I consider a viable hatch,when the eggs are fertile and all of the fertile eggs hatch without a problem or death and very healthy babies.I don't count the infertile eggs at all, considering there is no way to tell if they are fertile except by cracking them open,and thus leaving the eggs unhatchable of course. I am not daft. I have a feeling that you don't believe me.
To be frank, you assume too much. I dont disbelieve you at all, but I am pedantic. Can you please allow me that?
A hatch rate of a setting is the total number of eggs, divided by the hatched eggs. This is a measure of the flock fertility, overall. The fact that you got 12 viables to hatch from 12 viables means two things:
- You did a good job incubating
- You have a vigorous flock.
Considering your casual incubation approach, I'd say you have more of the latter at work than you suspect. Flock vigor is VERY good and is the true measure of potentcy and longevity within a flock.
They started to hatch at around 6am...the day before there were 8 pips(if my memory serves me correctly). They came out as any chick would. They pecked aound the top of the egg until the chick was able to come out. I watched everything. They didn't struggle,except one. He/she was the second to the last. Seemed to be having problems getting one wing out of the shell. I could see his/her lil' feet, head and one wing.
I came on this site and asked if I should assist. Anyway, I reached in the bator, quickly(because there was still one egg to hatch and had pipped), took the top part of the shell off of the baby, and tipped the bottom half so that the chick could get his/herself out. Then I closed the bator. That was in the evening. At around 1:45 (I was up with my 17 month old) the last chick zipped and was born. Very fast. They all hatched pretty fast,except for the one I helped. Although the 2 leghorn chicks came out of their shells in a rush ..haha.
Again, their ability to get out quickly and get going is about vigor. Chicks who do this are liable to pass that trait on to the next generation. Those who straggle and languish in the hatching are liable to perpetuate that bad trait. If you don't like baby animals struggling and dying, then that isn't something you'll want to foster in future generations.
We all come here to learn in our own way, not just chat along, shouting, "WHEEEE CHICKENS!"
I like to know HOW a thing occurred and why. By having that information, it may help me or another in their own efforts. My apologies if I overstepped your limits of patience.
I'll get my coat now....
To be frank, you assume too much. I dont disbelieve you at all, but I am pedantic. Can you please allow me that?
A hatch rate of a setting is the total number of eggs, divided by the hatched eggs. This is a measure of the flock fertility, overall. The fact that you got 12 viables to hatch from 12 viables means two things:
- You did a good job incubating
- You have a vigorous flock.
Considering your casual incubation approach, I'd say you have more of the latter at work than you suspect. Flock vigor is VERY good and is the true measure of potentcy and longevity within a flock.
They started to hatch at around 6am...the day before there were 8 pips(if my memory serves me correctly). They came out as any chick would. They pecked aound the top of the egg until the chick was able to come out. I watched everything. They didn't struggle,except one. He/she was the second to the last. Seemed to be having problems getting one wing out of the shell. I could see his/her lil' feet, head and one wing.
I came on this site and asked if I should assist. Anyway, I reached in the bator, quickly(because there was still one egg to hatch and had pipped), took the top part of the shell off of the baby, and tipped the bottom half so that the chick could get his/herself out. Then I closed the bator. That was in the evening. At around 1:45 (I was up with my 17 month old) the last chick zipped and was born. Very fast. They all hatched pretty fast,except for the one I helped. Although the 2 leghorn chicks came out of their shells in a rush ..haha.
Again, their ability to get out quickly and get going is about vigor. Chicks who do this are liable to pass that trait on to the next generation. Those who straggle and languish in the hatching are liable to perpetuate that bad trait. If you don't like baby animals struggling and dying, then that isn't something you'll want to foster in future generations.
We all come here to learn in our own way, not just chat along, shouting, "WHEEEE CHICKENS!"
I like to know HOW a thing occurred and why. By having that information, it may help me or another in their own efforts. My apologies if I overstepped your limits of patience.
I'll get my coat now....
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