Setting Eggs on the 27th...

[dreamer5577]

I'll be lockingdown at about 8:00 PM on the 13th!

I candled this morning. I saw little babies kicking about in all but 2 eggs (which I could barely see anything).


Feather Duster- This year winter hit us so hard most of my tetra tints got frostbite. We moved everyone into the garage for 2 weeks because it was so unbearably cold outside. It messed with their systems and some started molting. Ugh. I hate winter. So glad it's over!

 

[4chickns]

I will be going into lockdown on the 14th as well! I set 14 shipped silkie eggs on the 27th, had 1 clear and 2 very early quitters, 11 still going strong. They were jumping around last night when I candled, air cells look great, just one saddle shaped. Wishing everyone a great hatch!

 

[MyNameIs86]

Glad to hear 4chickns.
I am growing more excited by the day. I really want to candle tonight but can't seem to find my flashlight. oh well. Through out this hatch I noticed my humidity was fine for about 5 days and when i needed to put in water it went to 16% and jumped as high as 50-52% humidity. I hope everything is still okay as they seem to be still moving. If i do have hatches I hope that none of them have pasty butt as all my hatches I always have at least 1.

 

[Feather duster]

I'm also getting excited ,but a little nervous too when you read about all the things that can go wrong. It's going to be a long week waiting. Yesterday I dug out all my brooding equipment and got it scrubbed up and sterilized. I start them out in a giant size tote for the first couple of weeks. Then I move them into a much larger brooder made of plywood. The plywood one is made so I can take it apart in the off season for storing away. It makes it easier to clean when broken down also. I guess I'm like a new expectant father trying to keep busy to calm his nerves. LoL

 

[dreamer5577]

I was going to get out my brooding stuff and clean it this weekend, but ended up getting ill! Feeling much better today and will definitely set up tomorrow. I'm getting kind of nervous though so when I think about setting up the brooder I think they may not hatch at all. ugh! Gotta think positive! I was going to wait to candle tomorrow before lockdown, but think I'll be candling tonight. I just want to make sure everyone is still moving around and development is going well.

I spent an hour on here yesterday scrolling through the incubating chicken threads and everyone's posts seemed to be about something going wrong with the hatch. I was all sick and nervous for a while and finally calmed myself because people are posting because they need help. So there are tons of successful hatches every day! every minute! Just needed to keep telling myself that. SO now I'm back to being positive!

Such a roller coaster of emotions! Glad I have you all! Haha!

 

[MyNameIs86]

Today is Day 17... I don't think I'll be able to sleep tonight knowing tomorrow is 18!!!!
I lost my candler light which is depressing because I was hoping to candle tonight but i guess I'll
just be "surprised" if anything hatches. good luck. I know we get more nervous when it comes to
lock down. I don't have my brooder ready yet.... i am thinking sometime tomorrow or wednesday the
latest. lol.

 

[Feather duster]

I notice in Hatching 101 it says something about lowering the temperature one degree on lockdown. Do any of you do that, or know people who do? And I wonder what the benefit of it is. I would like to hear some thoughts on it from more knowledgeable people, because this is my first time hatching.

 

[WalnutHill]

It's not commonly done, especially with a tabletop incubator, because turning the knob is a greater risk than any advantage.

I turn down 1 degree Fahrenheit for my turkey eggs in my cabinet incubator at some point between removing eggs from the turner and the expected hatch date, generally the last day when pips are expected. I find that they struggle less during the hatch and are more active after hatch. I combine that with raising the hatching humidity to about 65% at the same time.

However, every incubator is different. If you are doing your first incubation, I'd suggest a steady temperature through to hatch. Then you can make a decision whether to change anything in the next incubation.

 

[MyNameIs86]

Yesterday was day 17 for me and the humidity got down to 21 so i had to add a little water..it's weird
so today (April 14th) i go into lock down at 2pm. Yey yah.

 

[dreamer5577]

I have officially gone into lockdown! Fingers crossed for all of us!