I only candle on days 7 and 10 just to minimize how much I handle the eggs. Especially with these shipped eggs I didn't want to handle them too much just because so many air cells were oddly shaped or detached. So far we have two little chicks hatched! Today is day 22 and none of the others have pipped yet.
I'm not comfortable going the full 7 days either! But after reading that I'm not gonna touch them for 5 days! It's interesting because I had 2 red rings in this last batch and when I opened them you could see that they started to develop but were floating, unattached. I definetly candled to much/handled to much/ turned to much because it was my first time! I've read that the red ring is bacteria but after reading that article I feel that the red rings were from so much handling with them being shipped. I think if I followed this strictly, I would have gone into lockdown with 5 instead of 3. I was thinking exactly what you wrote, I'm going to ignore these new eggs! Only candle 2-3 times and really try to let them rest and get strong! Hey, if it doesn't work, it gives me an excuse to get more eggs and try again!
I'm not comfortable going the full 7 days either! But after reading that I'm not gonna touch them for 5 days! It's interesting because I had 2 red rings in this last batch and when I opened them you could see that they started to develop but were floating, unattached. I definetly candled to much/handled to much/ turned to much because it was my first time! I've read that the red ring is bacteria but after reading that article I feel that the red rings were from so much handling with them being shipped. I think if I followed this strictly, I would have gone into lockdown with 5 instead of 3. I was thinking exactly what you wrote, I'm going to ignore these new eggs! Only candle 2-3 times and really try to let them rest and get strong! Hey, if it doesn't work, it gives me an excuse to get more eggs and try again!
Where did you get the eggs from? Good luck with the chicks!
I got the eggs on eBay. I don't think the seller did anything wrong, as there was some sign of something happening in about half of the eggs. Just a lot of shaking in shipping, I think.
Chicks are awesome though! They're 10 days old
I usually put 6 of my eggs in with every setting so that if none or only 1 hatch, I still get more than one chick.
I ordered 10 & got 15!! Now I have to see if I can fit them all in my mini brinsea! Alot of the air cells look good! None are detached. Half look solid and half look a little bit wobbly. One has a small hairline crack, so if I can't fit them all that will be the first to go! I'd love to actually try to hatch that one...I do love a challenge! So, I'm going to try to not touch them for 5 days straight! Then lay them down and start turning. Do you think I should try to keep the wobbling ones in cartons? I really wish I had a bigger incubator! Anyone else setting today or tomorrow?
