I am new to this forum, but not new to chickens. I have been raising pastured laying hens for 3 years (Barred Rocks, Reds and Cochins), but recently decided to expand the flock to breeding Black Copper Marans and Ameracauna's. I have 2 HovaBator incubators with turners, and a piece of junk Little Giant from Tractor Supply. I never tried to hatch eggs before. The lessons I have learned so far in the last month: 1) When getting fertilized eggs through the mail, allow them to settle before putting them in the incubator. The eggs I put in incubation without allowing them to sit for a day had a 0% hatch rate. 2) Avoid getting eggs through the mail. Despite how well the eggs are wrapped, Postal Service employees toss, drop, throw and manhandle the boxes the eggs are packed in. I watched it happen. 3) When eggs start hatching in the incubator, resist all temptation to open the top and "help" them along. You will cause temperature and humidity fluctuations that will only kill the birds before they hatch. I lost 3 birds that were already pipping because of this. 4) Don't use incubators that require you to put an extra container of water inside to raise humidity. Chicks will find these and drown in them, regardless of how small they are and how shallow the water is. 5) Don't use pine shavings in brooders. Chicks kick them up and constantly cover their food and water. Use wheat straw instead. 6) Spend the extra money for a forced air incubator with digital temperature and humidity gauges. The heat element only type of incubator can have a several degree temperature difference between the tops and bottoms of the eggs.
Out of 83 eggs I started with, I will be lucky to get 20 birds. I attribute this to natural fertility rates and my ignorance and mistakes such as those listed above.
Dean
Out of 83 eggs I started with, I will be lucky to get 20 birds. I attribute this to natural fertility rates and my ignorance and mistakes such as those listed above.
Dean
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