The Incubation Thread

[sassychickens76]

Day 4
Temp: 37.5
Humidity: 50%

I candled egg 2, egg 5, and egg 1. In egg 2 and egg 5 I could see small hearts and a few veins, they were very close to the air cell, I didn't get good pictures. On egg 1, the refrigerated egg, the air cell was, wavy? Is this normal? I couldn't see and heart or veins.

Egg 1: *Candled
*Weird shape air cell
*No veins

Egg 2: *Candled
*Heart and veins

Egg 3: *Nothing New

Egg 4: *Nothing New

Egg 5: *Candled
*Heart and veins

Egg 6: *Nothing New

Egg 7: *Nothing New

 

[sassychickens76]

Day 5
Temp: 37.6
Humidity: 51%

I candled all the eggs. I think egg 1 and egg 3 are dead or unfertilized. All of the egg's veins are close to the air cell, why? I will post pictures later.

Egg 1: *Candled, no veins

Egg 2: *Candled
*Heart and veins

Egg 3: *Candled
*Weird air cell
*No veins

Egg 4: *Candled
*Veins

Egg 5: *Candled
*Heart and veins

Egg 6: *Candled
*Dark shell
*No visible veins, possibly there, but shell is too dark to see them

Egg 7: *Candled
*Heart and veins

 

[sassychickens76]

These are the candling pics from Day 5 (5/6/2021)

 

[sassychickens76]

@TheMightyRooster I invite you to join me on this adventure!

 

[sassychickens76]

Day 6
Temp: 37.6
Humidity: 60%

Egg 1: *No Change

Egg 2: *No Change

Egg 3: *No Change

Egg 4: *No Change

Egg 5: *No Change

Egg 6: *No Change

Egg 7: *No Change

 

[sassychickens76]

Day 7
Temp: 37.5
Humidity: 59%

We candled all of the eggs today, only 2 alive, 2 have blood ring and 3 infertile. What causes early embryo death? Should I take the eggs out that have blood rings or wait until day 10? @aart

Egg 1: *Candled
*Infertile

Egg 2: *Candled
*Alive

Egg 3: *Candled
*Infertile

Egg 4: *Candled
*Blood ring

Egg 5: *Candled
*Blood ring

Egg 6: *Candled
*Infertile

Egg 7: *Candled
*Alive

 

[aart]

Should I take the eggs out that have blood rings or wait until day 10? @aart

I take non-developing eggs out as soon as I'm certain they are not viable.
When I first started hatching I might wait until day 14, due to inexperience.

As to what causes early death, could be a number of things from poor nutrition with the parent stock to incubator temperatures.

 

[sassychickens76]

The parents, I feel, are well fed with all their nutrients, they get layer pellets and oyster shells. I do not have another thermometer so I feel that temp. may be an issue. Next time I incubate I will get another thermometer and hydrometer.

 

[aart]

The parents, I feel, are well fed with all their nutrients, they get layer pellets and oyster shells. I do not have another thermometer so I feel that temp. may be an issue. Next time I incubate I will get another thermometer and hydrometer.

That's basic for laying, tho many don't feed males that much calcium.

Many folks who seriously breed bump up the nutrition before hatching season.
@ChickenCanoe is one.

Definitely make sure you have good accurate therms and hygrometers.
They need to be tested for accuracy....
I finally bought a good therm.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...incubator-thermometers-and-hygrometers.73634/

 

[sassychickens76]

Okay, I will throw out the clears but I will leave the blood rings in until day 10. Still look the same, I will do an eggtopsy.