California - Northern

[casportpony]

Quote:
For added protein. I'm going to mix my own whole-grain feed. Recipe here on the last page: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/920808/feed-nerds-opinions-wanted-re-whole-grain-feed-recipe/60

Here's hoping the girls won't balk at the fish meal smell/taste.

They like the grains already.
Make sure they get the correct calcium to phosphorus ratio... I read that some types of fish meal are very high in calcium, I think.

FWIW, one of the feeds I give mine has enough fish oil that you can smell it and my birds *love* it.

-Kathy

 

[LittleRedCoop53]

Anyone know of any links that mention lethal humidity levels for hatching chicks once they've pipped?

-Kathy

I know you want humidity between 45-50% day 1-18 and 65% last few days..... oh wait you want a link...sorry..i'll submit just in case

 

[bootsNbirds]

Quote: Oh thanks Kathy, I had no idea about the calcium... how do I know if they're getting too much calcium? It makes sense that the calcium would be high, if the fish bones are getting ground up too.

Quote:
Whew, ok, glad to hear that! That would be a major disappointment, if the chickens refused to eat it after all the research I had to do.

 

[casportpony]

Quote: Thanks, but what I'm looking for is data that shows what humidity level is lethal to them once they have pipped.

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

Quote:

Oh thanks Kathy, I had no idea about the calcium... how do I know if they're getting too much calcium? It makes sense that the calcium would be high, if the fish bones are getting ground up too.

Quote:

FWIW, one of the feeds I give mine has enough fish oil that you can smell it and my birds *love* it.

-Kathy

Whew, ok, glad to hear that! That would be a major disappointment, if the chickens refused to eat it after all the research I had to do.

I have no idea how to properly calculate the calcium and phosphorus in custom feeds.

-Kathy

 

[tommysgirl]

I wasn't sure when to start with the calcium, so I'll put some in their run right away. I'll have to find the food grade DE and vitamin D capsules, but I'll give it a shot!

Thank you for the tips!!

I had a similar issue and followed Ron's advice and it solved the problem. I did continue to have one girl who laid rubber eggs, ususally on the droppings tray but that was an internal issue with her. When I rehomed her I had no more egg eating...unless you count the blasted Jays!

That is great news!

Let me know when to expect the eggs.

It won't be for awhile. I will time it with one or more broodies like we did before. I am thinking not before January. I had a broody start last wednesday night and we played on the nest, off the nest for several days. Then I relented and let her stay...THAT broke her

. Goofy bird I was going to give her grab bag eggs from Pet Rock's laying flock just for fun...and maybe a splash or mottled pullet...but she turned the tables on me.

 

[bootsNbirds]

Quote:

Oh thanks Kathy, I had no idea about the calcium... how do I know if they're getting too much calcium? It makes sense that the calcium would be high, if the fish bones are getting ground up too.

Quote:

FWIW, one of the feeds I give mine has enough fish oil that you can smell it and my birds *love* it.

-Kathy

Whew, ok, glad to hear that! That would be a major disappointment, if the chickens refused to eat it after all the research I had to do.

I have no idea how to properly calculate the calcium and phosphorus in custom feeds.

-Kathy

Ok, thanks anyway. Guess I'm off to do more research!

But hey, maybe they'll eat less oyster shell if they're getting plenty of calcium in the feed. Or maybe I could quit buying it altogether...

 

[ronott1]

Thanks, but what I'm looking for is data that shows what humidity level is lethal to them once they have pipped.

-Kathy

It is a combination of a lack of ventilation, heat and humidity. It is not a set humidity and if you have enough ventilation it will not kill them.

 

[ronott1]

It is a combination of a lack of ventilation, heat and humidity. It is not a set humidity and if you have enough ventilation it will not kill them.

