September Hatch-a-long!

[Raptorchick]

First incubation hatch here, and apparently I mixed up my days! I guessed that I was on day 9, but they were so dark with so much movement when I candled (I think I saw a tiny wing!) I checked the calendar, its day 11 One that I had marked as a possible blood ring on day 7 was going strong, only two infertile, so there are 13 viable Serama babies !! And I have 6 blue hatching eggs arriving today, for my smaller bator I just realllly hope I get some hens, my last hatch (under 2 broodies) I came out with 3 pullets and 9 roosters lol....
Candle pics on two from day 7 below Good luck everyone !!

 

[Ms Biddy]

Good luck on your hatches!

 

[Stick Chicken]

I candled my eleven(forgot one previously) a couple of days ago and found that eight out of them are fertile which is exciting because I had some problems last year with fertility. I have a lot more eggs waiting to be put in the incubator, but I'm waiting for Friday so that the hatches won't interfere with our fair.

 

[Flockandfowl46]

I'm really not hoping for too much but we will see tonight...almost all my girls and my main man are starting their molt right now I'll give an update late tonight

 

[Flockandfowl46]

Well just candled 36 chicken and 2 duck eggs only one was the ring of death...others are coming along great!

 

[BlueBaby]

@PouleChick How did your candling go?

 

[PouleChick]

@PouleChick How did your candling go?

Thanks for asking, I haven't ended up getting there yet, my dh's uncle died earlier in the week and I was crazy busy last night sorting out clothes etc for my son and dh who have to leave for Paris this morning to drive up for hte funeral. It will be nice and calm and quiet tonight once the small one is in bed so I'll try then!

I did have a fright last night though with the incubator, the water must have ran dry and the temp was quite high, the eggs felt OK though - it wouldn't have been for long! I added water and it came right down and is perfect this morning.
Oh and when I let one of the broodies out yesterday there was a eaten egg and she had egg on her face so was her, not sure what has happened - she is a great mum and had a perfect hatch and perfect mummy hen earlier in the year so not worried about her really - I'm guessing maybe she accidently broke it / and the other - she had managed to wiggle all the shavings and straw from under her and they were on wood. There was also another cracked on that has egg on it - I have put it in the bator but not sure ifI should really with the egg on it - won't it give bacteria to the chick? Washing is obviously not an option due to bloom / hairline crack. any suggestions from those of you with more experience than me?

 

[BlueBaby]

Thanks for asking, I haven't ended up getting there yet, my dh's uncle died earlier in the week and I was crazy busy last night sorting out clothes etc for my son and dh who have to leave for Paris this morning to drive up for hte funeral. It will be nice and calm and quiet tonight once the small one is in bed so I'll try then!

I did have a fright last night though with the incubator, the water must have ran dry and the temp was quite high, the eggs felt OK though - it wouldn't have been for long! I added water and it came right down and is perfect this morning.
Oh and when I let one of the broodies out yesterday there was a eaten egg and she had egg on her face so was her, not sure what has happened - she is a great mum and had a perfect hatch and perfect mummy hen earlier in the year so not worried about her really - I'm guessing maybe she accidently broke it / and the other - she had managed to wiggle all the shavings and straw from under her and they were on wood. There was also another cracked on that has egg on it - I have put it in the bator but not sure ifI should really with the egg on it - won't it give bacteria to the chick? Washing is obviously not an option due to bloom / hairline crack. any suggestions from those of you with more experience than me?

I've always heard not to put an egg with yolk on it into an incubator.

I think that one of my NN hens is thinking about going broody now, because she's been hanging out in the nesting box more than normal the past 3 day's. I'm still taking the eggs. I don't trust a broody hen because I have heard that many times they will get off the nest before it's time or attack the new hatched one's. That's why I bought 2 incubators. I'll hatch them myself! Each of my incubators can hold up to 42 eggs at a time.

 

[PouleChick]

I don't trust a broody hen because I have heard that many times they will get off the nest before it's time or attack the new hatched one's.

I have heard that but I've had 3 hens go broody (2 silkies that I bought specifically to do it - they are the ones that have gone again!) and they have been fabulous. I think all the turning / worrying is stressful with the 'bator (saying that I'm now on my 2nd split incubation with some under hens and some in the 'bator!). I actually thought about which way I'd go and in the end I decided to buy the silkies not the incubator (same initial price!) as we have lots of power cuts here and broodies don't need electricity to run! For me it is magical watching the hens with the chicks, they are out in the flock within days - with our renovations, garden, 3 kids etc I'm happy for them to do the work for me and after seeing the babes outside pecking at 3 days old I cna' timagine having them stuck inside for weeks! I may end up doing it if I ever have more time / want large quantities of chicks but we'll see.

I've always heard not to put an egg with yolk on it into an incubator.

Eeek OK - it is at the other end / not touching but I better take it out them. Not sure what to do - if I put it under the hen it may crack totally. If I candle it and it is good is there anyway to clean the egg off without doing more damage?

 

[BlueBaby]

I have heard that but I've had 3 hens go broody (2 silkies that I bought specifically to do it - they are the ones that have gone again!) and they have been fabulous. I think all the turning / worrying is stressful with the 'bator (saying that I'm now on my 2nd split incubation with some under hens and some in the 'bator!). I actually thought about which way I'd go and in the end I decided to buy the silkies not the incubator (same initial price!) as we have lots of power cuts here and broodies don't need electricity to run! For me it is magical watching the hens with the chicks, they are out in the flock within days - with our renovations, garden, 3 kids etc I'm happy for them to do the work for me and after seeing the babes outside pecking at 3 days old I cna' timagine having them stuck inside for weeks! I may end up doing it if I ever have more time / want large quantities of chicks but we'll see.


Eeek OK - it is at the other end / not touching but I better take it out them. Not sure what to do - if I put it under the hen it may crack totally. If I candle it and it is good is there anyway to clean the egg off without doing more damage?

I don't know if there is a way to clean it off without removing the bloom. I've never been in that situation, as I only had one egg before in the nest box that had yolk on it. I wash it right away and put it in the fridge.