Setting Today (03-02-2012)

[skunknchatter]

Stinkin' hens! Today I got an egg from my EE. I was trying to wait for one from her before I set my eggs but she is laying so randomly that I gave up. Figures that the last two days in a row I've gotten eggs and one from my EE. Oh well I'll set some right after the two I've got in. By then my hens will be laying more regularly.

 

[1sttimechick]

That's AWESOME! The 3 that i saw looked just like that and i could even see the heartbeat!!!! So AMAZING!!!! Cant wait til day 21!

 

[Coop de Grille]

I have five out of the sixteen that I can see development. Most are green EE mix eggs and they are too dark for me to see anything.

 

[RollinWithTheStones]

Hopefully I'll be able to get some quail eggs tomorrow and I'll pop them in.

 

[1sttimechick]

So happy to see that everyone is making progress as we go through this "trying of patience" time!

Just a quick question......
I have 48 eggs, do i candle every one of them on friday to see if i should get rid of any or should i only check some?

Does anyone have any suggestions?

I ask because i am afraid to be opening the bator 48 times,it concerns me, in regards to the temp/humidity? But it shouldn't take me but maybe 10 mins to check them all, and that's how long a momma hen would get off her eggs to eat/drink/take a break from sitting, right?

 

[chkinut]

i would candle them all. i think they'll be just fine if you candle them all at once (opening the bator 48 times). or if it concerns you, candle half in the morning and half in the afternoon.

 

[chkinut]

found hubby's seriously high powered flashlight. candled all 29 eggs (27 of which are olive eggs and black copper marans eggs). seems all but one olive egg is doing great! seems 7 marans eggs are questionable. and there's one lt brown egg that is pretty much 100% no growth at all. so 20 eggs are doing great, 9 eggs are questionable. i have not thrown any away since it's so early (day 6). but i have a question: some seem to have no air sacs! others, their air sac is about the size of a dime. should i decrease the humidity? it's been averaging around 37%. i've usually done fine with humidity around 40% before lockdown. i've never had these small air cells before. could it be cuz the eggs are old? i would think the opposite would be true? the older they are, the bigger the air cells?

 

[RollinWithTheStones]

if it were me I'd pick a row or section and candle it then come back later and do another section and so on till done. I use a small led light so when I open to turn my eggs I just pop it on quickly and see what's going on.

 

[chiqita]

yeah, candle all of them at least for chick or no chick. By day 10 or so you should be able to see a lack of light from a chick body in all but the darkest eggs. And finding out you have 15 eggs that didn't start on day 21 is no fun
If you can do it, candle in the bathroom after someone has had a shower if your worried about opening up the bator for too long.

 

[HiddenBrookAcres]

Also incubating for the first time! Set 11 bearded silkies on 3/3. Genesis 1588 with egg turner. I have been having a hard time keeping humidity consistent but it has been right around 40%. After reading all of the posts I am feeling a bit better about the humidity on the "low" side. (everything I read says 45-55% until day 18 then increase to 65-75%) The eggs were shipped and I just candled them this morning, day 5? The shipping of eggs throws me off with timing. Anyhow, I saw lots of activity in the eggs when I candles them and possibly a heart beat? I have no idea what I am looking at but it was very exciting.
Wishing everyone a good hatch!