Setting my eggs tonight (April 10) Any tips?

[dak]

Good morning newbie hatching buddies! Today I am having a hard time believing there are potential chickies in my bator. I can't wait til I can SEE SOMETHING when I candle!

I found a cool spot in my bator that seems to run a couple of degrees cooler than the remainder, so I am rotating locations in the bator when I turn eggs. It is directly under the fan, over the water trough. I knew those four thermometers would drive me nuts!

Second batch of eggs may arrive today.

 

[Bluemoon420]

Morning Dak

Today is day 6 for me. I'll candle tomorrow, or maybe tonight. I'm doing the dry hatch method like I did last time, so I'm trying to open the bator as little as possible. We found a Hovabator for sale on craigslist that was the same one I was using, but newer. It was never used, and was only missing the plastic liner. So we ordered a newer liner, and turner. All seems good so far. It's holding temp and humidity really well.

We are using our own eggs, so I haven't tried shipped eggs yet. Of course, as soon as we put the silkie eggs in she went broody, but she'll have to wait until we have better set up for her before we let her hatch any eggs.

Rotating the eggs is good idea. I think most bators have a cool spot. I know some thermometers run higher or lower depending on the thermometer. I'm sure you'll be ok

Bluemoon

 

[dak]

Hi bluemoon, everybody gets lucky on craigslist....but me. Silkies sound like fun. What colors are you expecting? I'm on day 4 and I just candled one egg for fun. I think it's good news. There is one dark spot with small lines coming from it, kinda looks like a spider. Yeahhhhhhh!!!!!! It was one of the silver laced cochin extras the breeder threw in with my gold laced. I'll probably wait on the rest to minimize handling. I imagine white eggs would be easier than these brown eggs.

The post office called at 6:15. My Ameraucana eggs arrived. They are unpacked and settling. I'll set them this evening. The breeder sent 12+4, and all are fine. Wonderful packing job. Double boxed with lots of padding.

I'd better get cracking on that coop

Dak (Clare)

Eastin how is it going?

 

[Bluemoon420]

Our silkies are blue partridge I believe. So, we are expecting at least some variation of that. The only eggs I've had the worst time seeing thru are the blue eggs. I've had no problem seeing inside maran, or welsummer eggs. The blue eggs I usually mark with a ? and candle periodically. If they don't smell bad, or aren't seeping, I keep them in. We stuck in a couple of blue eggs this hatch also. The silkie eggs are the only white eggs we have, so time will tell how well we see in those.

It sounds like the one egg you candled is developing.

Bluemoon

 

[EastinChickens]

- UPDATE (Day 4) -

Today when I opened my bator to turn eggs, it seemed to smell funny, so, I decided to candle a little early.

It turned out that one egg had a blood ring.

Fortunately, three of the eggs have veins developing. The other two have such thick shells, I couldn't see anything, so I decided they were good since I didn't see anything that looked too dark- like a blood ring.

Hoping for the best,
And good luck to the rest of you!!!

 

[Bluemoon420]

Good news for me. I candled last night since I had to add a little water anyway. All of the silkie eggs have veining, and look good. All of the blue eggs looked ok, but one. The blue eggs are the worst to see in, but the one egg in question didn't look like the others. I marked that one with a ?, and will check it again in a few days.

So far so good

Bluemoon

 

[4chickns]

Hi everyone. I set my first eggs ever under my two broody silkies this past Sunday, so I'm looking at the 2nd for a hatch date. They are 8 sizzle eggs that I got bought from someone locally. They were in her fridge because she heard to keep the between 45-50 degrees, so I hope they hatch.

I brought them to room temp and let them rest a little after the drive before I set them. It seems like my little silkies are some pretty determined mamas, so I hope everything goes well. I will be candling on Sunday or Monday. Good luck to everyone! I can't wait to see all the adorable chick pictures.

 

[raimnel]

u crazy chicken people

can't u wait to candle ur eggs till at least a week?

I got my silkie eggs in the 'bator and wouldn't u know my silly silkie decided she wants to give it a try. Question, these silkie eggs have been in the 'bator 6 days...... can I stuff 2-3 of these eggs under her? will she get all confused because she didn't sit 21 days? stupid chicken!

and I'm keeping my hands tied behind me till the weekend for candling.

(like as if that will happen right!)

 

[Bluemoon420]

Quote:
It's been a week. LOL I'm on day 7. I try to handle em as little as possible. I only candle the ones with a ? after that. Or if any smell funky.

Bluemoon

 

[dak]

It's all part of the fun, and if it's not fun, why do it? So, I candled my 15 gold/silver standard cochin eggs....8/15 are developing. The are a couple I'm not sure about, but no blood rings. One has what I think is a meat spot. Nothing smells funky so I'll recheck in a few days before I start crackin eggs. All the way from Fla to New Mexico. Not bad.

May 1 !!!!!!! HATCHING DAY!!!!!!!

Welcome raimnel and 4chickns! What is your hatching date.

Good morning Eastin and Bluemoon!