Incubators Anonymous

[CapricornFarm]

Quote:
I would guess about 80... your going to need more land or build high rises.

Wow that will really be chicken city! Trying to get ahead on build coops and pens here too, but came to the realization I'll never have enough coops. Oh well it won't hurt to try. And hey, get to feeling better, I'll be praying for you and everyone else here. Gotta get some sleep, God bless y'all.

I actually do have a high rise coop ! I built it to house guineas but they were driving me crazy so I sold them. Now I have a layer flock in the top unit, barred rocks and dark brahmas in the other two.
Thanks for asking about my health. I did go to the doctor, which ended up being fairly useless. They took an xray, decided I was FOS. I knew that! With my IBS I am continually constipated but now with the laxatives I have been on the toilet for three days and I still hurt.Too much information, right? Sorry. I do have a referral they are supposed to set up with a GI doctor so I will probably have a colonoscopy again. My aunt died of intestinal cancer so it is the worry that is the worst part. Thanks for asking. Deb

 

[Arielle]

A highrise sounds really interesting! WIll have to ponder if one will work for me!

Hope you ar better soon ,Deb.



I have a question, and thought you experienced folks might have some input.

Here is the background info:
I am running 2 incubators. One LG, one homemade. I have eggs from my girls in both. My eggs have been hatching sporatically over a several week period because these were taken from a broody hen threes days after her initial brood hatched; so these are mixed breed, some brown shells and some green from EE.

I put in 2 groups of FBCM eggs in the LG on Nov 22 at 1 am. For lockdown I separated the groups and I put one group in the homemade incubator; lock down was Saturday Dec 10, right after another EE chick hatched from the LG.

Here is my question.
I noticed that the marans eggs and EE eggs sound different than the brown eggs which sound like fine porcelin when they bump together. My EE eggs don't have that ringing sound. Nor do the marans.

Do marans eggs need different care than say RIR and BO eggs to hatch?? THese are my first shipped eggs and I'm really worried they will not be hatching.

 

[DMRippy]

Quote:
I can't really answer that. But I have noticed that Marans and Olive Egger eggs are very thick shells and a thick membrane. I have read that they have a harder time getting rid of the moisture. I have also read of hatches on day 25 and 27 even. I am going to keep mine in the hatcher until I put the next batch in for lock down a week later. Just going to give all of them a shot. I have 28 going into lockdown on Friday. I have also heard people say they do nothing different and still have good hatches. I did notice my first batch of Marans eggs had changed color when I added the new ones. They had lost the reddishness they had and turned more brown like a potato, cooking I guess changed the color

 

[Shikoba]

This is my first incubator... I dont have a thermostat, but it is holding temp.

I do realize I will have to get something different with the wire, I plan on going into town tmro for some new

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[Arielle]

Quote:
I can't really answer that. But I have noticed that Marans and Olive Egger eggs are very thick shells and a thick membrane. I have read that they have a harder time getting rid of the moisture. I have also read of hatches on day 25 and 27 even. I am going to keep mine in the hatcher until I put the next batch in for lock down a week later. Just going to give all of them a shot. I have 28 going into lockdown on Friday. I have also heard people say they do nothing different and still have good hatches. I did notice my first batch of Marans eggs had changed color when I added the new ones. They had lost the reddishness they had and turned more brown like a potato, cooking I guess changed the color

Interesting observtions, Donna. Will pull the sponges until I see pips. I have had a number of EE and brown eggs hatch without the benefit of higher humidity. Pip and zip in just a few hours.

I have 1 EE peeping. Hope that is a good sign for the rest of the hatch.

Talked it over with DH, smart guy, and we wondered if the shell is thicker on EE and marans because the girls lay only 3-4 eggs a week versus the brown layers which lay almost every day. Less time in the tube and depleted calcium stores perhaps contributes to a thinner shell.

Will continue to hope and they may be late hatching.

Thanks Donna.

 

[DMRippy]

Quote:
I can't really answer that. But I have noticed that Marans and Olive Egger eggs are very thick shells and a thick membrane. I have read that they have a harder time getting rid of the moisture. I have also read of hatches on day 25 and 27 even. I am going to keep mine in the hatcher until I put the next batch in for lock down a week later. Just going to give all of them a shot. I have 28 going into lockdown on Friday. I have also heard people say they do nothing different and still have good hatches. I did notice my first batch of Marans eggs had changed color when I added the new ones. They had lost the reddishness they had and turned more brown like a potato, cooking I guess changed the color

Interesting observtions, Donna. Will pull the sponges until I see pips. I have had a number of EE and brown eggs hatch without the benefit of higher humidity. Pip and zip in just a few hours.

I have 1 EE peeping. Hope that is a good sign for the rest of the hatch.

Talked it over with DH, smart guy, and we wondered if the shell is thicker on EE and marans because the girls lay only 3-4 eggs a week versus the brown layers which lay almost every day. Less time in the tube and depleted calcium stores perhaps contributes to a thinner shell.

Will continue to hope and they may be late hatching.

Thanks Donna.

DON'T PULL THE SPONGES.... I was referring to the first 18 days not lockdown. They need the humidity to hatch without shrink-wrapping... maybe even more with that thick membrane.

That is a good thought... my marans lay 5 out of 7 days may just be a breed thing too... their yolks are oranger than the others on the same feed. Breed thing I think.

 

[Arielle]

Shikoba, nice set up. Simple.

DIdn't know what you planned to buy at the store. Have you thought of rawer liner? Drawer liner works well. Good traction. Good ventilation. ANd prevents chicks from falling thru. Easy to clean.ANd keeps the shell bits from falling below.

Good job on the incubator. What do you have in it for eggs?

 

[discoveregg]

Shikoba. I like your pics! Sometimes I think we over complicate hatching, I'm looking forward to reading about your hatch

 

[Shikoba]

Thanks guys I have a marans welsummer cross and a maransred cross, this is my first time so I just grabbed a few

 

[Arielle]

I kept a notebook the first time and it was pages long--temp readings, comments, turning schedule. Couldn't keep everything in my head so wrote everything down. Very helpful to see if temp was up for just a couple hours or several days. That sort of thing. GL