The 6th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-a-long!

[gevshiba]

Looks like it didn't develop.

Thank you. I candled again this morning. I'm still not sure because I see a lot of veins. I can't get a good picture. The other side is all dark. I candled the other egg that looks similar, but more full, and I saw movement, so put it in the hatcher. I left the first one in the incubator with the 3 that are a few days behind, but I turned off the turner. It doesn't smell, so I think I'll wait a bit.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

What does "air sac drawn" mean? How can you see an internal pip?

Internal pips can only be seen by candling.

 

[LadyCluck77]

What does "air sac drawn" mean? How can you see an internal pip?

Many people trace the developing air sac with a pencil, while candling it. Also, it helps to set the egg with the lowest dip in the air cell pointing up.

An internal pip is a sign the chick is getting ready: when you candle at lockdown, you can sometimes see the tip of the beak inside the air sac part of the egg.

 

[ocap]

My first-time broody is doing well with her five eggs. I think she'll stick.

Broody folk: how do you check the eggs without pestering the hen. Impossible? Is lifting the hen the same as lifting the bator lid? I want to monitor her hatching babies, but I don't want to fiddle her to death. Just walk away and let Nature handle it?

I walk away.

problem I have had is a lip on the nest where she went for a drink and was followed by the hatched chicks, then broody hen went back to the unhatched eggs and chicks could not get back under the broody because of the 2 inch lip.

for me, it is better to lock or fence the hen on the nest until you are ready then remove all unhatched eggs and lock or fence her off the nest.

 

[Mama Bay]

Many people trace the developing air sac with a pencil, while candling it. Also, it helps to set the egg with the lowest dip in the air cell pointing up.

An internal pip is a sign the chick is getting ready: when you candle at lockdown, you can sometimes see the tip of the beak inside the air sac part of the egg. 

Thanks lol. I did trace mine I thought it was a term I hadn't heard. I need coffee! I guess I would've noticed if any of mine had internal pips?

 

[chickadoodles]

Quote: I could not stand it so at 6 am I put them in LD before my first cuppa coffee.

 

[SimplyLogan]

Question?

Its starting to get pretty rambunctious in there and now my humidity is getting to high. Starting to see moisture on the window. I have two hatching that are exposed, AFTER (?) they hatch would it be a good time to grab a many dry ones as i can out to lower the humidity? they are crawling over and sometime laying on the ones that are trying to hatch?

 

[Aprildeesunshin]

So, I had 2 chick hatch out yesterday that are not part of the hatch along. One pipped yesterday afternoon and last night it was dead. Don't know what happened. I filled bator with water and I am hearing peeps in shells that are not pipped yet. This is a good sign. Bator is having a hard time holding temp since I put water in. Maybe I should have made the water warmer. I have the edges of the bator covered with sheets to hold in heat. I have the heat cranked all the way up but it will not go up to 100. It is staying at 94/95. I have only 5 eggs left for this hatch along. Out of 21 all together, 2 hatched, and all but 5 quit at day 8, 10, 12, 14, and pip. I currently have more hatched from the hova bator than the giant bator. Currently 2 of 21 and others peeping in the shell. Giant was 100 + eggs and got 2. Sigh, for some reason I feel so bummed. Also, my hatches are 50/50 in sex. It seems much easier to buy chicks than to hatch them.

 

[bantambury]

i see nothing, hear nothing....im starting to get worried. one hydrometer says 60, another 75.
today is day 19...but i still have 2 days

 

[LadyCluck77]

Question?

Its starting to get pretty rambunctious in there and now my humidity is getting to high. Starting to see moisture on the window. I have two hatching that are exposed, AFTER (?) they hatch would it be a good time to grab a many dry ones as i can out to lower the humidity? they are crawling over and sometime laying on the ones that are trying to hatch?

That's usually what I do; if there are a handfull of already active ones, I wait until a moment it looks safe, get everything ready, quickly open it up, remove the chicks, used shells if they're also taking up too much room, and close it up again.
It seems to work out fine.
Good luck!