4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[srichards]

Hi all,

I'm new to this site and actually new to incubating my own chicks.

I have candled my incubators eggs for the 1st time today and I am concerned about the outcome?

first of all I am new to this but I have made my own homemade incubator with the help of my brother who has done this many times. the construction is not exactly cosmetically appealing but over the last 5 days (4.5 exactly as we speak) the temp and humidity has kept within the tolerances fine. (obviously due to work and having to sleep commitments I cannot check constantly but I have done early morning, noon, evening and night time and all has been ok) also turned then 4 - 5 times a day.

 

All the eggs are from the same supplier and are small to medium in size and are Black Silkie eggs in a pale to cream(ish) colour.

 

I have candled then this afternoon (exactly 4.5days in incubation) and they do not seem to have the vein type look about them, instead thay all basically have a darker colour band or oval shape. either near the top of the larger end or slightly lower just above the centre??

I have managed to take digi cam pictures of the outcomes on all the eggs but I do not know if I can or how I put pics on here? but I would be happy to either email some pics, put them on here if advised how to or put them on my facebook account or something if that will help?

 

Can any of you please help out with what I should expect either good or bad news as I'm a little worried at the moment.

 

Many thanks in advance

Scott x

 

UPDATE:

Here is a few examples. amost all the same, different areas of darkness and smaller / larger etc.

Edited April 7, 2008 by Guest

[bronze]

If you're not sure leave them for longer. Its still quite early to be candling them. I leave mine til at least 10 days bfore I do them otherwise I would be getting them out every ten minutes and I have to be strict with myself. So far my candling has been right but it doesnt stop me leaving all the eggs in till the end just in case....

[srichards]

THanks for the reply, I will wait till day 10ish before I get 'really' worried now.

I've now added a few pics as I have read a lot of sites which show more development from 3 to 5 day candling though?? what I can see on my candling pics are BOTH shown on some sites as bad eggs AND 1-2 day eggs?? so confused??

I have increased my humidity to about 75% as yet again I have read that 65% was to low now?? confusing work this

 

But again if any of you experts can recognise anything please post a reply no matter how minor you think it may be as not matter how much I 'thought' I was prepared for my 1st trip into home incubation I'm still worried I might be in bad waters...

 

Thanks

Scott

[Nuggywoo]

Hi Scott

 

Have you weighed the eggs? They should gain between .06 and .09g per day (depending on breed) in the early stages. I did actually candle mine at about 4 days - bit early but I couldn't wait! - and definitely saw the veins.

Have a look at this link for weight comparison.

http://msucares.com/poultry/reproductions/images/embryo3.jpg

 

I also think the humidity is a bit high - it should be 58-60% from day one to day 18 and should be increased to 65% from day 18 to day 21.

 

The darker colour band at the blunt end is the air sac and should increase in size as the embryo develops.

 

How are the eggs situated in the incubator? They should be on their sides.

 

Hope the above helps and good luck.

[Egluntyne]

**This** might interest you.

 

It takes a few moments to download....wait for the "OK" button to highlight.

[twix]

they should gain weight?

I think they lose weight throughout incubation.. the amount of weight they lose depends on humidity. i always find this the most difficult variable to control and i dont trust the readings I get. but the crucial part is that you maintain a high humidity during hatching so that the membranes dont dry out. this means resisting the temptation to open the incubator..

but yes candle them now and you'll get a better idea

[twix]

oh nuggywoo.. just looked at your link and i see what you mean but it is not the egg that gains weight it is the embryo-which you cannot weigh without killing it. The egg loses weight in a curve-most rapidly at the beginning and gradually slowing. In this time you will see the air cell at the blunt end grow (on candling) as water(weight) is lost. You can weigh the eggs to monitor this but you will need rather accurate scales.

 

 

 

let us know how the eggs are going

[srichards]

Hi all,

Quick update on eggs,

 

I have candled them tonight (Day 12) and have very different results.

Out of my 12 incubated eggs I have:

3 which I am very happy about

4 most certainly not good

5 ??? Bit unsure of results?

 

I have attached a few photos,

1st one looks good to me, good air sack, a little mass moving around and covered in veins. got 3 like that.

 

2nd photo is not so good from my research. looks like a blood ring and blood spot?? got 2 like that.

your input on both of these results would great.

 

I also have 3-4 which dont look bad but I would say they look underdeveloped for there age as they look the same as the others did at about day 6? so not sure?

 

I have not yet removed any eggs and all are incubating at a steady temp and humidity. also even though I think some are bad I cannot smell anything rotton?? should I think about removing certain ones now or just leave the full term??

 

Again. many many thanks for your input and help.. its is proper tense and confusing but very exciting at the same time..

 

 

[debbie26pet]

hi can u tell me what u used to candle them as i just doen mine and dont seem to get as good light as u and worried about the results i only put min ein on sund so thinking might have to wait few more days?

[srichards]

Hi Debbie,

What i used to candle the above pics was purely just the inner cardboard bit of a toilet roll.. (Well it was a kitchen paper roll on these as the length is a little longer which takes better pictures)

 

While holding the egg in the end of the roll I purely point at a bright freestanding lamp to get a good light, ensuring not to get to close where its to hot and peek down the other end to take a look. Or I look down till I see what I want then poke the cam down to take the pic..

 

Scott