March 2017! Hatch with us!

[angieangie]

I think this stems from a university study from a few years ago. They determined that slightly lower incubation temps favor females, and slightly higher temps favored males. But this was a very slight difference, I think maybe 1/2-1 degree? And this only very slightly shifted hatch rates in favor of one over the other. There is no way to change the sex of an egg after fertilization. I have had hatches in January from very cold eggs run at 80% male, and vice versa. I actually run my Brinsea at a slightly higher temp (100.4), because I find I have better hatch rates that way, and it seems to have no effect on sex ratio.

There is one theory I do subscribe to regarding sex rates. There was a study that showed that early eggs in a hen's life are more likely to hatch male, and I really think I've seen evidence of this with my hatches. My young hens usually start laying their first eggs right after the new year. I always end up with more males out of those early hatches, as well as from younger hens, than I do from older hens or late spring/summer hatches. So I try to avoid setting eggs from my hens until they've been laying for a few months.

As far as power outages and turned off incubators, hatching eggs are surprisingly resilient. It takes quite a while for the interior temp to drop dramatically. Broody hens leave their eggs unattended for an hour in very cold weather. Once, I had some unhatched eggs on day 23 of an incubation that I assumed was finished. I candled the remainders, saw no evidence of life, and sat them on the counter to be disposed of later. 8 hours later, I heard chirping from one of the eggs! It had internally pipped! I quickly returned it to the incubator, and it hatched a perfectly healthy chick. I couldn't believe it! That chick was like a miracle.

Yes I am also running it at a slightly lower temp. Nothing drastic, just a half degree or one lower. It's been running at 99-100, when I should be running it at 100-101, since it's still air. I have a few quitters so far, and one that didn't develop at all. I can't tell with my brown eggs anymore, so some might be quitters, but it's hard to see whats going on in there. I will let you all know my ratio, on friday they go into lockdown. And yes you are right, there is no way to change the actual sex.

 

[lilwildrabbit]

I'm testing mine again as soon as this hatch ends because the unit says 37.5 and the little portable one from Wally World says 97 but it was that way last time and they hatched early so if this hatch pops off early I'm going to place a different thermometer in it and try to set them up in between the three feedings and measure for a few days so I can get a better reading humidity is off too but in proportion of just 5 % so I adjust the middle point and go by that but I'll reset all that too

 

[jenniferbergsma]

First timer here! I have an incuview incubator and had 12 buff orpingtons originally. On day 10 I decided two were infertile. I accidentally cracked one... I think it was on day 7. I immediately used candle wax as my bandaid and honestly I'm unsure of its development. There's large darkness but no visible movement. To make matters more challenging that's the only egg I didn't measure the air cell progression *smacks head* d'oh!
They are due to be on lockdown this Friday and I leave Thursday night till Sunday so my husband will be responsible. I return Sunday AM and hatch day is expected Monday the 20th which is also the beginning of the March Break for my kids ages 5 and 2.5yrs.
Crossing my fingers all 9-10 remaining hatch and are healthy!!!

 

[ShrekDawg]

This isn't true. I've refrigerated my eggs all three times until I set them and I still get 50/50 male and female. You definitely can not change their sex with cold. They have set sexes at fertilization just like humans ( xx xy). I've read countless forum posts about people experimenting with temp and sexes. What it seems like is if you set the temp lower during incubation then the boys tend to die in the shell. But that was only random people doing it and it didn't always work, no real successful studies. If it were true, hatcheries would do it

I think this stems from a university study from a few years ago. They determined that slightly lower incubation temps favor females, and slightly higher temps favored males. But this was a very slight difference, I think maybe 1/2-1 degree? And this only very slightly shifted hatch rates in favor of one over the other. There is no way to change the sex of an egg after fertilization. I have had hatches in January from very cold eggs run at 80% male, and vice versa. I actually run my Brinsea at a slightly higher temp (100.4), because I find I have better hatch rates that way, and it seems to have no effect on sex ratio.

There is one theory I do subscribe to regarding sex rates. There was a study that showed that early eggs in a hen's life are more likely to hatch male, and I really think I've seen evidence of this with my hatches. My young hens usually start laying their first eggs right after the new year. I always end up with more males out of those early hatches, as well as from younger hens, than I do from older hens or late spring/summer hatches. So I try to avoid setting eggs from my hens until they've been laying for a few months.

As far as power outages and turned off incubators, hatching eggs are surprisingly resilient. It takes quite a while for the interior temp to drop dramatically. Broody hens leave their eggs unattended for an hour in very cold weather. Once, I had some unhatched eggs on day 23 of an incubation that I assumed was finished. I candled the remainders, saw no evidence of life, and sat them on the counter to be disposed of later. 8 hours later, I heard chirping from one of the eggs! It had internally pipped! I quickly returned it to the incubator, and it hatched a perfectly healthy chick. I couldn't believe it! That chick was like a miracle.

I talked to a local breeder a couple of weeks ago, and he was saying he has kept track of male/female ratios for a long time - he said certain batches have more than others , but his ratio is always right at 50%.

No it won't turn them a different sex then what they were supposed to be, it just is supposed to stop the males from developing, so you only end up with females or more females then males. But It won't turn a roo embryo into a pullet. That would be cool if it could.

Interesting idea but yeah i do tend to agree. The sex can't be changed in mammals and chickens and not sure about other bird species.

