setting eggs tonight!! anyone else?

[CALI CHICK]

I dropped one of my developing eggs last night while turning... It cracked and so I opened it. (stupid idea) It had an eyeball and everything.

I has a sad now. :'( It was already starting to look like a chick.

I'm so sorry that you dropped one.

 

[Corg33]

Layna that sucks! Sorry you lost a good egg. But you got a peak at what's happening in there and experience.

Cali tonight at 8 starts day 7 for me. Rotating your lid sounds like a great idea because that moves the hot spots around if I'm following correctly. Very smart.

Do y'all think I should leave the clear eggs for a few more days? My gut says they are duds but my heart has hope lol

 

[LaynaDon95]

I'm leaving my clear egg for awhile longer. I think I have one with a blood ring, and one that isn't developing. Which, after the dropped one, leaves 36. I just hope nothing happens to the rest! I think dropping the egg cured my over-candling habits though.

 

[CALI CHICK]

Layna that sucks! Sorry you lost a good egg. But you got a peak at what's happening in there and experience.

Cali tonight at 8 starts day 7 for me. Rotating your lid sounds like a great idea because that moves the hot spots around if I'm following correctly. Very smart.

Do y'all think I should leave the clear eggs for a few more days? My gut says they are duds but my heart has hope lol

Corg, I asked the lady who I bought my eggs from the same question. She said that she candles at day 7 or 8, but sometimes waits until Day 10 to throw out any clear eggs. So, I vote that you go with your heart and pray something shows up by Day 10.

By the way, my stomach is totally in knots too!

My directions say to keep the temps in the 101-102* range. That seems high to me, but maybe that's correct for this particular 'bator. So what I'm doing is turning the lid and opening or closing a few vent holes to "adjust" the temp. Man, I'm not even concerned about humidity at this point since the temperature seems to be such an issue! (I'm leaning more toward a 'dry incubation' and might add water if % drops to 20%. There are some very convincing articles out there about dry incubation.) I don't think I can go anywhere and I'll never get any sleep again at this rate!!!

 

[LaynaDon95]

What incubator do you have? I'm using a Little Giant Still air incubator and it took me FOREVER to regulate it and I still haven't gotten it above 100. 101-102 is right for the still air (I guess because it doesn't circulate hot spots?)

At least you haven't dropped any...

 

[CALI CHICK]

What incubator do you have? I'm using a Little Giant Still air incubator and it took me FOREVER to regulate it and I still haven't gotten it above 100. 101-102 is right for the still air (I guess because it doesn't circulate hot spots?)

At least you haven't dropped any...

I have a Brower 845 (borrowed from my son's Poultry leader in 4-H). It is an old, round, galvanized 'bator'. Looks like a miniature space capsule!
Hmmm, maybe I should continue to shoot for 100*. After all, you have egg development in a 100 degree unit. I would rather have slow development than cook the little critters!

 

[LaynaDon95]

100 seems to be working fine for me. I'm sure yours would be fine too. Don't worry if the temp is unstable for the first few days. A mama hen can't keep it up all the time either. Eggs are a lot tougher than we think. As long as it stays between 99-102 I wouldn't worry.

 

[CALI CHICK]

100 seems to be working fine for me. I'm sure yours would be fine too. Don't worry if the temp is unstable for the first few days. A mama hen can't keep it up all the time either. Eggs are a lot tougher than we think. As long as it stays between 99-102 I wouldn't worry.

Thanks for the moral support, LaynaDon!

I did have a 104 heat spike, but it was probably less than 10 minutes and in one hot spot-I hope!

To help my nerves (and my OCD) I am working on a 3 week personal planner. (seriously) It will be scheduled in 15 minute increments that allow for at least 1 egg check per/15 minutes. I'm not sure what I'll do at night yet. Hehe! The reason I'm doing this is because I can't focus on anything OTHER than these eggs. I am becoming a mother hen....help! I need a reminder to do things like: fold laundry, make supper, take a shower (LOL), etc. I was the same way after my son was born and nursing him, but looking back taking care of a baby is easier than hatching chicks.

 

[Corg33]

Eggs are a lot tougher than we think. As long as it stays between 99-102 I wouldn't worry.

X2

I would love to see a pic of your incubator Cali

 

[CALI CHICK]

Here is the 'egg nursery". That's the box of eggs front-n-center with the incubator in the back. You can also see my candler (light bulb & box), Brower Instructions and LaynaDon's calendar hanging behind the incubator! My son thinks I'm silly for taking pictures of each phase of this journey, but that's OK