September Hatch-A-Long

[VA Raptor]

Yesterday was day 7 for my RIR eggs in my bator that I ordered off ebay. I should have known this wasn't going to be a very successful batch [....]

I'm in the same boat. It was bad enough the post office left the box marked "Fragile: Live Embryos" out in the rain - but when I saw how dirty the eggs in that box were, I figured I was in trouble. No beginner's luck for me! Today was Day 10, so I candled my dozen hoping against hope that something changed since Day 7. So far out of 13, I think 9 are clears, 1 of the dirty Cream Legbar eggs has a blood ring, not sure on 2 of the Maran eggs (I think they are clears), and 1 of my Ameraucana eggs looks promising.

Did egg autopsies on three of the dirtiest Legbar eggs and two of three were infertile. Hope to have time to do the rest over the holiday weekend. Very disappointing. I will probably avoid eBay for future hatching egg acquisitions.

Good thing I already ordered some common egg-laying chicks....

 

[Peep_Show]

Are Henny Penny and RJ brother and sister? Sounds like some dilute olive eggs could be in the making. I'll keep your offer in mind, though. We may work something out depending on how it goes this weekend.

Speaking of.....

LOCKDOWN!!!!



As you can see, I cut the egg carton sides down quite a bit so if the ones with really stretchy air cells pip low they won't be encumbered. The shelf liner is on the bottom of the bator to help keep things clean and give chicks better footing, and there's a space there cut out where I can insert a straw through one of the vent holes to keep the reservoirs filled. Two hygrometers that I know work and a couple of reliable thermometers that are in sync. Plenty of space for chicks to wander around in, flop out, dry off.

It's all set up and now the hard part is the waiting and keeping out of the way (and out of the bator)

I may be down a Welsummer egg as I had a little butterfingers slip/rap/jolt while moving it during lockdown setup. No shell cracking, but it was a pretty good knock. Darn! That leaves three Welsummers that look good. I'm hoping all 5 hatch and I didn't do too much damage.

It would be nice to have at least a pair of pullets from each breed.

Do well, Little Eggs! You're on the last leg of your journey to chickdom.

 

[Y N dottes]

my 14 eggs were set tonight. I think I will candle the light shelled ones on day to see if I can see anything and how the air cells are looking

 

[stonecoldchey]

I have 15 eggs thet I set to hatch on september 4th. I candled them about 1 week ago and all where developing so we will see!

 

[Y N dottes]

I have 15 eggs thet I set to hatch on september 4th. I candled them about 1 week ago and all where developing so we will see!

sweet, good luck on them all.

21 days seems so long to me right now

 

[lauraschicks]

As with anything, there are no guarantees.  I've had quitters at 19 days (and Marans...drats!)   And I know what you mean about getting nervous due to dwindling egg numbers.  I started out with 40 and am down to 16 and still a few days for havoc to set in.

Placing eggs in cartons to hatch won't lessen the hatchability...UNLESS you use plastic cartons.  But if you have a cardboard pulp egg carton and you snip the bottom off of it, it should be fine.  I am convinced it helped some chicks I had with horrid air cells due to shipping hatch...they got their directionals right and came out on top.  But if you're more comfortable and less anxious about laying eggs on their sides, then do what's right for you.  Mother Nature will let whomever hatches hatch.

- - -

Just did another candling and may have one more questionable Welsummer egg (e.g. the one I'd lay money on not to hatch).  The rest of the eggs have filled out and darkened their shells nicely.  The F2 Olive Egger three remaining eggs look great, but the 1 sex-link OE egg...eh, not so much.  The 7 Cinnamon Queens look good as do four of the five remaining Welsummers.  Lockdown is tomorrow night late.

It's closing in on Day 5 on the TJ eggs and they're all looking suspiciously clear.     Weird to have so many and no development.  I'm thinking perhaps I'm having high altitude problems... That and the eggs are awfully porous.  Hopefully I'll get enough pullets this first time around hatching that I don't have to do a second incubation and hatching....but - dang - I wanted a TJ chick in my flock.

Curiosity...what is a "TJ" chick?
Lauraschicks

 

[earlyredrooster]

Curiosity...what is a "TJ" chick?
Lauraschicks

From what I've read here they must be really rare.

 

[lauraschicks]

From what I've read here they must be really rare.

ROTFLMBO.

 

[lauraschicks]

Btw, I'm jumping in this dog and pony show...I mean cock and pullet show. I'm betting 9 Silver Appleyard ducks eggs, 6 Silver Sussex, 6 bantam Mille Fleur Cochins, and 24 mixed guineas, and I hope I win. Cause my last hatch was 0.
I may be having better luck this time though since I candled the ducks and all 9 were fertile and had veining present.
Wish me luck please please please. ..
Lauraschicks

 

[earlyredrooster]

I am kinda worried about my broody in this heat, would a couple of ice cubes in her water bowl hurt anything.