BUT. that said, alligators and maybe crocodiles? You can actually change the sex. It was on Discovery Channel back in the day lol i thought it wad so cool they dig the nest way down in the ground and cover it with like compost, idk. And leave it. And depending on how hot or cold it is, a male or female will develop

 

[LilJagsFarm]

I am also a first timer here! We've been keeping chickens for a little over a year now and have a mix of breeds. Decided to let one of the broody light brahmas sit on 9 eggs. My boys couldn't be more excited to hatch some little ones. I just want to see what they look like since they'll all be a mix of our brown silkie rooster and light brahma, ISA browns, barred rock, or black australorp. Today is day 10 so it's time to candle them... hopefully all are fertile.

This site has been an amazing resource over the past year! Thanks to all those that post!

 

[orrpeople]

First timer here! I have an incuview incubator and had 12 buff orpingtons originally. On day 10 I decided two were infertile. I accidentally cracked one... I think it was on day 7. I immediately used candle wax as my bandaid and honestly I'm unsure of its development. There's large darkness but no visible movement. To make matters more challenging that's the only egg I didn't measure the air cell progression *smacks head* d'oh!
They are due to be on lockdown this Friday and I leave Thursday night till Sunday so my husband will be responsible. I return Sunday AM and hatch day is expected Monday the 20th which is also the beginning of the March Break for my kids ages 5 and 2.5yrs.
Crossing my fingers all 9-10 remaining hatch and are healthy!!!

Welcome!! I'm so glad you joined us!
Don't be smacking your head

, many of us don't do anything other than just make sure the air cell looks like it has grown and dipped down to one side a bit. But honestly, I've had eggs that looked like their air sack was still small go into lockdown and hatch right out just fine. Also, I have dropped a couple - I get ridiculously mad at myself, and embarrassed. Both times I just grabbed the athletic tape (because it was in the cupboard above the bator) and taped the crack. The first time, the crack was lower than the zip line, so it hatched out fine. The second one, I had to peel some away so it could pip and zip. i shared this pic on last month's hatchalong, but it's still amazing.

 

[orrpeople]

I am also a first timer here!  We've been keeping chickens for a little over a year now and have a mix of breeds.  Decided to let one of the broody light brahmas sit on 9 eggs.  My boys couldn't be more excited to hatch some little ones.  I just want to see what they look like since they'll all be a mix of our brown silkie rooster and light brahma, ISA browns, barred rock, or black Wyandotte. Today is day 10 so it's time to candle them... hopefully all are fertile.

This site has been an amazing resource over the past year!  Thanks to all those that post!

How great!! You could end up with some amazing looking chicks!! Be sure to post pics when they arrive!!

 

[WVduckchick]

Yes, it's the inside of it. The box is where all the important stuff is. We don't use a lightbulb, instead heating elements from one of those metal heaters.

When they say Day 1, they mean the first 24 hr period. So the end of day 1, and the beginning of day 2, is at the end of the first 24 hr period. There, that should get you thoroughly confused! Put 1pm (or whenever you set them) on your calendar on the appropriate day. On the next day, at 1 pm (or in the middle of the square, as I do) put a number 1. That will keep you straight. They should be hatched by the time you get to the number 21. Easy peasy!

The first 24 hours is basically day 0. Day 1 starts 24 hours after starting the eggs. Its like a human child is not 1 year old until after 12 months of life.

The easiest way is if you set "chickens" on a Friday, day 21 is the 3rd following Friday. Ducks, 28 days, the 4th following same day of the week.

Hurrah! Glad you joined us!

I would love to someday have a hen go broody... watch, after Iget all the new stock I want, I'll have 5 of them at the same time!!

Careful what you wish for!!

I think I had 13 broodies in succession last summer. My momma duck started it, and it rippled through my entire flocks.

I have 3 broodies right now!

My Brinsea has a "cool" option. Shortest period you can choose is 60 minutes. I find if I cool during the first 2 weeks, I have better, stronger hatches.The only time I noticed it cooling was when I walked in and it was 85 degrees and I was trying to figure out what went wrong, when it suddenly started warming up again, and I remembered.

Well, I set 63 eggs and 1 egg o meter into my Brinsea 40. I love jigsaw puzzles! :Let's hope these eggs that hit one or two extra sorting stations on their journey to me aren't too scrambled. Go chickies GO!!!!

WOW!! Good luck!

 

[MontainBourbons]

Okay. So I have results from the eggtopsy. I didn't get any pictures but I can describe it. It looks like all of the chicks died during lockdown. The yolk wasn't completely absorbed but mostly were. The only thing that was odd that there was a lot of liquid around the chick. I think that the problem was that the humidity was too high and was turned on too early. It was at around 75% and I turned it up 3 days before the hatch. Is this the problem? I can't think of anything else.

 

[Lamancha]

Okay. So I have results from the eggtopsy. I didn't get any pictures but I can describe it. It looks like all of the chicks died during lockdown. The yolk wasn't completely absorbed but mostly were. The only thing that was odd that there was a lot of liquid around the chick. I think that the problem was that the humidity was too high and was turned on too early. It was at around 75% and I turned it up 3 days before the hatch. Is this the problem? I can't think of anything else.

Have you tried dry hatching yet? When I first started hatching I kept the humidity way to high and got a lot of lockdown deaths. Do they seem to be in the correct position to hatch? I also got a lot of mal-positioned and wrong end pippers until I finally broke down and got an egg turner. You may just need to try different things until you find what works for you environment. Once you figure it out it's like riding a bicycle.