July Hatch-a-Long (including 4th of July hatch-a-long)

[SnapdragonQ]

The only problem with tilting the incubator that way is that it could make the humidity a bit unpredictable. As the water runs from one side to another the surface area will change.

In addition, I'm not sure, but is that amount of gentle tilting effective?

Our wells are fairly deep, but one would have to have less water in order to prevent leaking and you are right, tilting might reduce the surface area. It would easily work for a dry hatch though which was what I'm wondering. A fair amount of people seem to like to do dry hatches in out bators.

 

[AgnesGray]

The only problem with tilting the incubator that way is that it could make the humidity a bit unpredictable. As the water runs from one side to another the surface area will change.

In addition, I'm not sure, but is that amount of gentle tilting effective?

The humidity was ok. I don't know that the gentle tilting did anything, but the breeder who suggested it seemed to feel it was sufficient. I don't think I'll do it again.

 

[SnapdragonQ]

...... I know no conclusions can be made from a single hatch, but now if the air cells are bad and the eggs are needing to get started I may start them out that way for a day or so and then will place them on their sides by candling time on day 7, if not a bit sooner. I find that as the chick grows the air cell will generally get squeezed back into place anyway. I'm no expert though by any means.

Good idea, I hadn't thought of doing it half and half. (part of the time)
I played with some plain eggs and some cut up toilet paper tubes and came up with a good way to prop up even super large eggs for hand turning. Did you cut individual cups from a carton, or did you just use a whole carton fo yours?

 

[AgnesGray]

Good idea, I hadn't thought of doing it half and half.
I played with some plain eggs and some cut up toilet paper tubes and came up with a good way to prop up even super large eggs for hand turning. Did you cut individual cups from a carton, or did you just use a whole carton fo yours?

I cut a carton in half... groups of 6. I found them to be more stable than 1 or 2. These were ducks though so very heavy on the carton. In order to allow good airflow around the egg, I cut holes in the bottom of the carton.

 

[FortCluck]

I have thought about quail. Maybe one day. Do you have them in an enclosed aviary or do they stay outdoors? I really know very little about them.


Great! I hope the trip was kind to them! A thin book was enough to shift them and didn't upset the water too bad. I didn't completely fill the channels.

To be perfectly honest, I didn't notice any benefit to doing it that way. I had a lot of stugglers on hatch day and malpositioned chicks. I know no conclusions can be made from a single hatch, but now if the air cells are bad and the eggs are needing to get started I may start them out that way for a day or so and then will place them on their sides by candling time on day 7, if not a bit sooner. I find that as the chick grows the air cell will generally get squeezed back into place anyway. I'm no expert though by any means.

Mine are in an enclosed aviary. They’re really great and I really like them. I’m hoping mine start laying soon.

 

[AgnesGray]

Mine are in an enclosed aviary. They’re really great and I really like them. I’m hoping mine start laying soon.

Nice! Don't they lay at around 6-8 weeks?

 

[CindyinSD]

They're supposed to start at around eight weeks. I don't have any, but from reading the epic "Quail Hatch-a Long" thread, some quail may take a good deal longer. Like other poultry, they're sensitive to the weather and other living conditions such as mating stress. They also need to receive a threshold number of lighted hours which (if I remember) is around ten.

 

[AgnesGray]

They're supposed to start at around eight weeks. I don't have any, but from reading the epic "Quail Hatch-a Long" thread, some quail may take a good deal longer. Like other poultry, they're sensitive to the weather and other living conditions such as mating stress. They also need to receive a threshold number of lighted hours which (if I remember) is around ten.

Makes sense. Pretty amazing that they start producing eggs so quickly!

 

[FortCluck]

Nice! Don't they lay at around 6-8 weeks?

Yes and they’re fully mature at that age so they’re a good meat source too

 

[AgnesGray]

Yes and they’re fully mature at that age so they’re a good meat source too

Pretty hard to beat from a feed efficiency point of view as well, I'd imagine.