Set my *FIRST* batch of eggs this AM Jan.21st. UPDATE. I've got 2.pg14

[BBK]

Great pics feathered Landings... mine kinda look like that too. but I don't know if I see any thing swimming....I'm going to check again... and HAPPY B'DAY today...then...mine is at the end of the month....
What's your humidity?

beclu727
Yesterday 1:44 pm I finally candled today, day 10. All 12 look OK, but some I couldn't see much. I need a brighter flashlight. They are all EE eggs from a local chicken owner. The bator has been holding temp in the 99.2-99.8 range and humidity has been in the 40-46% range. Except today the humidity was 26%. I forgot to add water yesterday!!!

you're in Ga..and your humidity is in the 40% range, have you use a bator B4? Results? Go chickies go...

I'm trying to figure out if I'm to low w/my humidity...


I read on Bobbi Porto (silkies) site that her humidity is in the 50% range, she's in FLorida. And Dick Hortsman (RIR) is in the 50% range. But I don't know where he's from.... But I may be tooo low...

Melinda​

 

[Feathered Landings]

What's your humidity?

I've read a lot about holding it between 60-65% then upping it to 80-85% on the last 3 days but then a lot of people on BYC say they use the "dry" method, so because I trust everyone here more I've been holding mine between 35-45% (38% right now).
I have a Chickens in Your Backyard: A Beginner's Guide book and it has a diagram that shows where the air sac should be on day 7, 14, and 18 and the book says that's most important, which makes sense because if it's to big the chick could stick or too small and it could drown. Here's the link http://www.small-farm-permaculture-and-sustainable-living.com/egg_candling.html
So far, holding the humidity lower seems to be working well because mine are all moving like crazy, it's so awesome to see. I always let my eyes adjust to the dark with just the flashlight on, then I hold the egg really still and BAM you can see them moving clear as day

My question now is....what is everyone upping their humidity too on lock down day?

P.S. Thanks for the birthday wishes Melinda...I hope you have a good one too with some baby chicks to share in it with you

 

[beclu727]

BBK - this is my 2nd time using this bator. Its a Brinsea Eco 20 and I have the turner. Last time my temps were around 100-100.5 and humidy 40-45% until day 18. Then I raised the humidity to 60+. Last time I hatched out 5 chicks out of 18 eggs. They hatched on days 19 & 20. I think the low rate was from them being mailed here from NY and it took 3-4 days to get here. Some were broken so I know they were handled roughly. This time I'm keeping the temp a little lower to see if they hatch out a little later. You can see pics of my 1st hatch on my BYC page.

I think humidity depends on whether you are still air or moving air. Mine is moving (has a fan going all the time.)

 

[BBK]

thanks for both of your insite and links...i think i'm going to candle again and see what's gonig on or hope to see...
i've upped my humidity to be in the 30%....

I'm ordering some of Bobbi's eggs for the 18-19th and Hortsman's too... hope to have this corrected by then...

Melinda

so, if you're planning anything( another hatch) hint, hint!!) I'll be here...or probably will start another thread, or join one...

hoping that your chickies are are growing...

 

[BBK]

ok, i candled again... got another empty one (clear) and IDK... maybe i'm seeing something, but no movement. but my air sacks are about right...

I watched those videos, I'm at work now, I only have dial up at home.. nice pics.... all of those eggs are moving tho....

melinda

will keep my fingers crossed

 

[Feathered Landings]

will keep my fingers crossed

I'll cross my fingers for you too

Do you at least see the dark spot (eye) and veins? Also, do you have the room completely dark and have you let your eyes adjust to the dark. That works a lot better for me, I had a really hard time trying to figure it out at first, but a different post I had read said to do that...made it a lot easier for me. Also, slowly turn the egg while it's up to the light, that helps find the chick easier. Maybe you're already doing this stuff...that's just all I know of what helped me. Good luck.​

 

[BBK]

Also, do you have the room completely dark and have you let your eyes adjust to the dark. That works a lot better for me, I had a really hard time trying to figure it out at first, but a different post I had read said to do that...made it a lot easier for me. Also, slowly turn the egg while it's up to the light, that helps find the chick easier. Maybe you

Yeah, have the room dark, msybe I need a better set of eyes...I'll ask Dh to help...I'm sure i'm going to get some flack, but he'll do it, b/c he's curious...lol

melinda​

 

[Apprentice_egger]

I candled for the second time tonight (yesterday) and eliminated 4 eggs that weren't developing. I suppose I left them in last time to be sure. (They were my daughter's SQ Silkie eggs) She only had 6 to begin with, so she's pretty sad. All of my Bantam Cochin eggs are doing fine, so from a start of 12 I'm down to 7. Sunday they go into lockdown.

Once again I don't see what I'm supposed to, but I see movement so I can't be misreading development too much.

 

[BBK]

but I see movement so I can't be misreading development too much.

See. i don' t see any movement...I think i'm done. I pulled 3 more this Am..clear... I have clear portions on both sides of some of my eggs...I think they're DONE... i'm so afriad to pull them...just in case....

What I did learn tho, from those videos was , you can take a pic of cardboard and make a hole in the center and use THAT as your candler...The one I got from my friend, i think she used to candle banties...b/c the hole was small.
My cardboard, I made bigger and could SEE a lot better....

happy hatching everyone...I'll be cheering you on...

melinda

forgot to say...that stinks on the SQ silkies, but great news on the cochins...I have ot tell you, one of my lil banty roo cochin, is MEAN!!!! he picks on everyone....I'm not sure what I'm going to do about him...​

 

[SunshineSteedFarm]

I hope everyone's hatch goes well!