No, didn't trim any fannies. I've always had good fertility with my silkies that's why I didn't even think to do so. lol I think I will now. Then again, I haven't seen my 11month old cockerel be very persuasive with the girls. Maybe he needs more practice. lolSome boys are just too young or not aggressive enough. You've probably trimmed their fannies, right?
5 days? I don't candle before 10 days. Sometimes you don't see anything - even thru those nice light Silkie egg shells. Most people candle at 7 days. 5 days is too early.
I candled my previous eggs at about 5 days and saw clear veins. But just in case, I did leave the eggs in the incubator. I'm hoping I was being too impatient with candling and something will still develop.Oh good, I was hoping you weren't tossing them at 3 days.. Some eggs I did see clear veining early - but some fooled me and I marked ?? and they hatched so I don't take any out until 10 days (those showed development at 10 days).