Set eggs 9/27/10 - anyone care to join?

[VillageChicken]

Can I join? I have 3 batches going simultaneously, that will hatch on the 10th, 12th, and the 21st. Kinda early and late. The first two batches are just barnyard crosses from my mixed laying flock - RIR/RIW x Barred Rock or English BO. The batch for the 12th went in the 'bator when my broody quit on me, but I caught 'em in time, and they're growing nicely. The last batch that hatches (hopefully) on the 21st is my second batch of shipped eggs from the UK (we're in Hungary) and they are BCM Black and BBS Copper marans, like many in this hatchgroup. The first shipped batch was a total loss - I goofed up the incubator at about 7 days. But some of the shipped eggs were developing - only a small percentage, but at least something was growing. This time there are also a few wobbly airsacs, so I'm skeptically hopeful. BCM eggs drive me nuts when they're nice and dark. I'm glad to get dark eggs, but you have to wait at least to day 10 to be sure something's going on in there. My incubator's a homemade (a Hovabator's coming over in January!) Styrofoam insulation panel/computer fan/lightbulb setup that worked well for me two hatches ago. I'm making another one for this friday when the first batch goes into lockdown and needs higher humidity. I kinda like turning the eggs by hand - keeps me from hovering too much, knowing I'll be back in several hours to turn them again. Hoping for lots of veins and wigglers for you all.

 

[The Lisser]

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Cool! I'm planning to candle again today.

 

[The Lisser]

I candled this afternoon. I saw movement in 7 of the 14 eggs!

It looked like 4 more were developing, but didn't see movement. Two were not developing and one had a blood ring and a dark spot - not sure what's going on with that. One of the ones that had movement also had a wiggly air cell. I did a search on the BYC site and saw that others have had babies successfully hatch from eggs with detached air cells, so I'm going to keep trying with that egg.

I love incubating!!!

 

[Jen4]

The Lisser Wrote: I candled this afternoon. I saw movement in 7 of the 14 eggs! ya It looked like 4 more were developing, but didn't see movement. Two were not developing and one had a blood ring and a dark spot - not sure what's going on with that. One of the ones that had movement also had a wiggly air cell. I did a search on the BYC site and saw that others have had babies successfully hatch from eggs with detached air cells, so I'm going to keep trying with that egg.

I love incubating!!!

 

[trishmk]

Day 11 here and just candled the batch again - finally tossed the clears. So I have 13 (of 18 originally) that are moving right along, I think. They are all uniform in appearance - air bubble at top, dark section with veins and various blobs and then clear fluid at bottom. I didn't see any movement in any of them, though - obviously more growth since day 6/7. Would one normally see movement? Hoping I'm not incubating bacteria at this point. What has been your experience?

 

[The Lisser]

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You don't always see movement. I saw more movement with this batch than I did previously - I think my cold hands may have had something to do with it! As long as they are progressing, and don't smell bad, they are probably just sleeping when you candle. Have you checked out the candling pics thread? (one of the stickys in this topic). It is awesome!!

13/18 is great for shipped eggs!

 

[trishmk]

I had glanced through the candling thread before but just took a closer look and also watched some videos on YouTube. I noticed they were all shining the light through either the top where the air sac is or the side - I was shining through the bottom - also was not in a completely dark room. Tried again and they're moving like crazy - I can't believe I didn't see earlier! So cool! It was all I could do to put them back and close up the incubator.

Thanks for the encouragement! So wanting a successful hatch I'm a stress ball

 

[The Lisser]

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I totally understand about the stress ball!

Yeah, I shine the light through the side, and sometimes you have to rotate the eggs around to find the embryo. As the incubation progresses, you will probably see less movement as the babies get bigger - less room to move around.

And when you go into lockdown, and the eggs are just sitting there, try not to worry too much - every time I had a pip it was a total surprise every time! The eggs will just sit there like they arent' going to do a thing and then when you've given up hope, they will hatch.

 

[Jen4]

The eggs will just sit there like they arent' going to do a thing and then when you've given up hope, they will hatch.

So True! I love watching them hatch... when it gets close to hatch time I take my laptop and sit right by the bator and watch

 

[Jen4]

Hello Everyone... I candled again last night... took the bantam eggs out (wasnt fertile) the other 3 eggs are growing great. Due this Saturday