First time incubator questions.

[DesertBrahma]

I don't know why but i woke up this morning feeling like I'm not going to have any luck with this batch hatching. I know i need to wait for tomorrow evening before I know but still. Something tells me I'm going to have to wait for my Broody to do the job. My temps haven't moved, and humidity is staying between 30 and 40 %. I don't know why I have this feeling. Well tomorrow will tell for sure.

 

[FridayYet]

Well I think that feeling is normal, I never think any of mine will hatch.

Had any of your flock ever been sick? Sometime respiratory infections can affect fertility and viability. Just a thought.

 

[DesertBrahma]

Nope. 1 had a nasty neck injury and I got that healed. I keep the coop clean, and well ventilated. I know I need to trim up their butt feathers some to help poor Foghorn be able to do his job a little easier, but other than that they've never wanted for anything besides more mealies, and sunflower seeds lol. They can't get enough of those. I feed them the Nutrena Feather fixer feed, they have a continuous supply of fresh water, shelter and shade, and a ton of room to move around. The only time they bunch up is at night to sleep. Even with a bunch of roost space. Usually they're all bunched together on 2 roosts and they have 5 roost bars lol. I use 2x4s as roosts right now. I'm getting some actual big thick limbs from a friend to make better roosts that they can support themselves on. I guess after the last 2 batches not producing I'm just feeling the ughs about this 1. I don't want to get my hopes up again just to be let down.

 

[FridayYet]

Sounds like a great set up.

When you've checked eggs for for fertility, they all have bulls eyes?

 

[duluthralphie]

It is early in the season for a rooster to be fertile. Their fertility goes up and down with the seasons also. I assume it is based on weather and sunlight. I know I am trying to be optimistic with this hatch. I had a higher percentage of eggs hatch last hatch than the one before. Every hatch should get better now.

Of course, I am not in a warm place like Sunny New Mexico, so I really do not know if you have the seasonal swings in fertility we have. Good Luck.


I have just started feeding my Turkey Tom Breeder Feed to help get them ready for the upcoming season. Not that they think they need it. They are all mounting every upside down dish or little mound of anything they can find, and spending all day outside the hens pens acting foolish.

 

[DesertBrahma]

3 out of 5 eggs I cracked had bullseye. We ate those lol. He's been " playing leapfrog" as my 4 yr old puts it with all the girls except 1 who he hasn't caught. I think he'll get her soon though lol. He hasn't hurt any of the girls yet, and I have 10 girls with him. He's really gentle with them. Or as gentle as a 1 yr old 12 lb Brahma can be. I haven't seen any skin abrasions, or "saddle sores" on anyone yet. It's been getting down to the upper 40s, and up to the upper 70s here lately so I know it's warm enough. I just don't think I'll have any success with this batch. If I don't have any success I'm going to shut it down, and might try again next month. I know my Blue Brahma Hen will brood a batch, and I found out my last hatchery Dark Brahma hen will try to brood a batch. I'm starting to get more eggs a day than I was with this warmer weather, and I love that. My family, and friends, and pets love it too. We are all starting to get fresh eggs lol. That reminds me to take some to a friend later lol. I let the eggs sit for 24 hrs before I put them in the incubator, and I make sure the fat end is up, but I don't know what I'm doing wrong. Well tomorrow will tell me if I have anything :/growing.

 

[FridayYet]

Well unless you have been eating all the fertile eggs and setting the infertile eggs, I can't see what you are doing wrong, either.  Actually I'm out of eggs now since I gave a dozen to a neighbor and a dozen to my parents.  Should get 3-4 today though to start building back up.

If you are anywhere around ABQ, I have extra chicks and will have more at Easter, so if you want some of mine for the boys just let me know and I'll give them to you. Like these 1/2 Easter Egger, 1/2 Russian Orloff:

 

[DesertBrahma]

I'm down by Alamogordo. They're so cute! I'm just hoping this works. I'm looking at getting some Turkens, and Turken crosses. Now. There's a lady close by that has them. They'll do better here than my Brahmas.

 

[FridayYet]

Lots of people like Turkens, I'm still not sold on the whole Naked Neck thing. Supposed to be great birds though.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Lots of people like Turkens, I'm still not sold on the whole Naked Neck thing. Supposed to be great birds though.

I've read in a couple different articles that nns are one of the most delicious chickens. That they are quite moist. I don't know I can't eat my own birds.