Diary & Notes ~ Air Cell Detatched SHIPPED Chicken Eggs for incubation and hatching

[Caitlin_VT]

Albeit, all this info is coming from a person that hasn't taken a genetics course in a couple years, so I am a bit rusty!

 

[chicksooner]

I hatch tons, and I keep getting 80% if not more males of CCL!

That was my breeding season last year. I was over run in cockerels.

Albeit, all this info is coming from a person that hasn't taken a genetics course in a couple years, so I am a bit rusty!

Your info was better than any I would have come away with after reading genetics websites.

 

[DaveOmak]

That was my breeding season last year. I was over run in cockerels.

Your info was better than any I would have come away with after reading genetics websites.

When G-d gives you cockerels, make chicken soup....

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Quote: if I had the room to grow out males I certainly wood for soup, I want to get some cornish X and have no home for them even for 8 weeks

 

[jbher]

Hi all!!

I have read the Hatching 101 I think 10 times. But I just got my very first eggs today!! Picked them up from the PO this morning. This is my first time ever incubating!! I will be getting 3 more boxes of shipped eggs over the next 2 days too. I am setting them Saturday for the Easter Hatch-a-long.

I have a question though... I have read two different things. Should they be stored at room temperature until Saturday or should they be cooler? I have them in my basement right now which is in the mid-50's. However, my closet is around low to mid 60's. Would that be a better place? I'm thinking my basement probably gets down to 50 at night as it's not heated. Also our house is VERY dry. How concerned should I be about humidity levels while storing them?? Should I run a humidifier in the same room as them?

At what point should I candle them before Saturday?

Thank you!!!

ETA: just read this and now I'm even more nervous!! My humidity is no where near that!! The humidity in my basement is about 20%... Should I move the eggs to my closet and run a humidifier?

"

1. Store the clean fertile eggs in an area which is kept at 55°- 60°F and 70-75% humidity. Never store eggs at temperatures about 75°F and at humidities lower than 40%. These conditions can decrease hatchability dramatically in a very short period of time. "

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Hi all!!

I have read the Hatching 101 I think 10 times. But I just got my very first eggs today!! Picked them up from the PO this morning. This is my first time ever incubating!! I will be getting 3 more boxes of shipped eggs over the next 2 days too. I am setting them Saturday for the Easter Hatch-a-long.

I have a question though... I have read two different things. Should they be stored at room temperature until Saturday or should they be cooler? I have them in my basement right now which is in the mid-50's. However, my closet is around low to mid 60's. Would that be a better place? I'm thinking my basement probably gets down to 50 at night as it's not heated. Also our house is VERY dry. How concerned should I be about humidity levels while storing them?? Should I run a humidifier in the same room as them?

At what point should I candle them before Saturday?

Thank you!!!

ETA: just read this and now I'm even more nervous!! My humidity is no where near that!! The humidity in my basement is about 20%... Should I move the eggs to my closet and run a humidifier?

"

1. Store the clean fertile eggs in an area which is kept at 55°- 60°F and 70-75% humidity. Never store eggs at temperatures about 75°F and at humidities lower than 40%. These conditions can decrease hatchability dramatically in a very short period of time. "

if your setting for the easter hatchalong, I would let them place in the room you will incubate without turning today and set them tomorrow, there is a 2 day leeway for setting eggs for the hatchalong. What is worse on an egg is not setting it and letting it age, each day will reduce viabilitiy, the eggs are more important than the hatchalong set date

HOWEVER I just read you need to wait for other batches of eggs???? then store in the cool place for sure!

 

[jbher]

if your setting for the easter hatchalong, I would let them place in the room you will incubate without turning today and set them tomorrow, there is a 2 day leeway for setting eggs for the hatchalong. What is worse on an egg is not setting it and letting it age, each day will reduce viabilitiy, the eggs are more important than the hatchalong set date

HOWEVER I just read you need to wait for other batches of eggs???? then store in the cool place for sure!

Yes unfortunately my last batch of eggs won't come until Friday morning. I will be picking them up at the post office as soon as I get the call - so by 7am. Okay so the eggs I have today I have not placed a book under one end yet. Should I leave them be for today? They are also wrapped in paper towels - should I leave them that way?

I am most concerned about the humidity level in the basement. Currently the temperature readout says 58.1 degrees (and dropping... my temp thing down there is slow) and 20% humidity. I will go get my other temp/humidity gauge and put it down there - it updates constantly.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Quote: you will need to turn them during storage IF THE AIR CELLS ARE GOOD.
cool place and if its somewhat humid is better than dry, it will keep them from loosing moisture until set.
I would gently unwrap, candle UPRIGHT check air cells mark them and set big end up in the egg cartons, be gentle as I have no clue the shape of your air cells

Good Luck!

 

[Caitlin_VT]

That was my breeding season last year. I was over run in cockerels.

Your info was better than any I would have come away with after reading genetics websites.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

I had to edit that, see 101 for treatment of rolling and detatched or wiggly air cells!