EDUCATIONAL INCUBATION & HATCHING CHAT THREAD, w/ Sally Sunshine Shipped Eggs

[Phage]

Is it true that hens can hold sperm for one month?

Yes but up to 3 weeks is more usual.

 

[daxigait]

It's hard to tell what I'm looking at. The membrane I see is white, but the chick looks dark, slick crusty dry.. I can see it breathing but I can't tell where the beak is from my view.

@BantyChooks

 

[BullChick]

It's hard to tell what I'm looking at. The membrane I see is white, but the chick looks dark, slick crusty dry.. I can see it breathing but I can't tell where the beak is from my view.

From skimming, I'm going to offer the following information.
It can take 24 hours to finish zipping.
If the chick looks to have foot problems, don't worry right away. It will sometimes straighten out within a day. If not, buy it some Keds. Or, make it a shoe.

 

[BullChick]

GOOD MORNING, ALL OF YOU SLEEPING PEOPLE! WAKE UP, AND FACE THE DAY!

 

[Beer can]

Thanks @MotorcycleChick nothing like a good strong brew when your up when it's still dark out.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Is it true that hens can hold sperm for one month?

Yes. Avian oviducts are unique in the ability to store sperm for long periods at body temperature. There are sperm storage tubules at the junction of the uterus and vagina. The immune system in the oviduct which prevents tissue infection appears to also preserve sperm. This is not where ovum fertilization takes place though. That is in the infundibulum near the ovary. Apparently when an egg passes, mechanical pressure forces some out so it can make it's way to the infundibulum or funnel where there are more sperm storage sites. An ovum drops into the infundibulum and spends about 15 minutes there where it is fertilized before it goes to the isthmus and magnum where inner and outer membrane and albumen are added. From there it heads to the uterus/shell gland for more water, calcium carbonate and pigment.

What this mean for breeding chickens is that if a hen has been in the company of a rooster and you relocate her to another rooster, you have to wait a minimum of 3 weeks before her eggs are likely to be fertilized by the new rooster. A month is safer.

The evolutionary case for this is that, as flock protectors, a rooster will give himself up to predators to save the hens as they run for cover.
The hens can then go off and for at least 3 weeks, produce more roosters for fertilization and flock protection.
I think that's a cool system.

 

[Lucky Lemon]

Good morning and thank you for the decaf, Abi!

 

[Chaos18]

 

[kajira]

LOL!

 

[BantyChooks]

But you appear to be short of legos,,

The frame supports are an experiment to see if it gives a more accurate temperature since it will be measuring air temp, not Lego temp.

Come to my house and take them - PLEASE - they are the Bain of my (barefoot) existence

I'm pretty sure Legos spawn wherever there's kids around.

Thanks for getting my hopes up