Interesting Hatching Observation this Year

[Jrose]

I've done about 10 hatches this year. 5 in the incubator, 2 under broody hens, and 3 more between two broody turkeys. All the eggs were chicken eggs, except 1 clutch of quail eggs.

My first hatch of the year was in the incubator and 13 out of 15 hatched right on cue on day 21/22. That hatch had a scary temp spike in week 2 but it didn't seem to effect the chicks.
All 5 broody clutches hatched on day 18 or 19. (I'd check in on them before lock down and lo and behold! Wee peeps!)
All but that first incubator clutch hatched between day 18 and day 20. The quail hatched lockdown night too.

My incubator is a basic LG with no addons, so I do have mild temp fluctuations. But I would have thought the broodies would be spot-on!

What are other folks' experiences with early/late hatch trends?

 

[celticgarden]

Your observations agree with Harvey Ussery's: See 9th paragraph down.http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/Broody-Hens-2.html

 

[lazy gardener]

Your observations agree with Harvey Ussery's: See 9th paragraph down.http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/Broody-Hens-2.html

Excellent book, IMO.

 

[Jrose]

I read that site before setting under my first broody this year Still, my eggs are hatching even 2 days earlier than his.

I had wondered what factors affect hatching. Like outdoor temps, elevation, barometric pressure, etc.

The one thing 5 of the hatches had in common was they each hatched very early, on the same night that a big heavy storm hit. There's a clutch on day 18 in my incubator right now, and a chick hatched this morning during the first big storm we've had in over a month. The others are pipping as well.

This is my first year hatching my own eggs, so I'm eager to continue observing patterns as I inevitably do more hatches!

 

[song of joy]

I had a similar experience. My broody hen hatched out 6 of 6 fertile eggs on Day 19. All were very healthy and active.

 

[junebuggena]

I did an incubator batch and a broody hen batch this fall. Both hatched at 19 days. And the incubator was completely stable at 99 to 99.8 the entire time.

 

[lazy gardener]

I read that site before setting under my first broody this year Still, my eggs are hatching even 2 days earlier than his.

I had wondered what factors affect hatching. Like outdoor temps, elevation, barometric pressure, etc.

The one thing 5 of the hatches had in common was they each hatched very early, on the same night that a big heavy storm hit. There's a clutch on day 18 in my incubator right now, and a chick hatched this morning during the first big storm we've had in over a month. The others are pipping as well.

This is my first year hatching my own eggs, so I'm eager to continue observing patterns as I inevitably do more hatches!

Interesting. It would make sense to me that storms could trigger an early hatch, or at least make it easier for a chick that was ready to hatch to pop out of the egg. Stormy weather = low barometric pressure. So, if the pressure is greather in the egg, it would make sense that it would be easier for the chick to break out at that time. Have you done a google search to see if there are any studies documenting that likelihood???

 

[Jrose]

Interesting Experiences! I'm going to start adjusting my calendar to anticipate earlier hatches.

I'm at about 2,300ft elevation. I wonder what others are seeing at different elevations? If your elevation can drastically affect baking and the dry time of fruit, surely it can affect eggs hatching!

I also thought the humidity rise during a storm front might naturally help the eggs, but the pressure is the biggest clue there. I'm probably (rather stupidly) going to hatch all year long and am eager to see pattern changes over winter. Ya know, it's just easier to brood when you keep those brooders filled to capacity

Anywho, I had set 14 eggs, 3 were infertile, 7 have hatched, and the other 4 look like they're alive but at an early stage of development?! I candled last night (48 hours after the others hatched) and I'm certain I see pulse and movement, but they look like they're on day 12!

I will wait and see what they do but I'm not hoping for any miracles. Never had this happen before.

 

[lazy gardener]

I read a thread today from a gal who had eggs hatch under a broody up to day 35. Unbelievable, but sometimes reality is stranger than fiction.

 

[Jrose]

I read a thread today from a gal who had eggs hatch under a broody up to day 35. Unbelievable, but sometimes reality is stranger than fiction.

Woah! I wouldn't doubt it! Must've been a cold hen. I'm thinking these eggs were the ones farther back, touching the side of the brooder where I know there to be a slight temp difference.

This is why I don't bother with studies and research. The only relevant study is the one you do yourself. The only real research happens with hands-on experience, observation, trial and error. You don't need a degree to find that 91 out of 100 hatches hatched 2-3 days early and discover that industry standard is not the golden rule, that the 'published studies' are actually only relative. Too many folks are eager to say there's a black and white answer, a hard line, and an 'impossible'.
Like my roosters breeding my turkey hens! lol!