Hatching in the off season?

[scoopy82]

I have finally got my new Hovabator to a point where I am happy with it holding temps - I have found the best room in the house with the least temperature fluctuation (about 10f is the best i can do, between 52 and 62f) and despite my fear of setting the house on fire i think its time to put some eggs in. The bator temp is holding steady at 100.8f, it has a fan and is a Hovabator 1602N. My question really is now - who actually hatches in winter? Being in Australia we are currently in Autumn, heading into winter and even though temps where I live dont get too bad - we do get frosts and temps usually between 5-18c outside. I have a insulated shed that the brooder can go in once they are hatched and an electric thermostat that i will hook up to it to make sure they get a steady and appropriate heat. But is it wrong of me to be trying to hatch in this season? The eggs I'm going to use I'm not even sure are fertile - they are more of an experiment, but if any do hatch I do want to do the best by them. So should I just wait till spring and try then? Cos I dont think I will last that long, but if i have to i suppose i can. Just wondering if anyone else hatches in the off season

 

[Tuffoldhen]

I've hatched year around. Just make sure your brooder is set up to keep them warm and draft free.

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

Off season?? I know not of this "off season" you speak of!! LOL Just kidding...yeah, many of us hatch year round...sounds like you've got a good set up for them, and they'll be fine.

 

[sheila3935]

I hatched about 50 out this winter. At one point we had makeshift brooders all over the living room. Dont think DH was too happry about it sometimes. Christmas day I had one setting next to the Christmas tree

If you have a place to keep them warm its fine to hatch in the winter. One thing I wouldnt recommend hatching in the winter is duckling unless you have a brooder out in a coop or warm shed. They are smelly little buggers.

 

[scoopy82]

I was warned you lot were enablers - it is so true

Well there you have it. I have my 12 eggs in the bator, turner and fan are on, just waiting for it to climb back up to its steady temperature and then I will sit . . . and wait . . .
Not sure if any of the eggs are even fertile, i bought them from a general store who said they haddn't been in the fridge and were free range and the flock had contained a rooster, so I'm planning on candling on day 10 to see whats happening. If there is nothing there I will invest in some garanteed fertile eggs and have another go. My 4 mutts i managed to hatch were only incubated for the last 3 days (cos mum was going to eat them) so I've never gone the whole way with a hatch. Wish me luck!!!

 

[duckyfromoz]

Hi there scoopy82 - I also live in Victoria and I hatch year round. I have ten ducklings just hatched a week ago- Guinea fowl eggs due this Friday and then three more settings of ducks eggs. I might be having a bit of a rest after these as I want to do some gold detecting over the winter months - but I am negotiating with my daughter to stay home with the ducks on weekends so I can get away - meaning I can keep hatching as well.. having brooders everywhere in the house gets a bit crazy here at times... but the ducks are so much more entertaining than tv on a cold winters night.

 

[scoopy82]

Awesome to hear duckyfromoz! I'm in central vic (Kyneton) so our temps aren't majorly horrible, and the bator is in the spare room (hubby doesn't even know its there yet!) so on the exceptionally cold days we will have the fire going inside. I suppose the brooder can go in there too if the shed is too cold but with the electric thermostat, a decent heat lamp globe and my fear of burning the house down I'm sure they will be just fine in the shed. Glad I'm not the only one from this neck of the woods trying to hatch things in the colder months. Tell me - after spending time on this forum - do you find yourself always refering to temperatures in f instead of c? I know after researching the whole incubation thing I can tell you ideal temps in f - dont ask me to recall in celcius though!!!

 

[duckyfromoz]

lol...I find my self making sure I write things different here... when candling- use a flashlight not a torch... dont refer to wearing thongs on your feet...


37.7 Is what I have mine set to -but I always look at the " F" side when reading the temperature.

Kyneton is a lovely place - the poultry club have great auctions too. I am hoping to make it up for the show when it is held this year too. I am in Melbourne- but have a block of land near Maryborough so spend a bit of time in the areas in between as well.

I actually keep mine in the house as I am too worried about burning the shed down

well thats my excuse for keeping them all inside. Apart friom the fact they are just too cute when so little and I love having them around.

 

[ShortCircuitRanch2332]

Quote:
HAHA yes they are enablers they enabled me to 43 chickens AND im getting more Wednesday geese and ducklings
but I plan on hatching all winter as long as the people keep buying them (ill prolly hatch anyway LMAO)

 

[mstrawn3]

I like to hatch in the fall/winter. The birds are ready to lay in the spring. It's like getting an extra laying season out of them!! Just be sure they are well protected from the cold.