Hi Gang,
I was re-reading my chicken book "How to raise chickens: Everything you need to know" by Christine Heinrichs. I've heard folks mention this as a good all-round info book. I concur.
In chapter 9: Incubation and Care of Chicks, in the section titled "Artificial Incubators" (pg 121)... it reads:
I was re-reading my chicken book "How to raise chickens: Everything you need to know" by Christine Heinrichs. I've heard folks mention this as a good all-round info book. I concur.
In chapter 9: Incubation and Care of Chicks, in the section titled "Artificial Incubators" (pg 121)... it reads:
Chicken eggs need a constant temperature of 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit. Variations in either direction will affect the hatch rate. The eggs benefit from twenty minutes of cooling each day. This corresponds to the time the hen would spend off the nest eating and drinking.
I don't think I've ever read of folks doing this. In a small way, those of us that hand turn would sort of do this when we open the lid to turn. But it sounds like everyone tries to do this as quickly as possible to minimize temperature drops.
This line from the book implies a deliberate daily cool down could be good. At the least, this should ease the hand-turning folks minds that they aren't hurting anything by short periods when we open the lid (excluding final 3 days).
Anybody ever hear of this or try it?
Cheers!
I don't think I've ever read of folks doing this. In a small way, those of us that hand turn would sort of do this when we open the lid to turn. But it sounds like everyone tries to do this as quickly as possible to minimize temperature drops.
This line from the book implies a deliberate daily cool down could be good. At the least, this should ease the hand-turning folks minds that they aren't hurting anything by short periods when we open the lid (excluding final 3 days).
Anybody ever hear of this or try it?
Cheers!