Starting a batch tomorrow 1/25 anyone want to join me? Valentine hatch-along!

[morgan36]

No not really after the first week I try to candle once a week until lockdown

 

[McPhersonFarm]

oh lol that's not too much I was thinking you were candling almost daily lol

 

[krazykat0373]

I have never had any issues, heck a setting hen will get off the nest for a few minutes every day to do her business, so I figure CAREFULLY candling them within five or ten minutes every day is the same kind of cooling they would get if momma left the nest to eat, drink and poo. I do wash my hands before handling the eggs and I use one of the little handheld LED flashlights for faster candling, and not the homemade box type. Though I want DH to build me one of those too.

Happy candling to my equally addicted candling friend!

 

[McPhersonFarm]

Yea I want to make one of those too. I could see through most of the RIR tonight and could see some veining on some. I didn't do a count though because I didn't want to take time to write down who was doing what and leave the incubator open longer. I'm excited for the hatch!

 

[Blingaling1]

I want to candle so bad but I know there will be little to see on day 4. I shall fight my hardest to wait a few more days before I begin candling crazy.

 

[DraigAthar]

I'm the same, I figure if momma hen does it, why can't I? I wash my hands just like krazykat says, but after that I don't rush. I candle, weigh if it a day to weigh eggs, check the water reservoir, etc. Research has been done that suggests that eggs actually benefit from a cooling period each day, and incubators are now being made that have it as a feature. Brinsea has a good article on their website about cooling during incubation: http://www.brinsea.com/customerservice/poweroff.html

 

[McPhersonFarm]

I candled on day 4 and saw quite a few veins in my silkie/frizzle and my RIR, couldn't see through the Americauna shells

 

[DraigAthar]

I candled today and best guess right now is 21 out of 24 are fertile and developing. The other three are still on the maybe list. Not bad!!!

 

[morgan36]

That

...

I candled today and best guess right now is 21 out of 24 are fertile and developing. The other three are still on the maybe list. Not bad!!!
[/quThat's good I didn't get to candle last night so I am going to in a little bit

 

[jakewelder]

I have a dozen Millie flours that are scheduled for a valentines day hatch. Everything looking ok so far.