Setting eggs tomorrow, anyone want to join?

[Ilovemyduckies]

Today is day 5. I Candled two white ones and didn't see much. I'm gonna candle them again in a few days, and hopefully my broody will let me!

 

[blzzrdqueen]

I moved my bator today. It was on the dining room table behind my laptop, but one of my 4 cats is rebelling because the bator took his spot, so I moved it into the bathroom on top of my ironing board (which is where the sink used to be). It's actually more convenient in there because I do my candling in there on my last turn at night. Now my darn cat can have his spot back.

 

[missnu01]

Ok, I tried candling, today on day 5, and it looks like all my eggs are clear..the only ones that look like they might, might might, have something going on are too dark for me to see through. WTH? I have 3 laying hens, and 3 roosters. One old, one young rooster, and an up and coming cockerel...Have 4 pullets about to start laying though..anyway, is it possible with that ratio of hens to roosters to have infertile eggs? Might I see something with a brighter light? I can see the yolk, but that is all. Nothing....sucks.

 

[jnjmanning]

I would wait till 7 and try again, then again at 10.

 

[blzzrdqueen]

Ok, I tried candling, today on day 5, and it looks like all my eggs are clear..the only ones that look like they might, might might, have something going on are too dark for me to see through. WTH? I have 3 laying hens, and 3 roosters. One old, one young rooster, and an up and coming cockerel...Have 4 pullets about to start laying though..anyway, is it possible with that ratio of hens to roosters to have infertile eggs? Might I see something with a brighter light? I can see the yolk, but that is all. Nothing....sucks.

What kind of light are you using? I was using a regular flashlight and not getting much luck, I started using a LED light that was brighter and was able to see the veining starting in my 5 smaller eggs. My brown eggs I can't see anything yet.

 

[missnu01]

I used a small led flashlight that wasn't working right

 

[blzzrdqueen]

Is it really only day 6??? Seems like we have forever to go!! I am loving watching my chicks grow. I candled my D'Uccles this morning and 3 of 5 have eyes! I ended up setting my D'Uccles on their sides with the marked ends tilted up in the egg cartons, because the ends of the eggs look identical, so it's hard to tell where the air cell should be...since they are small eggs they fit on top of their respective carton cups perfectly. I think they will get better air flow that way too. Still can't see anything in any of the other eggs except my one Blue Ameraucana. I'm thinking my Leghorn isn't fertile, I don't see much of a dark mass in there at all, but I will wait it out. Temps have been holding steady at 100 degrees and humidity at 30-35% with damp paper towels in the bator.

 

[SA Farm]

Ok, I tried candling, today on day 5, and it looks like all my eggs are clear..the only ones that look like they might, might might, have something going on are too dark for me to see through. WTH? I have 3 laying hens, and 3 roosters. One old, one young rooster, and an up and coming cockerel...Have 4 pullets about to start laying though..anyway, is it possible with that ratio of hens to roosters to have infertile eggs? Might I see something with a brighter light? I can see the yolk, but that is all. Nothing....sucks.

I've heard that if you have too many roosters to hens, the roosters spend all their time preventing the others from fertilizing the eggs...that could be the problem.

 

[SA Farm]

Is it really only day 6??? Seems like we have forever to go!! I am loving watching my chicks grow. I candled my D'Uccles this morning and 3 of 5 have eyes! I ended up setting my D'Uccles on their sides with the marked ends tilted up in the egg cartons, because the ends of the eggs look identical, so it's hard to tell where the air cell should be...since they are small eggs they fit on top of their respective carton cups perfectly. I think they will get better air flow that way too. Still can't see anything in any of the other eggs except my one Blue Ameraucana. I'm thinking my Leghorn isn't fertile, I don't see much of a dark mass in there at all, but I will wait it out. Temps have been holding steady at 100 degrees and humidity at 30-35% with damp paper towels in the bator.

I'm so excited for you!

I'm going to wait to candle again until next week, but even if none of mine hatch, I'll be happy if yours do!

 

[blzzrdqueen]

I'm so excited for you!

I'm going to wait to candle again until next week, but even if none of mine hatch, I'll be happy if yours do!

Aww, thanks! I hope yours do too though! I know most people wait to candle, but there are a few of us who are addicted to it and do it all the time.