Silkie saga

[2ndTink]

I see life in that egg! Congrats! Lots of things can effect the hatch rate, the eggs themselves, letting them rest before setting is very important, the temp before setting, of course your equipment, etc....With each hatch you will learn to do and what not to do. But you are still above 50% hatch rate so far. It truly is amazing to watch these eggs turn into tiny life, you will never forget hearing them peep in the egg, watching your first chick hatch, it's an awesome experience. They bond with the first thing they see hovering over them, you are their mommy! Keep cheering on the little eggies!

I candled only the 8 eggs I couldn't see development in tonight and saw a little something in 4 more! So I'm down to only 4 I can't see growth in, I'm very happy! The development is much less than the other eggs I could easily see life in last night, so maybe these 4 will hatch a little later?

I wonder why they developed slower than all the others?

Two seem very void of development, the air cells aren't well defined either. I tried different positions of the egg on the candler and couldn't detect anything. Photos attached.

 

[TwoCrows]

I candled only the 8 eggs I couldn't see development in tonight and saw a little something in 4 more! So I'm down to only 4 I can't see growth in, I'm very happy! The development is much less than the other eggs I could easily see life in last night, so maybe these 4 will hatch a little later?

I wonder why they developed slower than all the others?

Two seem very void of development, the air cells aren't well defined either. I tried different positions of the egg on the candler and couldn't detect anything. Photos attached.

Yay, more live eggies!! It's possible some of the eggs were stored a bit differently, and genetics can effect the development as well. It's fine if they hatch later, I've had them hatch 2 days after the others. Egg turning is normally stopped around 3 days before, however 5 days is totally OK too. So if these late blooming eggs are late, the egg turning won't be an issue.

Anyway, this is fabulous news!! Go eggies!!

 

[2ndTink]

Yay, more live eggies!! It's possible some of the eggs were stored a bit differently, and genetics can effect the development as well. It's fine if they hatch later, I've had them hatch 2 days after the others. Egg turning is normally stopped around 3 days before, however 5 days is totally OK too. So if these late blooming eggs are late, the egg turning won't be an issue.

Anyway, this is fabulous news!! Go eggies!! View attachment 3575191

Good to know! On all points. I knew I'd learn a lot, but this is way cooler than I expected. And my coolness expectations were already pretty high

I had the chickens out again tonight and I noticed my silkie pullet and one cockerel (Base and Heavy) really aren't much smaller than my SLWs that are almost 3 weeks older than them. Nu is a little smaller, and Cappy is quite petite. Cappy is finally starting to get itty bitty wattles and his comb is starting to thicken.

 

[TwoCrows]

Good to know! On all points. I knew I'd learn a lot, but this is way cooler than I expected. And my coolness expectations were already pretty high

I had the chickens out again tonight and I noticed my silkie pullet and one cockerel (Base and Heavy) really aren't much smaller than my SLWs that are almost 3 weeks older than them. Nu is a little smaller, and Cappy is quite petite. Cappy is finally starting to get itty bitty wattles and his comb is starting to thicken.

Glad you are enjoying the incubation, it really is cool!

Aww...such sweethearts, I just love all that white fluff!

 

[2ndTink]

Day 7 candling, there are 5 that don't show anything so I've removed them. Heading to Google what 7 day eggs should look like...

 

[TwoCrows]

Day 7 candling, there are 5 that don't show anything so I've removed them. Heading to Google what 7 day eggs should look like...

Thanks for the update, I've been wondering how the eggies are doing!

There should be something by day 7, even a tiny vein. Not all eggs are fertile and some refuse to develop for various reasons.

 

[2ndTink]

Ugh, I'm not confident my eggs look right, or wrong... 1 looks like a blood ring? And 1 is like the yolk is dark and stuck to the shell? Photos here, 1st photo is the possible blood ring, next two are of the same egg that seems like the yolk is stuck.

 

[2ndTink]

I think these ones look ok?

If I have several quitters how do I know if it's from something in my control vs out of my control? If I don't have a great hatch rate do I sell all the chicks that do hatch and set another 22? I'm getting ahead of myself, again.

 

[TwoCrows]

Ugh, I'm not confident my eggs look right, or wrong... 1 looks like a blood ring? And 1 is like the yolk is dark and stuck to the shell? Photos here, 1st photo is the possible blood ring, next two are of the same egg that seems like the yolk is stuck.

The 3rd pic is definitely a blood ring, so that one is dead. The other two may still be ok, if you don't see any veins by Monday, I'd pitch those too.

I think these ones look ok?

If I have several quitters how do I know if it's from something in my control vs out of my control? If I don't have a great hatch rate do I sell all the chicks that do hatch and set another 22? I'm getting ahead of myself, again.

These look ok. Ultimately you want to hatch your own birds eggs. Since these came from someone else, you have no idea how old they are, how they were handled or stored before you got them. And these are all critical for hatching eggs. Those with the yolk that seems to be stuck on the side were definitely not stored in the up right position or turned daily in storage, giving stored eggs a twist or turn keeps the yolk centered.

This first incubation is going to be one big learning experience, most people have trouble on their first hatch, I did too. You will learn over time all the tricks and once you get to the point of hatching eggs from your birds, things do get easier.

 

[2ndTink]

The 3rd pic is definitely a blood ring, so that one is dead. The other two may still be ok, if you don't see any veins by Monday, I'd pitch those too.

These look ok. Ultimately you want to hatch your own birds eggs. Since these came from someone else, you have no idea how old they are, how they were handled or stored before you got them. And these are all critical for hatching eggs. Those with the yolk that seems to be stuck on the side were definitely not stored in the up right position or turned daily in storage, giving stored eggs a twist or turn keeps the yolk centered.

This first incubation is going to be one big learning experience, most people have trouble on their first hatch, I did too. You will learn over time all the tricks and once you get to the point of hatching eggs from your birds, things do get easier.

Yeah, there's a few things I'd do different, and a few I wouldn't panic over as much. The eggs were in cartons fat end up when I picked them up, but age / previous storage is unknown.

I removed the blood ring egg, and the other questionable egg I had I saw movement in today so, yay

The silkies were dust bathing in damp dirt today and looked a total mess, I didn't have my phone, but I wish I had some pictures