I have hatches due every monday starting on Dec. 6th. I should have had 2 batches (~16 dozen eggs) out of the shell already but a temp spike ruined those. Weather is getting a bit colder and my blacks have gone into a molt. I'm only getting about 5-6 dozen eggs a week now. Lots of silkie and bantam faverolles.... I think I need to trim back crests and cushions on my breeders even more - lots of clears so far. If all else fails, resort to AI again. The real fun begins in late May or so when all the waterfowl and peafowl eggs also start coming in. By then, both of the 400 egg Redwood incubators are going.
Hint.... I only turn my eggs twice a day and they do fine. I add water (~3gallons) once a week when I add a new tray of eggs. I don't even bother candling til at least day 14 and most of the time its day 18. The less you have your hands on those eggs the better. Every time you touch them, you are introducing bacteria to a highly porous surface. When I turn eggs, I'm in and out of that incubator and have the door closed within 15 seconds. I don't use the auto turners either.... eggs do better on their side (esp waterfowl). Every time you go in and out of that incubator, the temps and/or humidity take about an hour to readjust and get back to normal. Once they start hatching, resist the urge to go in there every 10 minutes too. Let them go for a full 24 hours and then pull all of them out at once. Humidity is crucial at that point and if you are constantly opening it up, you are shrink wrapping the chicks. At day 22-23 I pull all unhatched eggs, crack them open, and record results.
Amy
