Peafowl for 2013

[frenchblackcopper]

Peach,Cameo,Taupe

 

[kuntrygirl]

What determines when pea hens lay eggs? Is it the weather like some birds? Is it age? Can anyone enlighten us?

 

[kathye]

How long do you wait to take an egg from the incubator if it doesn't hatch? I want to allow them a few days, but my husband thinks I should just keep them awhile longer like a week or more. I worry bacteria will hurt the other eggs trying to hatch.

 

[frenchblackcopper]

I add eggs to my bator twice each week and after it gets full I candle them at 5 days to make room for new ones. If they're not fertile they are wasting space here and I need the space but it's rather pointless to keep them shaking and baking if they're no good

 

[mustangkid]

Kuntrygirl - When a hen lays eggs depends on a few things, most hens will lay the year they turn 2. That being said I have heard of hens that where early hatch from some of our real southern states that have layed late the first year. I have had hens that hatched in late Sept. and did not lay until there 3rd summer (2.5 YRs). Other things like the conditions ( health ) of the hens, where you are in relation to amount of sun light per day, how warm the nights are ect effect when they lay . Hens will start to lay and if iget real cold or stormy they can stop laying for a few days or even a week or two. I know people in states like Fl, GR, Tx, are getting eggs now, up in the northern states I don't expect eggs until Mid May/ Early June for some pens. I have had hens lay the middle of Sept. and have the eggs hatch.

 

[kathye]

Frenchblackcopper, thanks for the reply. In the incubator w/turner they candled fine, but when placed in the hatching incubator without turner they sometimes simply do not hatch within a few days of the 28th day. Is 30 days long enough to give them a chance to see if they will hatch then remove them?

 

[frenchblackcopper]

All my eggs hatch on the 24th day,,,if I hear peeping inside the egg at 24 days I give them another day to see if they pip,If they don't have the energy to pip chances are they would be too weak to work themselves out of the egg anyways. 30 days is still 6 days longer than needed but if you have the space only thing it may hurt is if one is rotten and explodes.

 

[kathye]

24days wow! I didn't know they would come that early. When do you stop turning? I am going by a chart I found online that says stop turning at 26days. Hatch has not been as good as hoped that's why I came to the experts here today. Thanks for the information.

 

[casportpony]

24days wow! I didn't know they would come that early. When do you stop turning? I am going by a chart I found online that says stop turning at 26days. Hatch has not been as good as hoped that's why I came to the experts here today. Thanks for the information.

I'm still quite new at this, but the four eggs I had under Turkey Mama last year hatched in 26 days. Just got an incubator today, so I'm on an all new learning curve and will be asking lots of questions.

 

[frenchblackcopper]

I take eggs out of rotating trays 2-3 days before they hatch.