Hatching at high altitude

[lgc1970]

Okay. The chicks are doing great!

I can't take not knowing about what happened to the rest of my hatch. So, I have contacted a vet school and they are willing to do autopsies for cheep; basically no cost if the outcome is a simple diagnosis; if it would take more advanced tests, then there may be a cost. They said it would be a simple blood test and look at the brain and vascular system to tell if it was hypercapnia (too much CO2). I took him 10 total specimens and they will get back to me in 2 - 3 days with the initial results.

So, after 5hrs of driving, my fingers are crossed.

 

[Pozees]

What a brilliant idea! I can't wait to hear what they say!

I have kept a dish of soda lime in the bottom of the incubator for over a week now. The most recent hatch I had was slightly improved, next set goes into the hatcher this Saturday and I'm hoping for another improvement. I still have not developed a safe way to put it into the hatcher, did you?

 

[bumpershoot]

I so want to incubate some more Barnevelders, so I am watching and waiting and watching!

 

[lgc1970]

In the hatcher is a box made of hardware cloth. Like you sometimes see over the fans in some homemade incubators. In it I put my cheese cloth bag with soda lime. The box doesn't need to be that big, because the amount of soda lime is small.

This box might easily fit 8oz of soda lime but I made this size to keep it tall so the chicks can't get in it. It can be laid in the bator with the top covered by a small piece of cheese cloth and clamped on by a rubber band or kitchen twine, or attached near the side with kitchen twine, or have the short side attached to the side I guess, if you have a larger / homemade bator.

 

[Mtn Margie]

So what was the final count on chicks from the different altitudes? Did the SL make a difference on the lowlanders?

 

[lgc1970]

Well, unfortunately with my soda lime being in a damaged bag, now I don't know. I was using soda lime from a new container that was damaged from Day 18 / 19 until I noticed it on Day 21 late. So, I am waiting on the results from the vet school. If the 10 specimens that I took over have hypercapnia, then I know it happened during final 3 days. That is at least what I suspect, but I just don't know.

I was able to hatch out more from middle range elevations. 8 from middle elevations, 1 from lower elevations, and 1 high elevation. EL4000 - EL6200 was highest producing. I think that there may be a few things going on.

I have another set in the incubator, and I am keeping a very close eye on how my soda lime is stored this time. I will have a better idea after I get the results from the school and the next set of eggs is hatching. 2 weeks total time.

7 out of 43 / 38 with most eggs shipped and from lower elevations seems about the average. Pozees said she had an improved hatching already. I am kicking myself for not inspecting my stuff twice daily...

 

[Pozees]

You are much more precise with your process Are you worried about moisture getting to the soda lime in the hatcher? That as well as chick access are my fears.

 

[lgc1970]

Well ... if you can keep it on the dl (down low), I am an engineer by schooling and years in the office (field when needed). If it was something to be done, then it had or needed a plan and a process .

So, I used my 'training' to try to plan out and identify the process for my first incubation. Now, I am using it to plan the small changes for my second run.

1. new container for my soda lime
2. maintain humidity at 70% (no spiking) during lockdown and hatching
3. increase soda lime during incubation days
4. be prepared to make adjustments once results of lab tests are received

I know nature is far from perfect and can be quite forgiving or 'tormentuous', which allows for mistakes / improvements along the way. I have now done this high altitude version once; and, although, it did not seem successful to me it wasn't a complete failure.

Thanks for tagging along, and I will try to do it better this time.

 

[lgc1970]

Oh, and my hardware cloth cage keeps the chicks away from the soda lime. Plus, it keeps it up away from the water when I hang the bag inside it.

 

[Pozees]

Oh, and my hardware cloth cage keeps the chicks away from the soda lime. Plus, it keeps it up away from the water when I hang the bag inside it.

Ah, okay, thanks!