Hatching at high altitude

[bumpershoot]

Here is the article I was talking about regarding sanding eggs: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-dark-eggs

I realize the article is geared towards dark eggs, but it seems to me that it would solve some of the problems for a high altitude hatch. I plan on using it the next time I hatch shipped eggs.

 

[trsturself]

This is a very interesting thread. I have tried 3 batches of eggs, 1 shipped and 2 local. I got 0 shipped eggs to hatch and 8 out of 32 local eggs to hatch. I had a lot of late quitters. I had the best luck with a dry hatch (17-25%). After reading this I think if I do it again I will make more and bigger air holes in my cooler bator.

 

[bumpershoot]

trsturself, here is a discussion on high altitude hatching on the I-25 thread that happened this afternoon...https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/865568/i-25-egg-train/40#post_13548862

What is thrilling about this thread is that it confirms what I had been thinking, which was that we needed to get more oxygen to the developing eggs and that it seems the solution is the removal of CO2 which by it's removal puts more oxygen into play. I had been working under the assumption that I was going to need an oxygen concentrator to push oxygen into the incubator and find a way to increase the PSI in order to assist it in crossing the membrane to the baby. According to today's discussion, it seems that the key is to REMOVE the CO2. So much easier!

Next time I hatch I am going to sand 50% per the instructions, leave 50% intact and put all of them in a CO2 scrubbed environment. It will be interesting to see how it goes!

 

[Pozees]

bumpershoot are you going to do this experiment with your own eggs, shipped, or both? I want to try with my own first, then shipped if I find a great deal.

 

[bumpershoot]

Pozees, I was going to do all shipped eggs, but since you mention is I do have a friend 2000 ft below me that would let me have some non-shipped eggs to hatch. Duh. Thanks for encouraging my brain to work!

I will also mention that I had muscovy eggs in the incubator last month and everyone of them stopped at the point where they needed more oxygen and were putting off more CO2. These guys were laid here, so it should have been less of an issue, plus I followed the hatching Muscovies tutorial, but no. So, there you are. Muscovies take forever to incubate, so I would rather let the ducks do that work. Plus, they seem to be better at it then me!

 

[Pozees]

I am wondering now whether the CO2 has been my problem with my Ameraucana eggs, can't wait to try the soda lime When are you setting, and at what stage do you plan to begin adding the SL?

 

[Mtn Margie]

Very interesting! Can't wait to hear what happens with the soda lime.

 

[red horse ranch]

Very interesting! Can't wait to hear what happens with the soda lime.

Where would you find soda lime? Is baking soda the same thing? I often have dead chicks and keets and would be willing to try something different.

I'm just under 5000 ft altitude here.

 

[Mtn Margie]

Where would you find soda lime? Is baking soda the same thing? I often have dead chicks and keets and would be willing to try something different.

I'm just under 5000 ft altitude here.

There is a link to the soda lime conversation in post #33 here. It is being discussed in depth on the I-25 train thread. I am at 8600 and my eggs are very porous, that is for sure!

 

[bumpershoot]

Where would you find soda lime? Is baking soda the same thing? I often have dead chicks and keets and would be willing to try something different.

I'm just under 5000 ft altitude here.

No, soda lime and baking soda are not the same thing. Soda lime is used for anesthesia and scuba diving rebreathers. I found some here, which will give you a start: http://www.shopmedvet.com/product/soda-lime-3-lb-bag/jorgensen-products-anesthesia-products