Does a broody stop turning eggs at day 18 ?

[racuda]

Congratulations!

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

Quote:
What did you use to measure the humidity under the girl.. That sounds like an excellent Idea.. which type of hygrometer did you use.. I want to do that now...LOL

I got it from radio shack 1 of those indoor outdoor, I stuck the outdoor probe under her.

I'm pretty sure the probe only measures heat.. Humidity is measured at the main unit.

 

[knjinnm]

Quote:
I got it from radio shack 1 of those indoor outdoor, I stuck the outdoor probe under her.

I'm pretty sure the probe only measures heat.. Humidity is measured at the main unit.

Hi,
I just tested my unit and the humidity sensor is definitely in the main unit which is in the house.
Joe

 

[Ridgerunner]

There is a very long thread on here somewhere from quite a while back about humidity during incubation. Someone measured the humidity under a broody and the humidity did go up in the final days. According to her measurements, yes, a hen does raise the humidity in the final days. Exactly how, I can't tell you.

Does the hen turn the eggs? From Racuda's photos, I'd say she not only turns them, she moves them around. My theory on turning the eggs during the first 18 days is that this helps keep the embryo from sticking to the side of the egg, drying out at that spot, and getting stuck. The humidity is kept low enough so enough moisture will evaporate so the chick does not drown when it internally pips. By the time day 18 rolls around, the embryo is so big that turning it is not going to stop it from touching the sides. Enough moisture has evaporated so you can raise the humidity to keep the embryo from drying out where it touches so you can stop turning. If you stop turning you don't have to open the incubator if you are hand turning. If you are using a mechanical turner, you can stop turning and remove the turner. This keeps the turner from getting so dirty during hatch so it is easier to clean, plus you remove a mechanical device that could trap a chick as it is moving around. The way the chicks that hatch early play rugby with the unhatched eggs, I don't think turning or not turning is really important. I think it is more that with the humidity up so they don't stick, you can quit turning.

As I said, this is my theory, my opinion. I do not have any scientific study to back it up. Take it for what it is worth, which maybe isn't much. Fun to speculate though.

 

[growinupinfl]

Ok here is my plan to at least test some of the question about hens hatching. One I'm going to start researching the Poultry Science Journal and see if they have any studies on broody hen behavior. I am calibrating a small dial type hygrometer, and thermometer. I am want to find, and see about buying a pressure sensor pad with automatic recording devise.. If so I will put all of them under the eggs and hen. My girls are supposed to go into lock down on Nov. 5th. If I get everything we will know how often they get on and off the nest. How does that sound..

Anyone have any idea of how or were to obtain a pressure sensor mat LOL... Must have ANSWER... INQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW!!

I have sent an email to Auburn's college of poultry science.... We will see if anyone credits our crazy question with an answer..LOL

Christal

 

[tuesdays chicks]

obviously No, by thee looks of racudas nest they were turned up until they were ready to pip, my eggs hatched being moved on day 19 though I tried to keep them as still as possible and put them from lying down position into an egg carton in bator and had an egg out in the cold on day 20 and hatched in bator day 21.

 

[knjinnm]

Hi,
Found a pocket humidity temperature pen for $30.00.

http://www.moldcareer.com/store/1/37/461/Extech_Flir_Pocket_Humidity_Temperature_Pen/

 

[pascopol]

Well, thanks everybody for input, lot's of creative thinking and observation here.

It seems that everybody here agrees that a broody does not stop turning eggs at day 18, but she keeps "turning and moving them around".

So I dare to challenge widely followed opinion:

Why stop turning the eggs at day 18 if the broody does not and she beats artificial incubation most of the time?

My theory is that:

A notion (of stopping turning at day 18) comes from commercial hatcheries practice, they have to stop turning eggs at some point so the hatching chicks will not get entangled and damaged in mechanical turners.

My next hatch: I will continue turning (rolling) eggs at day 18, since I use Brower TH120 as a hatcher mostly, I will let it turn (roll) the eggs as it does by design unless you take the large egg holding bowl off the turning spindle.

Lyon brand bators are rolling the eggs too instead of swinging them, so it is possible to let them roll.....

 

[flgardengirl]

I have picked up a broody hen during the last few days in order to get her to eat and drink. It was during the summer and it was over 100 degrees in that coop so I made her get up and drink! Anyhow her tummy was sweaty like and you could tell she had lost some feathers and her skin was in contact with the eggs so that could explain the humidity increase. All her chicks hatched out fine btw lol.

 

[PortugalBreeder]

Quote:
Your incubator will not turn the eggs as the hen does, she do it randomly some times just 5 degrees. But your incubator will keep rolling them all at a defined angle and defined period, which will reduce the hatching percentage if you let it turn them after 18 day because the chick will always have his position completely scrambled.
Tell us the results of your experience.