in the kitchen where it is warmer. I do have a brooder and a heat lamp.

 

[gander007]

I haven't any idea how cold it is where you are but I put my chicks outside at 4 weeks

The basement should be fine it is the temp in the brooder that matters and no draft's

Good luck on your hatch

 

[dekel18042]

I see you're in California. Sunny warm California? I'm in frigid northeastern PA. Temps next few days in the low teens and sn*w.
My basement hovers around 58*. Do you think that is too cold? Depending on how many hatch, I may use the laundry room off the kitchen then as they grow move to a pen (and heat lamp) in the basement.
Initially I was hoping to hatch 3 or 4 (all hens, of course) but all ten of my eggs appear to be developing, even the one I pulled from the refrigerator.
Tomorrow I'll do the final candling and then lockdown so it will be interesting to see how many eggs make it to lockdown. Of course they haven't hatched yet, but I'm both excited and scared that so many have made it this far. I certainly wasn't counting on that many. I'm also wondering if I should have waited until spring which was my initial plan.
I'm figuring they probably shouldn't go out until the end of March. Is that about right?

 

[gander007]

The biggie is the room your incubator is in stays the same temp with out any drafts and the incubator will stay at the correct temp with little change that is the most important for the three weeks of incubation period for a successful hatch ....

58 degrees F is fine as long as I wrote no drafts and no temp change ,,, and putting a blanket around the incubator I have found works well to help keep temp's well balanced with little change ...

The more chicks you have the better turnout you will have as they will help keep each other warm ....

 

[dekel18042]

This evening would complete day 21. When I got up this morning I have bumps on at least five eggs and one hole. Any idea how long this should take?

 

[Kelsie2290]

Glad your hatch is looking good, even if you wind up with more chicks than you figured ... trying not to jinx you here ... Chicks will pip a while before they start zipping/hatch, usually 6-12 hours, though I have had some that went 24 or so and did fine. So I would expect chicks by tonight hopefully ...

 

[gander007]

Glad your hatch is looking good, even if you wind up with more chicks than you figured

... trying not to jinx you here ... Chicks will pip a while before they start zipping/hatch, usually 6-12 hours, though I have had some that went 24 or so and did fine. So I would expect chicks by tonight hopefully ...

Big X2 on that !!!!!!!!!