Too Early for Feb Hatch-A-Long Thread??

[FortCluck]

I'm in! I just put some eggs in and I have plenty to spare some should hatch on my bday which is February 1st

 

[BluebirdHomestead]

Both dozens of eggs arrived and both sellers included extras!!!

13 F1 Black Olive Eggers
15 Eggs from the Gypsy Hen. Mix of Olive Eggers, Wheaton Marans, Blue and Black Silver Marans, and Ameraucanas (I saw 3 White, 1 Lavender and a Wheaton). Off to candle the ones from Gypsy Hen. Every single one of the 13 F1 Olive Eggers has a detached or badly saddled air cell so I’m deciding how to proceed with incubation.

 

[ShannonsChimkens]

Isn’t it nice when they’re finally in your possession and not in route on a truck?

I have to be honest... I just candle the eggs, check for proper positioning and put them in the incubator after sitting. Still learning though.

How often does everyone candle? I normally do 5 to 7 days to confirm who’s fertile, then one week later to check for dead embryos. Then before lock down. Is it weird that I have it all written down?

 

[FortCluck]

I'm hatching mystery eggs. I don't know what breeds any are. All are barnyard mixes, which I consider to be the best type of chicken out there.

 

[BluebirdHomestead]

Isn’t it nice when they’re finally in your possession and not in route on a truck?

I have to be honest... I just candle the eggs, check for proper positioning and put them in the incubator after sitting. Still learning though.

How often does everyone candle? I normally do 5 to 7 days to confirm who’s fertile, then one week later to check for dead embryos. Then before lock down. Is it weird that I have it all written down?

View attachment 2003354

I just took inventory of mine and have them listed in my phone notes with weights and notes about the air cells haha

 

[BluebirdHomestead]

All mine are candled to check air cells, weighed, and now settling fat end up until sometime tomorrow when I set them. One of my boxes must have been handled rougher than the other because there isn’t one perfect air cell in that bunch. Some are realllly bad and others are just sorta bad.
My other group of 15 from The Gypsy Hen is perrrrfect. I couldn’t see in the 7 Marans eggs and 1 of the Olive eggs, but the other 7 are perfect air cells. I’m pleased. But now I don’t know how to handle them all. I’m thinking I’ll keep the 13 messed up air cell ones upright in a carton when I set them. And I’ll lay the other 15 flat, but hand turn them. When I feel better about the aircells in the 13 then maybe I’ll lay them down and turn on the auto turner. Not sure...

 

[ShannonsChimkens]

So I take it your turner is for eggs on their side. At least that’s what I can tell. My turners are for eggs standing up, so they go in air cell up after sitting for 12 to 24 hours. Last batch had one upside down and drown after pipping. One of those eggs that you couldn’t tell which was the true pointed side or fat side. Either way, I have learned (the hard way) to candle for the air cell.

Found out the 10 tiny eggs are all silky bantams. Will be a weird mix on hatch week.

 

[BluebirdHomestead]

So I take it your turner is for eggs on their side. At least that’s what I can tell. My turners are for eggs standing up, so they go in air cell up after sitting for 12 to 24 hours. Last batch had one upside down and drown after pipping. One of those eggs that you couldn’t tell which was the true pointed side or fat side. Either way, I have learned (the hard way) to candle for the air cell.

Found out the 10 tiny eggs are all silky bantams. Will be a weird mix on hatch week.

Awww silky bantams are gonna be so cuuute.

And yep it’s a turner that rolls them on their side.

 

[LilyD]

up to 5 eggs collected hoping to have at least a few dozen by the 24th when I put them in the incubator. Hoping for a Valentines day hatch. Primarily wanting to verify that my rooster is doing his job and making the girls happy lol, but we'll see what we get.

 

[juliasflock]

Hello! Looking forward to firing up the incubator next Tuesday! I’m going to be hatching Black and Blue Copper Marans, F1 OE, and F2 OE all from my own flock. I’m also getting a dozen Icelandic eggs from someone local.

It should be a fun hatch with the OE. Chicken genetics are so tricky!
My F1 will be BCM cockerel over EE hen(blue layer) EE hen(EExLegbar), and my F2 OE will be Marans over OE(Legbar x Marans). I’m hoping for 75%F1 to lay green and 50% of F2. Sound right?