Hatching at high altitude

[BDRanch]

Thanks!
So far, I've shipped eggs to Texas, Kentucky and Florida. Will be anxious to see how the hatch rates go!

 

[HenniesInMyHeart]

I am simultaneously devastated and grateful to have found this thread. I never considered altitude before, and was wondering why I have been having such a high rate of mortality during lockdown. My babies must not be getting enough air!
I just lost my one precious wyandotte, AGAIN! This has happened the past 3 hatches; babies dying in lockdown! I am heartbroken! I have just made external pip holes for my 4 silkies and oiled their membranes. Hoping for them to be okay...

 

[R2elk]

I am simultaneously devastated and grateful to have found this thread. I never considered altitude before, and was wondering why I have been having such a high rate of mortality during lockdown. My babies must not be getting enough air!
I just lost my one precious wyandotte, AGAIN! This has happened the past 3 hatches; babies dying in lockdown! I am heartbroken! I have just made external pip holes for my 4 silkies and oiled their membranes. Hoping for them to be okay...

Sorry about your losses. Hatching at altitude can be challenging especially if you are trying to hatch shipped eggs from lower elevation.

The best alternative that I have found is to buy live chicks rather than hatching eggs. It may seem expensive but when you do the math it is far cheaper than hatching eggs.

I do have excellent luck hatching my own eggs.

 

[HenniesInMyHeart]

Sorry about your losses. Hatching at altitude can be challenging especially if you are trying to hatch shipped eggs from lower elevation.

The best alternative that I have found is to buy live chicks rather than hatching eggs. It may seem expensive but when you do the math it is far cheaper than hatching eggs.

I do have excellent luck hatching my own eggs.

What is the altitude where you are? We're at like 4970 or something...I never considered it would be an issue as we're below a mile high, but yes, my shipped eggs have come from places like FL so basically sea-level?

 

[R2elk]

What is the altitude where you are? We're at like 4970 or something...I never considered it would be an issue as we're below a mile high, but yes, my shipped eggs have come from places like FL so basically sea-level?

I am right at a mile high elevation so 5280'. You will do far better by not buying shipped hatching eggs. I wasted a lot of money on them so now if I am looking for a specific bird, I buy day old ones. Even if they cost $30 or more per live chick it is much better than the $80 or more per chick I ended up paying when only a couple or less hatch from shipped eggs.

 

[HenniesInMyHeart]

Yeah I've learned this the hard way. I am probably going to still try, but supplement with oxygen at lockdown. I am on oxygen so I can use my portable for the babies and we'll see if this helps. Apparently, some hatcheries have had success doing this. I can't buy live chicks because I can only keep a very small number per our town's rules. Even the places that say 3 minimum make me do 4 LF or 6 bantams, because of my zip code, and I can't keep that many in addition to the hens I already have. I don't mind selling babies from eggs I hatch, but would feel funny re-selling hatchery birds.

 

[R2elk]

Yeah I've learned this the hard way. I am probably going to still try, but supplement with oxygen at lockdown. I am on oxygen so I can use my portable for the babies and we'll see if this helps. Apparently, some hatcheries have had success doing this. I can't buy live chicks because I can only keep a very small number per our town's rules. Even the places that say 3 minimum make me do 4 LF or 6 bantams, because of my zip code, and I can't keep that many in addition to the hens I already have. I don't mind selling babies from eggs I hatch, but would feel funny re-selling hatchery birds.

I have split orders with other people in order to meet minimums and I have also gone ahead and ordered the full minimum on my own and then sold the extras without any problems.

 

[HenniesInMyHeart]

Ooh that is a good idea! I will see if anyone in the CO thread wants to do that!

 

[HenniesInMyHeart]

Of course I already invested in a $500 brinsea system... derp!

 

[aliciaplus3]

I love my brinsea! I am at about 6000 on the western slope of colorado. I hatch because I have room and I love the experience. Get in touch with the Colorado thread you may find someone closer than you think with the breeds you are looking for. There is a gal I know that buys from the hatchery and resells chicks all spring, she brings in breeds that the local places do not and seems to have luck getting them sold.