Set eggs 4/6, EDD 4/27 & 4/28...wanna hatch with me??

[Morag]

I candled last night, couldn't wait any longer, of 22, I have 9 definites. My first hatch didn't go well, out of 12 I had 6 clear, 3 with blood rings very early on, 1 died about mid way and 2 made it to term but didn't pip. I gave up on day 26, I'm still not sure what went wrong but they were all shipped eggs and we had some really cold nights so maybe my temeratures were dropping overnight. This time, I collected the eggs myself, the weather is generally warmer, I've moved the bator into a room without a radiator, I have 2 thermometers and am keeping a close eye on humidity so hopefully this hatch will work out better. Is it true that silkie eggs take longer to set/show veining? The lady who sent me the six clear eggs said I wouldn't see anything until day 10 and it seems like the silkies that aren't showing any veining this time. Should I been doing anything else or is it just luck now?

I have a hova-bator 1602 thermal air running at 50% humidity and 100F temp. I am turning 3 times a day by hand ... very gentley!

 

[Morag]

Forgot to say, great photo!

 

[jophoto]

Quote:
Thanks

It's one of my polish... I'm not a huge fan of the way they are so spastic, but I have a silkie sitting on a few polish eggs (well, they are crossed with ameraucanas...)

 

[TXmom]

We went out to candle our eggs tonight...it's Day 7 for 7 Silkie eggs under our sweet broody Sammie. Well, she used to be sweet anyways...

The first 3 eggs I pulled out from under her were all developing. I could see what looked like little embryos!

She was pretty agitated with us taking her eggs. She was pecking at me and my daughter, and I was afraid she would accidentally damage an egg with all her pecking, so we didn't candle any more. We set the 3 eggs in front of her and she pushed them under and got comfortable again. If the first 3 were good...then I hope the rest are doing great, too. 1 week down, 2 to go.

 

[daniellenoel]

I candled all the eggs tonight.

Not looking good. Out of the 20 we have in there, I could see some veining in maybe 3?? The rest I could not see much or I think what may be a detached air cell or even some maybe had a blood ring? Does anyone know what that really looks like? Do I remove all the eggs I cannot see anything in?? Or leave them in there a little longer???
So should I continue on with this and hope for a few chicks?? My class of 2nd graders may be pretty disappointed. I do have someone who can give me some local fertilized eggs..
I am tempted to start over but I know there are a few chicks in there... GOSH!! I am so mad at the company who shipped these and all those people who handled the box while it was being shipped!!

 

[TXmom]

Awww...that's disappointing.

I wish I could give you some advice or answers, but I have NO experience with hatching in an incubator. My Silkie does my hatching. I have read that some people have tossed eggs that they thought were bad, but then found a viable embryo inside...it's horrible when that happens. So I would rather be safe then sorry... But on the other hand, I understand these eggs had a rough trip and you have your students to think about, so I could understand just wanting to start over with local eggs.

I don't suppose you could get another incubator and do both, could ya? Maybe take these home to see what happens, but start over with a new batch for your class? Best of both worlds, but not always possible. Sorry I'm not much help...

 

[ChickyLaura]

That does sound pretty disappointing... I am always paranoid to get rid of any eggs, but I think I'm getting better at determining which are the "bad" eggs since none of my bad eggs have never hatched.

We have the incubator in our bedroom. Well the room was sweltering last night so I opened up the window. I woke up this morning and it was freezing, ugh. My heart sank. But guess what! My hovabator held temperature! I am impressed with my hovabator so far compared to my LG bator and I have had better hatch rates. Not spectacular, but better rates than with my LG!

Now I just have to maintain humidity, ugh!

Saturday I bought 10 more buttercup eggs and 10 wyandotte eggs at the local auction, so I put them in yesterday morning. I didn't want to have a staggered hatch but I guess I will now, which also means I'll have to rely on the LG for a few days... But at this point I'm OK with that, but only for a few days!!

I also have 3 'bators in the coop - one is a silkie/turken mix, one is a cuckoo silkie, and one is a blue orpington. I have no clue what's underneath them, other than bunches of eggs. I tried to get pictures of them but for some reason the pics aren't downloading into the computer. I think it may need a new battery. So we'll see who "wins" - momma hens or the incubators! LOL!

 

[clothdiaperingmom]

chickylaura-I wouldnt rely on the LG even for a couple days.
You can hatch in your hovabator while still bating other eggs. Thats what I have started doing. My LG would spike sometimes to 105, then down to 97 for no reason. Thats not good even for a couple of days. Dont have the stress of of temp swings in the hovabator. Or of the chicks frying in the LG after hatching.

 

[loopy12]

Daniellenoel: its a tough decision. Could you handle a staggered hatch? Or do you know anyone who could lend an incubator to you for a few weeks? If yes to either of those questions then I'd keep the definite yes eggs, discard the rest and get some new local eggs in. I just think if there are only 3 that go into lockdown you could easily end up with just one, or worse, no chicks. Of course you could get 3, but...I dunno...

Just hate to think of those little faces being all disappointed...
Could leave it until day 10 then make a decision on the rest. Should be clear by then if some aren't developing...

What breed are they? What color are the eggs? Are they all the same?

Oh, and if you have a blood ring you'll know it when you see it - it looks like a belt of blood around the middle of the egg. And a detached air cell will move like a bubble when you move the egg like in a spirit level. Apparently they can be a little bit detached so they're just off to the side and thats ok, but if they can travel all the way to the pointy end then its not a good sign.
Do you see shadows in the eggs you're not sure about, or do they look just clear? How bright is your light? Can you take photos of what you see when candling - will try to help best I can with my limited personal experience...

 

[loopy12]

I keep forgetting I have 5 chicken eggs in with my duck eggs. Someone remind me on friday to warm up the other bator for lockdown for them...I swear I'm going to forget!!!