October Hatch-A-Long 2017

[Peep_Show]

I'm in Northern Utah. It's considered high desert, super dry, with elevation
about 4300'. Not as bad as CO but it definitely factors into hatching.

I'm in the Albuquerque area at 5000'
Probably best to buy eggs at or above in elevation, but haven't found any breeders of what I want in CO (which would be higher than here.) So I've bought at about 2500' lower in elevation and so far so good. When I was living at 2500' I found it very easy to hatch sea-level laid eggs, so hoping the math translates the same.

The other alternative to get what I'd like would be chicks...but where's the hatch fun in that?

 

[Stuckinlove]

So exciting to see some babies!! All of my eggs are still growing strong however my daughter went to check them last night and ended up putting a little metal rod through one of them (it is the turning mechanism that is attached to the lid). I realized this about an hour later when I went to check on the eggs. The chick was still moving inside so I taped the hole but I'm sure it will die today So I am down to 11 out of 12.
Here are the most recent candling pics from yesterday (day 9)

I am going to take a break from candling for days 10-14 because that was recommended to me. So just waiting...

 

[Crooked Chicken]

I ended up with 9 chicks. Low hatch rate in general but for shipped eggs hatched at high elevation I'm happy. 2 Marans and 7 bantams! They are all adorable. I love the mixed colors of a the bantams. Beautiful chicks. I'm hoping for at least 1 friendly broody hen out of the lot.

So cute!

What elevation are you at?

I'm in Northern Utah. It's considered high desert, super dry, with elevation
about 4300'. Not as bad as CO but it definitely factors into hatching.

I'm in the Albuquerque area at 5000'
Probably best to buy eggs at or above in elevation, but haven't found any breeders of what I want in CO (which would be higher than here.) So I've bought at about 2500' lower in elevation and so far so good. When I was living at 2500' I found it very easy to hatch sea-level laid eggs, so hoping the math translates the same.
The other alternative to get what I'd like would be chicks...but where's the hatch fun in that?

Wow, you're pretty high. I am low at 816' elevation.

How does elevation affect incubating. Does temperature or humidity need further adjustment at higher altitudes?

So exciting to see some babies!! All of my eggs are still growing strong however my daughter went to check them last night and ended up putting a little metal rod through one of them (it is the turning mechanism that is attached to the lid). I realized this about an hour later when I went to check on the eggs. The chick was still moving inside so I taped the hole but I'm sure it will die today So I am down to 11 out of 12.
Here are the most recent candling pics from yesterday (day 9)
View attachment 1159444 View attachment 1159445 View attachment 1159446
I am going to take a break from candling for days 10-14 because that was recommended to me. So just waiting...

Great photos! I sure wish I could see that well inside my eggs. Maybe next time.

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

Yes, incubating at altitude definitely had it's peculiarities. It has to do with the porousness of the egg, air press, less oxygen. Hens will alter their egg shells so they're ideal for hatching at their location. Most hatcheries and sellers seem to be at the sea level or lower altitudes which puts hobby hatches at altitude at a disadvantage.

Hope that helps a little bit. I'm very mich still learning myself.

 

[Poultrybreeder]

Lock-Down started today for my one remaining egg. I put it off by a day, because the egg didn't apprear to be developing correctly, have to wait and see!

 

[JudysMuscovy]

I am on day 12 with 4 silkie eggs and 6 leg bar eggs and my silkie hen is on day 15 on two silkie eggs. My silkie's eggs are easy to see but cannot see the blue eggs hope they are doing ok

 

[Peep_Show]

Yes, incubating at altitude definitely had it's peculiarities. It has to do with the porousness of the egg, air press, less oxygen. Hens will alter their egg shells so they're ideal for hatching at their location. Most hatcheries and sellers seem to be at the sea level or lower altitudes which puts hobby hatches at altitude at a disadvantage.

Hope that helps a little bit. I'm very mich still learning myself.

And if you're wanting to hatch a sea-level Marans up high, well, that extra brown coating really stifles the oxygen airflow. Too, the tricky thing is also humidity at a higher elevation. The humidity does the same thing and can inhibit the airflow.

Sadly, all my hatched Marans thus far have shown extreme oxygen deprivation. I'm hoping for a different outcome with this new batch from a higher elevation.

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

I can't believe it. Somehow I miscounted. I have 2 Marans and 8 bantams. Not 7 like I previously posted.

Sadly, all my hatched Marans thus far have shown extreme oxygen deprivation. I'm hoping for a different outcome with this new batch from a higher elevation.

Whoa, I've never heard of that. What are you observing in your birds? At what age are the signs obvious? Thanks.

 

[Peep_Show]

At hatch. Most died just pre-hatch, perfectly formed in the shell and they just stopped. Of the ones that did hatch I had to cull the chick because neurologically it couldn't function: No standing or head lifting, just severely retarded. (And, yes, I did use Polyvisol and other chick remedies.) Another one was blind. This was from incubating sea-level dark-coated eggs (or slightly above) at 5000'

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

Wow. Well that makes the 2 I just hatched that much more special. They look perfect