Incubating Chukars

[BigRay]

I am going to start raising a few chukars. What are temps and inubating period? Humidity requirements? Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

 

[shelleyd2008]

They take the same temp and humidity as any other game bird: 99.5* and 50%+ during incubation, 98.5* and 65%+ during hatch. Chukars take about 23 days. I have only hatched a few myself, and I had quite a few that pipped and died. I read somewhere that this is 'normal' but I don't remember the reasoning for it. There are quite a few of us that have them, so someone else should be along directly to help you

 

[JJMR794]

Help? Shelley You Covered It! Lol!

Good Luck--- They Can Be A Lil Difficult In The Brooder--- Kinda Like Pirannas! They Can Be Quite The Lil Peck Monsters If Conditions Arent Just Right.

Lotsa Brooder Space. Red Light. If They Start Pecking Cool 'em Down A Lil.

Anything Else Just Ask, There's Lotsa Folks Around Here That Have Them, So There's Plenty Of Info Available

 

[spectrumranch]

We don't do anything special with our incubators and the chukars always seem to hatch very well.

I have never had a problem with them picking and we use white lights in our brooders. Even when out of the brooder they usually don't pick for us- but we keep feed available at all times.

 

[shelleyd2008]

I also didn't have a problem with pecking, and I had 4 chukars, 3 bobwhites, and 7 guineas (I think a couple of chickens in there too) in a big rubbermaid tote with a regular old light bulb.
ETA: And why are they so darned cute?

 

[JJMR794]

Picking Didnt Start Until They Were Outside Without A Light, Say 6 Wks Old And Older. Maybe Its Just The Tropical Heat And Humidity Here? I Had An Awful Time With Them--- Started With 18 Healthy Babies And Ended Up With 6 That I Sold Before They Could Kill Each Other Anymore.... I Was Unable To Move To Larger Flight Pen, So I Thought It Best To Liquidate And Try Again Next Year When I Could Provide The Proper Housing And Space.

 

[jjchick]

I currently have 10 chukars in my aviairy. They laid about 4 eggs at the end of summer but should start laying in the spring. I would like to know how others manage egg collection. Sholud I leave them in the aviairy or put them in cages? I would also love to see some pictures of your homemade brooders. I am not sure I want to use rubbermaid bins. I am sort of worried about a fire hasard if the light is on for several weeks. I know my eggs should be fertile because I tried incubating the 4 eggs that I got. One hatched but then died 24 hours later. I really wasn't set up for it. That is why I want to make a brooder during the long winter months. Any input would be deeply appreciated.

 

[JJMR794]

WITH THE RUBBERMAID TOTE YOU JUST CUT OUT 60-70% of the inside of the lid--- REPLACE IT WITH CHICKEN WIRE OR HARDWARE CLOTH THATS SECURED WITH ZIP TIES AND THROW THE LIGHT ON TOP OF THE WIRE--- NO WORRIES, NO TROUBLES!

 

[jjchick]

Don't the totes have a tendancy to melt. It was to my understanding that chukars needed the light for several weeks.

 

[Kullas]

never has a problem with mine melting. put the light on the top where the wire is at the light has ben on in mine for about 4 months now and mo problems