BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[chickadoodles]

Quote: Please excuse my ignorance. But I keep thinking that the dehydrator would dry the liquid out of the egg that the chick needs faster than an incubator. Would it not?

 

[ronott1]

Please excuse my ignorance. But I keep thinking that the dehydrator would dry the liquid out of the egg that the chick needs faster than an incubator. Would it not?

The person that hatched in one added a bowl for water. It would work I think but some of the ventilation would likely need to be taped over or closed off in some way.

If you did not have an Excalibur dehydrator it would be better to buy a Genesis 1588 or equivalent but for those using broody hens to hatch eggs, it could be an emergency incubator.

 

[chickadoodles]

Quote: Thanks Ron! I did get the 1588 and have it half full for it's first hatch. Can hardly wait for little turkey poults!

 

[TheBanditQueen]

I'm doubting it... even if you could maintain the correct constant temp you would have zero humidity. That's what they do, take the humidity out of the air. Even "dry incubation" requires 30% or so humidity for any sort of hatch rate to make it worth your while.

What is dry incubation?

 

[ronott1]

What is dry incubation?

Dry incubation is keeping humidity lower than traditional levels for incubation, which is 55%. Incubating at less they 25% can cause hatch problems but 30 to 35% seems to work for most breeds.

The important thing about incubation is air cell development or measuring weight loss in the eggs. If the air cell does not develop at the correct rate, then the humidity can be raised or lowered to help. Thick shelled eggs seem to do much better with lower humidity. Some breeds like Dorkings with smaller thinner egg shells do better with a bit higher humidity.

My New Years day hatch was for Trader Joes fertile eggs and Australorps. I used 40% humidity for the first 19 days and then 65% humidity for lockdown(hatching the last three days) The chicks were perfect and all but 3 of the fertile eggs hatched-- 6 australorps and 16 Trader Joes chicks.

 

[RedRidge]

Looks like the question was answered about dry hatching and dry incubation. I've never had any luck with dry hatching. But dry incubation prior to lock down hasn't been a problem. My more recent hatches have a great % with using 35% until day 18 and then 65% after that. Because it's a cabinet Bator and I set every 7 days, I do get a weekend increase for all eggs while in lock down each weekend. It doesn't seem to effect hatch rate one way or another.

 

[1zooman12]

Okay Bill Matthews,
I like your tone and regret which seems sincere. Only a real man would take a sincere reverse stance as you seem to have done. In short I will moderate my retorts if folks are willing to see that as an ancient veteran I generally countenance no anti-American rhetoric. Too many folks have died to preserve our nation, its liberties and way of life which are currently being attacked from all sides. I'll limit my observation to that. So I have an idea… Let's bury the hatchet and make being actual buddies the goal. I think that we just might pull that off!
Stay well,
Neal, the Zooman

 

[gjensen]

I do not like dry incubation or hatching. I believe the commercial guys have it right on this one.

What is different is our storage environment, gauges, incubators, and the environment the incubators are operated in. Some incubators are vulnerable to excessive drying, and some are prone to drastic spikes in humidity for example.

It may be that we have to make some adjustments to compensate for our individual challenges.

If I had a choice, I would not use a dehydrator. I would have to have no other option to even begin considering it. Then I would probably consider a broody hen first. I will concede that some have hatched some eggs in some pretty bizarre circumstances. Thankfully these eggs are tougher than we give them credit for being, and it is not rocket science (LOL).

 

[Bill Matthews]

Okay Bill Matthews,
I like your tone and regret which seems sincere. Only a real man would take a sincere reverse stance as you seem to have done. In short I will moderate my retorts if folks are willing to see that as an ancient veteran I generally countenance no anti-American rhetoric. Too many folks have died to preserve our nation, its liberties and way of life which are currently being attacked from all sides. I'll limit my observation to that. So I have an idea… Let's bury the hatchet and make being actual buddies the goal. I think that we just might pull that off!
Stay well,
Neal, the Zooman

I was only apologizing for making the post in an inappropriate setting

 

[bmvf]

Yesterday I put 42 eggs in the incubator. For some reason I thought I could do 50 but was wrong. I'm very happy with the 80% lay I'm getting out of my NH's.

Life is actually busy right now. This time of year is PA Farm Show along with another large ag show for just farmers last week. There are meetings and conferences to go to. I'm planning a grazing conference for early march and am getting the fellow that runs this farm to speak. http://bendybrookfarm.com/chickens/ The conference will be based for large animal production but a few of us are interested in chickens which he runs on pasture. Winter is soon slipping past me and some of the books I wanted to read plus the data and research I wanted to do needs to be done ASAP!