Pheasant egg questions.... UPDATE! Hatching!!

[Kathryn4629]

Ok where to start....

Today I noticed a dead female pheasant in the road next to my driveway, was not there yesterday. While burning the ditch I found a nest with 14 eggs in it.. There were feathers everywhere around the nest, so I think something killed the female during the night and drug her out into the road.. Three of the eggs were cracked, so I opened them up and they were just barely starting to vein.

So I have 11 eggs in the incubator: I set the temp at 99.5 and am working on the humidity.

What should the humidity be at during incubation?
Do I up the humidity during the hatch like chickens?
Can I use the auto turner? It would be great if I could since I have to leave for 7 days in about a week.
What do the chicks eat?
Do they need special supplements?

If I can get them to hatch I plan on releasing them back to the wild.

Helpful tips and tricks would be great!! In exchange I will keep you all updated on if they hatch or not

Thank you soooo much!!
Kathryn

 

[Riffecreek]

50-60% humidity is fine.. up it a little at the end and hatch them standing on end! they need 28%+ protein gamebird starter and an auto turner is fine
Keep them under a red light during the brooding stage and give them plenty of space and you should be fine.

The only problem I see is that the eggs might of been chilled to the point of 0 hatch rate, but never hurts to try!

 

[Kathryn4629]

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Thank you!

Yes I have been thinking that they might have gotten to chilly last night. But at least it was a very warm night for us, my thermometer says it only got down to 48 degrees. So I guess I will keep my fingers crossed.

Is it possible to candle them in about 10 days? To check for development.

 

[PortugalBreeder]

I want to know the news on that situation!

 

[Dogfish]

You should be able to see development over time by candling. Wait a few more days and you will either see blood rings (bad) or a developing embyo. 24 days for me on my ringnecks. If the veins were just starting, call it 4-6 days. Stop turning them 15 or 16 days from now. I've had them hatch in the turner, while turning. Hopefully you'll have a surprise hatch.

 

[Kathryn4629]

UPDATE!!!

They are hatching!!! woo hooo!!!

Of course I am out of town and luckily my Mom is house sitting for me. She called this morning and said there is one chick out and 5 more are pipped.

Thats 6/11 showing activity. Not so shabby.

Question: Do I have her set up the brooder just like you would for chickens? Recommended temp? What kind of chick food do they need? Anything else I need to know?

I will update with pictures as soon as my Mom e-mails them to me. Oh gosh I want to be home NOW!

 

[Tony K T]

Yes they have to be in a brooder after they dry off.The tenp has to be 95 for the 1st week then drop 5 degrees a week for the next 4 weeks and they should be ok without heat.Gamebird un medicated crumbles are what I feed mine.You do not want layer mash for these guys.Give them vitamins and electrolytes in their water supply once a week until they are feather out.
Good luck.In N.H.,Tony.
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[Yvonne37894]

Congradulaions !!!!

That is so kool that you did this.

 

[Kathryn4629]

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Thank you so much for the info it was just what I needed. I ended up have my Mom use some alfalfa for bedding in the brooder. She said they seem to like hiding in it.

Oh and there are currently 6 chicks out and no other movement from the other eggs yet. I wonder how long I should have her wait to give up on the other eggs?