My first peafowls

[Wilchild54]

I have come to the conclusion today after 30 days in the incubator I took unhatched eggs out and float checked them one sunk ,the other 4 floated at proper height but no wiggle I then took a stethoscope put to the eggs and hear a heart beat. So for educational reasoning I crack one open it had a live bird inside but it stomach area was unfeathered and skin toned and it quickly died there after. I have done some read on this subject of not fully developed chicks and none hatching fully developed chicks, And it appears that folks are selling eggs from young hens 2 years and under Your chances of getting these to hatch are very slim to none. But people are greedy and sell these eggs. Please folks correct if Im wrong Im only learning about Peafowls ...

 

[MeepBeep]

I have done some read on this subject of not fully developed chicks and none hatching fully developed chicks, And it appears that folks are selling eggs from young hens 2 years and under Your chances of getting these to hatch are very slim to none. But people are greedy and sell these eggs. Please folks correct if Im wrong Im only learning about Peafowls ...

No doubt a very young hens eggs are generally not the quality of an established layer, but I suspect the hens diet has a lot more to do with success rate than age in the big picture... A well fed hen that is getting a proper balanced diet, and one that is supplemented with additional vitamins and minerals during laying will produce far better eggs then a hen being given the same cheap scratch feed they get as a maintainer all year...

Sorry to hear about your bad luck, with some luck maybe you can secure some more eggs before the season is over so that this year isn't a waste...

 

[Wilchild54]

Thank you Mbeep But I just bough 5 more peafowl chicks the other day to go with my one that hatched , It will take me a few years but Ill hatch my own eggs from now on. Unless you know the breeder you take a great chance on getting taken ... My own hens I know the quality.... but Iv got my start flock now its just setting back and watch them grow...

 

[DylansMom]

I have come to the conclusion today after 30 days in the incubator I took unhatched eggs out and float checked them one sunk ,the other 4 floated at proper height but no wiggle I then took a stethoscope put to the eggs and hear a heart beat. So for educational reasoning I crack one open it had a live bird inside but it stomach area was unfeathered and skin toned and it quickly died there after. I have done some read on this subject of not fully developed chicks and none hatching fully developed chicks, And it appears that folks are selling eggs from young hens 2 years and under Your chances of getting these to hatch are very slim to none. But people are greedy and sell these eggs. Please folks correct if Im wrong Im only learning about Peafowls ...

Just my experience here, I don't get that many eggs from my 2 year olds but I got a couple last year and I incubated them right along with the rest. I saw absolutely no difference, and hatched a few chicks that were perfectly formed and healthy. The 2 year olds usually do not lay many eggs compared to older hens, and they are often a little smaller in size, but I honestly don't think that is the issue. This year is just proving to be very problematic for many, many people experienced and inexperienced alike. My own eggs are requiring a lot more assisted hatching than I've seen before.

 

[Wilchild54]

Assisting please explain in what way , Yes I agree you have a very slim chance slim chance to get them hatched according to other Aviaries ,I had one out eight to hatch .

 

[zazouse]

Wilchild54
I have 7 hens that were fixing to turn 2 when they started laying last year and some had laid at a year old , anyhow i got fertile eggs from every one of these hens and some even hatched their eggs and others would have if i had let them so IMO this is not always the case.

 

[DylansMom]

Assisting please explain in what way , Yes I agree you have a very slim chance slim chance to get them hatched according to other Aviaries ,I had one out eight to hatch .

On Wednesday, I had 5 hatch, but only 1 hatched itself. All had made the internal pip and were in the correct position, but only 1 unzipped the egg. I had to slowly peel away shell and basically hatch the other 4. They just sat there and didn't seem to make any attempt to get out, and they were not shrink wrapped, when I got them out the membrane wasn't stuck to them at all.

All seem to be healthy and are doing well. Many people are posting about live eggs going into the hatcher and then not hatching, but I am not sure how many people are actually willing to assist as I do. If I hadn't helped them out I might have only ended up with one as well.

 

[Peafowlssssssss]

On Wednesday, I had 5 hatch, but only 1 hatched itself. All had made the internal pip and were in the correct position, but only 1 unzipped the egg. I had to slowly peel away shell and basically hatch the other 4. They just sat there and didn't seem to make any attempt to get out, and they were not shrink wrapped, when I got them out the membrane wasn't stuck to them at all.

All seem to be healthy and are doing well. Many people are posting about live eggs going into the hatcher and then not hatching, but I am not sure how many people are actually willing to assist as I do. If I hadn't helped them out I might have only ended up with one as well.

I have heard several times about helping chicks that just made the internal pip, do you mean i can make a hole in the egg shell before the chick did? Sorry about asking such a stupid question, my english is too bad to understand this

, if so how would you know where to make the hole?

 

[Wilchild54]

Zaz...it probably has allot to do with the health of the young hens and others omit there 2 year and under don't lay as big of a egg as 3 year old which would support the theory of a weaker chick with a smaller egg. I have no doubt that there are breeders that have luck hatching 2 year and under hen eggs but the standard is a 3 year old hen is best....

 

[DylansMom]

I have heard several times about helping chicks that just made the internal pip, do you mean i can make a hole in the egg shell before the chick did? Sorry about asking such a stupid question, my english is too bad to understand this

, if so how would you know where to make the hole?

If They have made the internal pip and you can hear chirping from inside the egg, they have enough oxygen to last 24-48 hrs. During that time they must break the shell or they will run out of oxygen and suffocate. If they have not broken the shell after 24 hours I will make a small air hole right in the center of the air space you can see when candling. Once you make the air hole they have oxygen and then I will give them another 24 hours to see if they do anything. If not I will start assisting them out by peeling away shell. There is a great article here on BYC about assisted hatching and it will tell you the dos & don'ts, lots of pictures as well. It is about chickens, but everything is pretty much the same.


PS. Not a stupid question at all.