Received eggs today, now what??? Sorry...newbie.

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Let them settle at normal room temp, 70-75F, if you'll be placing them in the bator within a day or two. This gives time for any air bubbles to re-absorb/dissipate. You DON'T need to turn them or tilt them during this time. They do need to be in a carton, big end (air cell end) up.

Yes, you can candle to find the air cell. In a darkened room, shine your candling light (I use a 9 LED flashlight) sideways through the end of the egg. The air cell will show as a slightly darker or lighter (depending on the color of the shell) circular area. In a fresh egg, it won't be very big. And they can be hard to see. It took me forever to figure out how to see them.

You won't see a bull's eye on the yolk when candling, unless you have really thin light colored shells, and a really bright light, and then, only maybe.

If your air cells are detached/ruptured, letting them rest is unlikely to do anything about that, but many people have managed to hatch eggs with damaged air cells. They use cartons, so the air cell remains at the top of the egg, and tilt the cartons rather than doing a wider turning of the eggs. The purpose of turning/tilting the eggs is to prevent the embryo from sticking to the shell. Gentle tilting of the egg 3 times a day is enough to do this. A ruptured membrane inside the egg can't "heal" or "repair itself". However, as the egg develops, and some of the moisture evaporates from the egg, air space can develop where a normal air cell should have been.

If the air cells are ruptured, you'll see a free floating bubble in the egg, it will move easily to which ever side of the egg is up. This is what people call a "detached air cell", but really, it's the bubble of air that was between the membrane layers. When the inner membrane ruptures, the air escapes into the egg white. When the eggs rest, upright, it's possible that the layers of membrane may pull apart, and the air re-enter the small cavity. It gives the impression of "re-attaching". If the eggs are tilted or turned, it could interfere in this process.

Sometimes, air cells are damaged, but not ruptured. These can look elongated, or somewhat splattered, giving them an irregular amoeba-like shape. Many people have successfully hatched eggs like this, too.

Good luck, I hope your air cells are all intact, and you have a great hatch!
 
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I am going to candle them tonight, or at least try. LOL My brother is letting me use his little giant with auto turner but I am not sure the turner even works yet. I have it plugged in , put the water in and am waiting for it to reach the right temp. If I have water in all the reserviors, is it safe to assume that the humidity level should be okay until I can get one of those humidity/temp instruments? I figure an extra temp gauge wouldn't hurt.
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Sounds like we are all hitting the Bator tomm...mine has been running now for 4 days...monitoring the temp/humidity...room temp in the shop also...Ive held my temps/humidity right on the nose now for days, didnt the first 2 days...was gong off either 3 pts too high or low...so its waiting on my eggs coming from Ma...tomm morning.
 
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It depends on how humid it is where you live. I'm in KY, it may not be much different from where you are. To keep the hum at 45% for the first 18 days, I don't add any water at all. I only add a little, on a sponge in a plastic lid, under the air vent, for the last 3 days, to raise it to 55%-60%. If your humidity is too high, the moisture in the eggs won't evaporate properly, and you can ruin your hatch.

If the weather cools, the humidity level may drop, and at that point you may need to add some water. But probably not all the reservoirs, probably just 1 or 2. I encourage you to get a hygrometer as soon as you can.

The turners move so slowly, you can't really see them move, but if you plug it in, make a mental note of what position the cups are in, leave it running, and check back in a couple of hours and see if it's moved.

You need at least 24 hours to get the temp stable in the LG, 48 is better. The eggs should be fine at room temp while you do that. Let it run a few hours after you plug it in, check the temp, adjust if needed. It's best to wait at least 2-3 hours between adjustments to the thermostat. Once you put the eggs in, when you're sure the temp is stable, the temp will drop at first. That's OK, don't adjust anything. It may take as long as 24 hours to reach incubating temp again. It takes those eggs awhile to warm all the way through. If you adjust the temperature, it may cause temp spikes later, when the eggs warm up more.

Is it still air, or does it have a fan? If it has a fan, you need 99.5-100.5F. For still air, the temp at the top of the eggs should be 102F, the temp at the bottom of the eggs will be about 98.

Does that help? Hope you have a good hatch!
 
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It depends on how humid it is where you live. I'm in KY, it may not be much different from where you are. To keep the hum at 45% for the first 18 days, I don't add any water at all. I only add a little, on a sponge in a plastic lid, under the air vent, for the last 3 days, to raise it to 55%-60%. If your humidity is too high, the moisture in the eggs won't evaporate properly, and you can ruin your hatch.

