Granny's gone and done it again

[BigBlueHen53]

Oh, I have a question about incubating eggs... I know Cap is an incubating queen, so here goes.
The incubator I have is set to rotate the eggs 45 degrees every two hours.. Is 2 - 3 a day the minimum? I thought every two hours was kind of excessive, but I don't see where I can change that setting. And.. when day 18 rolls around, I have to remove the rotator, and set the eggs so they settle.. which end down? or what angle? If it's pointy end down, how do you get the pointy end to stay down?

And this might sound silly, but how does a hen know to stop rotating the eggs? And how does she regulate the humidity?

Not silly at all, great questions! BBL

 

[CapricornFarm]

I can only imagine! I had one that needed a portion of his rump shaved for a medical procedure, and it took FOREVER to grow back!

Yeah, they are not meant to be shaved.

 

[h2oratt]

Thanks guys. I think maybe the frizzles are not as strong as the normally feathered birds. I kept one frizzled chick, sure hope it's a girl. Maybe have sold some too, I have a hard time telling until they are a few weeks old.
Going to be really busy tomorrow. Have to do regular chores and load the truck for the swap Saturday in Rice, VA.

I have started spraying everything every four months. Cleaning and spraying good.

 

[CapricornFarm]

Oh, I have a question about incubating eggs... I know Cap is an incubating queen, so here goes.
The incubator I have is set to rotate the eggs 45 degrees every two hours.. Is 2 - 3 a day the minimum? I thought every two hours was kind of excessive, but I don't see where I can change that setting. And.. when day 18 rolls around, I have to remove the rotator, and set the eggs so they settle.. which end down? or what angle? If it's pointy end down, how do you get the pointy end to stay down?

And this might sound silly, but how does a hen know to stop rotating the eggs? And how does she regulate the humidity?

When my eggs are getting ready to hatch, I often put them in the bottom half of egg cartons, if it fits in the incubator. You can just let them lay on their side, but they will get rolled around by chicks that hatch first.
I also line the bator base with shelf material that looks kind of bumpy. It helps decrease foot problems.
The hens instinctively know how to take care of the eggs. It won't hurt to turn them just before hatch, but you don't need to, plus you can get the turner out so the chicks don't get hurt by it.

 

[CSolis]

When my eggs are getting ready to hatch, I often put them in the bottom half of egg cartons, if it fits in the incubator. You can just let them lay on their side, but they will get rolled around by chicks that hatch first.
I also line the bator base with shelf material that looks kind of bumpy. It helps decrease foot problems.
The hens instinctively know how to take care of the eggs. It won't hurt to turn them just before hatch, but you don't need to, plus you can get the turner out so the chicks don't get hurt by it.

I already have a notebook with all the days numbered so I know when to increase humidity, etc. Day 18 I remove the turner. And when I set up the notebook, I realized the ones that hatch, if they do hatch will hatch on my son's birthday..
By the way, Since I stuck them in the incubator around 5:30 pm, does tomorrow at 5:30 count as day 1?

 

[h2oratt]

There is a really good incubation thread. At the beginning sally has compiled all her notes. She has a lot of really good info.

 

[CapricornFarm]

I already have a notebook with all the days numbered so I know when to increase humidity, etc. Day 18 I remove the turner. And when I set up the notebook, I realized the ones that hatch, if they do hatch will hatch on my son's birthday..
By the way, Since I stuck them in the incubator around 5:30 pm, does tomorrow at 5:30 count as day 1?

Yes.

 

[CapricornFarm]

I am really hoping for some cooler weather, there is so much that needs to be done!

 

[CSolis]

Well, it's late for me. Think I'll turn in for the night and start again tomorrow.

 

[twisted-acres-farm]

Hum. I thought it hsd to do with some of the things they eat. Like if you feed them ... um, marigolds I think it is, for one example, they will have darker yolks. There are other things too but too expensive for me, like ... I think it was saffron or paprika... I know my birds have darker yolks than store eggs and I assumed it is because they free range and get plenty of greens. So, Vitamin A. Shrug. Surely there are threads here on BYC about it.

alpha hay or fresh will also make for a nice rich golden yellow to orange color in yolks as well. Handy think to know up here in the dead of winter.