Serious about Chanteclers...

[Ted Brown]

Have you done any candling along the way?

I have not. I know that most do this but I don't have a particularly good backlight/gear and am extremely busy these days (build of a 12' by 30' extension on a cabin across the lake, working the 2nd coop, wood block/split for winter, etc.). Excuses I know...

 

[aart]

I have not. I know that most do this but I don't have a particularly good backlight/gear and am extremely busy these days (build of a 12' by 30' extension on a cabin across the lake, working the 2nd coop, wood block/split for winter, etc.). Excuses I know...

Yeah, I get it.....but you should try before lock down.

 

[Ted Brown]

Yeah, I get it.....but you should try before lock down.

Ok will do my best. What would I be looking for in particular? Eggs with no development...other?

 

[Arielle2]

You have been entrusted with very special eggs. Praying for a good hatch.

It only takes a small flashlight to candle. And provides much information. Are they developing ? When did egg quit? Is moisture level appropriate?? Just candle a few at a time to monitor moisture.....not all 60 plus. lol

Hope to hear update at hatching !!!

 

[Ted Brown]

How do I tell moisture level? I will update.

 

[Arielle2]

One purpose of candling is to monitor size of air sac.

It enlarges at a steady rate when humidity of incubator is spot on. IMHO its the biggest factor in successful hatching . Most folks understand the need for turning and the right temperature.But dont realize the critcal importance of air sac enlargement.

You can google development of air sac during incubation of chicken egg for good diagram to keep handy. I printed out a copy and taped to wall for my first hatches. Now I pull up on cell phone. DO whichever works for you.

The eggs need to dry down appropriately to reach hatching date with the correct moisture level inside. Provides a big air space for chick to breath until it cracks the shell.
Its a fine line between dry enough and too dry
Too dry and chick cannot turn inside egg well.

Most often eggs donot dry down enough.

You can play with humidity to get to that ideal air sac size kust before lock down . Because humidity must be raised at hatching. Raising humidity at hatching keeps the membranes pliable until chick exits egg.

You can delay uppinghumity until last moment.

Hope this helps.

 

[Acre4Me]

Good luck!! Post some pictures!

 

[ronott1]

The important thing now would be to get humidity up to 65% for lockdwon

 

[Arielle2]

also keep air flow Up. Increase it. those chicks need a lot of oxygen now. So dont shut down air circulation to get humidity up.... the babies will die.

I use food container cups, two cup size, to put in a small wash cloth and add water to keep wet, but not enough for a chick to fall in and get wet. Others use new sponges, they dry fast so need monitoring.

oh and Im in and out of hatching incubator as humidity goes right up again.

 

[ronott1]

maybe ron can comment on my post re air sac

Humidity is the second most important thing for incubation and needs to be between about 30% and 45% during the first 18 days of incubation. you can adjust it based on air cell size.

Temperature is the most important thing for development and needs to be between 98.5 and 100.5F. 99.5 is ideal.

At the last three days of incubation, humidity needs to be raised to 65%-70% so that the chicks do not get stuck after they pip.