If the weather cools, the humidity level may drop, and at that point you may need to add some water. But probably not all the reservoirs, probably just 1 or 2. I encourage you to get a hygrometer as soon as you can.

The turners move so slowly, you can't really see them move, but if you plug it in, make a mental note of what position the cups are in, leave it running, and check back in a couple of hours and see if it's moved.

You need at least 24 hours to get the temp stable in the LG, 48 is better. The eggs should be fine at room temp while you do that. Let it run a few hours after you plug it in, check the temp, adjust if needed. It's best to wait at least 2-3 hours between adjustments to the thermostat. Once you put the eggs in, when you're sure the temp is stable, the temp will drop at first. That's OK, don't adjust anything. It may take as long as 24 hours to reach incubating temp again. It takes those eggs awhile to warm all the way through. If you adjust the temperature, it may cause temp spikes later, when the eggs warm up more.

Is it still air, or does it have a fan? If it has a fan, you need 99.5-100.5F. For still air, the temp at the top of the eggs should be 102F, the temp at the bottom of the eggs will be about 98.

Does that help? Hope you have a good hatch!

OMG, everything has to be just so.
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I plan on getting a hygrometer today. I did put water in so maybe I'll pic up a sponge and just soak up the water with that. So how do you keep the sponge moist? The only way to add water is to remove one of the clear plexiglass panels on top. Won't that mess with the temp/humidity level inside? The temp on here has been a little 'unstable' anyway. I am definately going to get another thermometer too. Wow, I feel like such a 'mother hen'. I haven't even begun to incubate them yet and already it's nervewracking. Maybe I'll just bring in some straw and sit on them myself. LOL
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This is a still air bator but does have the egg turner. We have a pc fan, would you suggest using that inside to circulate the air, or is that unnecessary? I noticed that there are quite a few holes in the top, is that sufficient for enough air exchange?

One last question, how good are HB's? Someone emailed me yesterday that they are selling a circulated air HB for $25. From what I can tell it has an egg turner, thermometer/hygrometer, etc.
I haven't heard too many good things about it but I figure if it's halfway decent I would get it so I could have another one on hand.
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Well I tried candling these last night. Let's just say it didn't go so well. I couldn't see a thing. I have read up on how to candle, what to look for etc. These little cochin eggs are soooo tiny (compared to my B.O', RIR, Wyandottes, etc) and it was hard to see anything definintive. Any suggestions on how to get a clearer view or should I just wait a few days and try it again when there might be some veining etc to actually see?
 
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You won't need the sponge until the last three days, probably. I set mine in a plastic peanut butter jar lid. I trim the sponge down to fit.

You don't need to open the little windows to add water.

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It is sufficient, and, that's where you add water to the sponge. Put the sponge under one of the holes. There should be a hole with a red plastic plug in it. Take out the plug, put the sponge under that. I use an empty yogurt cup so I can squeeze it a little and pour a small stream in through that hole. You can squirt water in w/ a turkey baster, or a syringe.

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You can, and it helps keep temp stable, and prevents hot and cold spots in the 'bator. If you can install it easily and know how to wire it, it would be nice. But many people hatch w/still air and do ok. I prefer the fan, myself, but it 's nor essential.

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Sorry, can't help w/that. Never had an HB. Just have an LG. But I have a good friend who has both, he says they''re pretty much the same.
 
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You probably need a brighter light. It takes a little while to get the hang of what to look for. You kind of need to "learn to see it". Do a search for photos of candled eggs, and study the pics. That'll help.
 
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Oh dear 2txmedics you have got it bad. I'm not sure if I can offer advice or help as I have been up since 5am on here. I am about to get off as it is light enough to go out and finish my second coop this week. Nothing like hearing the impatient crowing of a rooster from your garden shed to make you hurry up.

Sorry momto5rascals2angels I am yet to finish my 'bator so I can't offer anything other than support but thanks for posting this as I will be referring back to it soon.

Good luck.
 
have a question. My neighbor hatched a couple of my cochins
today. One hatched yesterday and one is hatching today.
so, he is gone until Monday and the chicks are sitting in the bater
with the eggs and are walking around at this point.

When do they get moved so they can get food and water.
My neighbor wont be home until Monday and will that be too
late, or will they be fine in the heat and all, with no food and water?

Than, what type of situation do they need to be in.
I was thinking a heat lamp with antibiotic crumbles and
water????

Can anyone help me out here. I can't sleep tonight wondering
if they are going to be okay. I thought i read somewhere that
the new chicks stay in the bater for a few days because the
"egg" provides a few days of nurishment?????????

would love to hear a few responses on this.
Thanks so much,
J&J Ranch
 

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