Setting eggs in incubator May 3rd...Anyone with me?

[melina90]

I hope to learn from you if you're successful! We've tried w/ three broody hens this year, had only one chick hatch, and she pushed it aside and let it die. So this is our fourth attempt now, with the same mom that sat on the first batch. So frustrating!

I wouldnt use that broody again if she let her first chick die. But then again, sometimes they can do better on their second try, so let's hope that's the case! But some hens really just don't make for good mommies. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you though! It's not always just easy to switch broody if you don't have that many chickens to choose from. Keep us posted on how she does!

 

[TheDownyChick]

That is so sad that she let her baby die! I guess chickens are like people in that just because you are a female doesnt mean you automatically have that motherly instinct. Some do, some don't. I hope it works out better for you this time!

 

[TheDownyChick]

I have a question. If we ade supposed to carefully roll them bqck and forth without turning the egg all the wwy around when.turning the eggs, won't picking rhem up and turning them big end up fpr candling be damaginf?

 

[turkey lover]

i have just put in 5 royal palm turkey eggs in the bator on the 5th so we will see what happens

 

[turkey lover]

where did you order your eggs from

 

[Mamahumecky]

i put 13 cblack cochin eggs 1 cochin mix 8 barn yard mix and 12 americuana's on thursday night 5/2 so when should i be ablet o see something when candling. i took a quick peek last night and saw the yolk more prominent but forget about trying to find an airsack i just don't have the experience. hope somehing hatches.

 

[DiamondDust]

I have a question. If we ade supposed to carefully roll them bqck and forth without turning the egg all the wwy around when.turning the eggs, won't picking rhem up and turning them big end up fpr candling be damaginf?

When I had mine laid on thier sides I just carefully picked up the eggs and candled them with the big end up. The short amount of time you spend doing that is not damaging to them but if you put your eggs in around 5/2 - 5/4 you really wouldn't want to candle them yet. They are super delicate this early in developement and there isn't much point to it as you see very little at this stage. It is so hard to resist though and I've been guilty of candling this early more than once.

i put 13 cblack cochin eggs 1 cochin mix 8 barn yard mix and 12 americuana's on thursday night 5/2 so when should i be ablet o see something when candling. i took a quick peek last night and saw the yolk more prominent but forget about trying to find an airsack i just don't have the experience. hope somehing hatches.

Wait until they have been in the incubator at least 7 days before candling. It is so hard to resist but it's worth the wait because you see so much more by then. Some wait even longer, like 14 days or even just before lockdown. The advantage of waiting is that you can see more if there is something in there. Don't throw out any eggs you are unsure of unless they start "weeping". If they weep they are no good and could explode in your incubator. In the last batch I incubated I had an egg that I thought was not any good by day 10. I couldn't see any growth in it (it was a brown egg, so it was a little hard to see in it) so I took it out and opened it to see when it had quit growing. It was so sad because it was actually just a late bloomer and there was a tiny live chick growing in there.

Anyway, wait until at least day 7 to candle. You will figure out the candling thing...it's very exciting to see movement and see the veins! The air sack is on the big end of the egg and I find it easiest to see if I shine the light right on the fat end of the egg, lengthwise through the egg.

 

[TheDownyChick]

Oh Diamond, that is so sad about your little chickie. Thanks for letting me know about the weeping. I wasn't planning on culling any, as I don't know what I am looking at yet. Sounds like maybe that is a good idea. I will wait for the weeping.

 

[Mamahumecky]

yeah I don't plan on tossing anything unless it smells or somethign because i've never done this before. i am anxous though trying hard not to freak. we will candle on day 7 10 14 and 18 as this is a science project too and i need him to document. but yeah trying hard not to worry lol

 

[SarahJaneB]

I usually toss my infertile ones or ones that it's obvious they stopped early early in the second week or right before lockdown. I've never had one sweat on me yet.