The 4th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-a-long

[noahsmom]

We are on day 11, would you pull the OBVIOUS clears? I have a few that I KNOW are not going to develop at this point. I've read some say they can explode while others say not to worry about it, how to choose what to do? I have 3-4 very obvious clears and another rir I can't see through but ill leave that one regardless bc I really believe I see a dark mass.

 

[hokankai]

Happy St. Patrick's Day! I just candled and 4 out of 5 eggs are developing! I don't think my white leghorn egg was ever fertile because it is completely clear. One of my easter eggers has a red line around the egg. Is this a blood ring?




You can see the embryo at the top near the air cell and then the red line at the bottom. There are also veins in between the embryo and the red line. The line is also the strongest on this side. On the other side it weaves a little and is harder to see. Sorry I know this picture is not the best. Thanks!

 

[RedIII]

We are on day 11, would you pull the OBVIOUS clears? I have a few that I KNOW are not going to develop at this point. I've read some say they can explode while others say not to worry about it, how to choose what to do? I have 3-4 very obvious clears and another rir I can't see through but ill leave that one regardless bc I really believe I see a dark mass.

I have two clears under my broody that are on day 17 - still clear. I need to remove them because now I'm worried, but of course I'm having problems where I have to stay in bed!

I personally would pull them at this point, if they're still very obviously clear. I have read that some people leave them there for at least 12 days, though.

Edit to say - I love your avatar. It makes me laugh.

 

[lizanne]

I haven't posted a pic of my eggs yet....



6 Rhode Island red , 6 Ameracauna's (or EE's) -- chicks could be any mix of the two.

I'm so excited!!! This is my first time trying to hatch eggs !!

 

[JoyfulPromise]

Quote:

Watch those air sacs..they say a lot. Can't see the babies, but if the air sacs are coming along..they are good. I have some pretty dark Olive Eggs that I can't see into, but I know that they are good because I can see the air sac.

Your goal is 11-13%, optimum total weight loss, to day 18. What I don't know, as I just watch the air cells, is if this is a linear progression. As in if you lost 7% in 7 days does that mean 14% loss day 14? I would hazard a guess it is linear therefore would raise humidity. You'll want it upwards of 45-50% to slow things down and reweigh day 14. You can always stop loss of weight by finishing last 4 days with 60% if needed.

ETA: I just read a study on quail eggs, viewing data table it's clear weight loss is linear so definitely raise your humidity to slow it down.

To add a bit more...

To simplify weight loss, 0.667% per day would result in 12% day 18 (optimum but obviously not essential):

Day 7 Under 5%
Day 10 6.7%
Day 14 9.33%
Day 18 12%



Oh dear. They actually are closer to 6.5% less, but that is still too much. I don't have much room to put in water containers with this turner, so I guess I would have to put some water in the bottom troughs in my LG.

That sounds about right for dry hatch, Mine stays anywhere from 20% to 26% right now, although since I have had further development I'm on day 11, I've noticed my humidity isn't dipping down as low and we aren't doing anything different either. As far as egg weighing goes I'm not sure on that since I don't do it myself.

This is the first time weighing myself - I wouldn't have thought about it without hearing suggestions on here from Sally and others. Since it was my first time doing dry hatch (also because of recommendations on here) I wanted to be able to tell some way if it was going wrong or not. Our first (and only other) incubator hatch was also in an LG (not this one) and we just put the recommended water in the bottom troughs of the LG, monitored temp with a simple plastic manual thermometer, and didn't monitor humidity besides keeping water in the bottom troughs. And we had a great hatch! I think 18 out of 20 viable eggs?

Oh the stress of knowing TOO MUCH about hatching!

If we didn't want chicks earlier in the spring so they would start laying before winter, I think we would just stick with using broody hens!!! So much easier!!!!!

 

[noahsmom]

I just pulled obvious clears... I didnt do a full sweep I pulled the ones I knew were clears and rechecked these eggs two more times to be sure.
I Now have:
RIR - 12
Silkies - 12
SPR - 1
.....total = 25
From 33 eggs to begin with.

I feel like such an idiot and i recognized it only just a few days ago ugh! But I have 12 RIRs and then 3! SPRs! I have handled these eggs i dont know how I missed the obvious SPR written across the 3 eggs I just judged them by size and hadn't marked any of them. However while 2 of the SPRs are Clears and were pulled one is developing nicely! I'm excited and hoping this one hatches!!!!

 

[Cynthia12]

I love it! You should enter it in the Natural egg contest.

X's 2!

 

[Cynthia12]

I've got these two other pics entered. It was so difficult picking just two to enter.

And this is my 500th post! Now in two weeks when I meet the "member for 6 months" requirement I can UPGRADE to a Platinum membership.... So egg-cited!

You can edit!! Would be hard to decide for sure..these are pretty. Do you really have flowers coming up now? My Tulips are starting to pop up!!

 

[Cynthia12]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/byc-memberships-help-support-backyardchickens

Oh, soo, how do you go invisible? Does this mean you can have it so your name isn't at the side, so no one can see that you are in that thread?

 

[noahsmom]

I've got these two other pics entered. It was so difficult picking just two to enter.

And this is my 500th post! Now in two weeks when I meet the "member for 6 months" requirement I can UPGRADE to a Platinum membership.... So egg-cited!

These are fantastic photos! I would have such a hard time choosing too!
Congrats on your 500th post and good luck with the contest!