It is also the ability of the incubator to remove CO2

Quote: Oxygen in the Air:

The oxygen content of air at sea level is about 21%. It is impossible to increase this percentage appreciably
in incubators unless pure oxygen is introduced. Generally, the oxygen content of air in the setter remains at
about 21%, but there may be some variation in the hatcher where large amounts of carbon dioxide are produced
by rapidly developing chicks. Hatchability will decrease about 5% for each 1% that the oxygen content of the
air drops below 21%. The main danger in these cases is that high levels of carbon dioxide become toxic.
Air Supply is Generally Adequate:
As the embryo ages, its oxygen demand increases and more carbon dioxide is given off to the environment.
Each process grows approximately 100 times between the 1st and 21st day of incubation, as shown in the table.
On the 18th day of incubation, 1,000 eggs require 143 ft3 of fresh air per day (oxygen in the air at 21%). An
incubator holding 40,000 eggs would need 5,720 ft3 of fresh air per day, or approximately 238 ft3 per hour.
Based on expected O2 requirements for a hatch, air in most incubators needs to be changed about eight times
a day or once every 3 hours. This rate of air exchange is the minimum required. Air exchange rates in most
machines are usually more than adequate. In some cases, care must be taken to ensure that excessive loss of
moisture due to over-ventilation does not become a problem.
TABLE. Gaseous Exchange During Incubation (per 1,000 eggs)
Day of Incubation Absorption of Oxygen Expulsion of Carbon Dioxide
ft3 ft3
1 0.50 0.29
5 1.17 0.58
PUTTING KNOWLEDGE TO WORK
The University of Georgia and Ft. Valley State College, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and counties of the state cooperating.
The Cooperative Extension service officers educational programs, assistance and materials to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex or disability
An equal opportunity/affirmative action organization committed to a diverse work force..
10 3.79 0.92
15 22.70 11.50
18 30.00 15.40
21 45.40 23.00
Carbon Dioxide Tolerance:
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a natural by-product of metabolic processes during embryonic development which
begins during gastrulation. In fact, CO2 is being released through the shell at the time the egg is laid.
Carbon dioxide levels increase within the setter and hatcher when there is insufficient air exchange.
Younger embryos have a lower tolerance to CO2 than older ones. The tolerance level seems to be linear
from the 1st day of incubation through the 21st day. During the first 4 days in the setter, the tolerance level
to CO2 is about 0.3%.
Carbon dioxide levels above 0.5% in the setter reduce hatchability somewhat, levels above 1% reduce
hatchability significantly, and levels above 5% are lethal. Hatching chicks give off more CO2 than embryos
in eggs, and their tolerance level in the hatcher is about 0.75%.
Recording devices are available for measuring the CO2 content of the air, and some incubators have them
as standard equipment. The best place to measure the CO2 is in the exhaust duct coming out of the setter or
hatcher. Measurements taken inside a machine are not as accurate because opening the door will change the
environment in the machine.
Speed of Airflow:
The most important aspect of airflow in an incubator is to ensure proper mixing of temperature and
humidity throughout the incubator cabinet while bringing in fresh air for oxygen and exhausting stale air to
reduce carbon dioxide, moisture, and heat. Different incubator manufacturers have different means of
circulating air: paddles, blades or fans. In most cases, it is the pattern of airflow that is most important.
Air, like water, follows the path of least resistance. An incompletely closed baffle door, a poor door seal, or
a fan out of alignment will negatively affect air flow patterns. In a poorly maintained machine, insufficient
air is circulated through the mass of eggs resulting in hot and cold spots, which in turn creates slow
hatches, reduced hatchability, and poorer chick quality. Incubator maintenance is critical to achieve
optimum air flow.
References: Romanoff, A. L., 1930. Journal of Morphology 50:517-525.

 

[Audio51]

I think I'm ready for the rain they are forecasting. They keep saying there is the possibility of 2 or 3 inches with this system. The firewood is stacked - bring it on - put out these fires!

I think we will likely get some, buty not a significant amount. They are saying maybe a little over a 10th of an inch.

Quote:

Oh thanks Kathy, I had no idea about the calcium... how do I know if they're getting too much calcium? It makes sense that the calcium would be high, if the fish bones are getting ground up too.

Quote:

FWIW, one of the feeds I give mine has enough fish oil that you can smell it and my birds *love* it.

-Kathy

Whew, ok, glad to hear that! That would be a major disappointment, if the chickens refused to eat it after all the research I had to do.

I have no idea how to properly calculate the calcium and phosphorus in custom feeds.

-Kathy

Ok, thanks anyway. Guess I'm off to do more research!

But hey, maybe they'll eat less oyster shell if they're getting plenty of calcium in the feed. Or maybe I could quit buying it altogether...
Just remember...if you have roosters they should not be getting the ame amount of calcium as the layers