Simulated Natural Nest Incubation~Experiment #1 So it begins....

[Tumbleweed Farm]

Isn't that amazing? I wonder why they shrink wrap in an incubator but don't out in the open air? Whatever the reason, I'm going to try it this time if I am there when they are pipping and zipping to see if it works in my nest too. I can't do any worse than I did last time, that's for sure!

Doesn't make sense, doesn't it?! Bee, I've hatched upwards of 250 chicks, I've never had a shrink wrap, I don't get it. In the beginning I drowned a few with way to high humidity

have since lowered way down--I don't go over 65% for "lockdown" whatever in the heck that is and I don't up humidity until I get a pip. I think far too many folks lose their babies too high humidity rather than to low. I also take my babies out at hatch, I also open the incubator and hold the lid off for a minute or so (when pips are present) to get more air in. I will say I have high hatch rates, 100% with my own and 0-50% with shipped. But, if an egg makes it to lockdown I nearly always (85%) get a chick. So mysterious.

 

[AmyPaperlady]

Isn't that amazing? I wonder why they shrink wrap in an incubator but don't out in the open air? Whatever the reason, I'm going to try it this time if I am there when they are pipping and zipping to see if it works in my nest too. I can't do any worse than I did last time, that's for sure!

Not as warm in the open air as it is in an incubator... Maybe that has something to do with it?

 

[Tumbleweed Farm]

Quote: Thant could be Amy.

 

[aart]

Quote: That is fascinating!

 

[TexasLisa]

Here are my 2 new babies and Luke.

Absolutely adorable! Nice to see I am not the only sitting with the chicks!

Lisa

 

[Lacy Blues]

Speaking of broodies... I have one, she brooded for me last year. She's broody now too. She is a fantastic mama!

Last year she sat for probably a couple weeks on duds and I finally gave in and let her hatch some. Well, for whatever reason, only one of them hatched. A few weeks later, my daughter had a lone chick hatch so I took a chance and brought the chick to her. She accepted it without a problem. Low and behold, another two weeks later (a full six weeks plus since her first single chick hatched) another chick was a lone chick. I could tell by the way the mama had been acting that she was just about done being a mama... but again, I took a chance and showed her the new chick. She wanted it so I put it down and she pulled it underneath her and though she was almost finished being a mama for the year, she mothered this little guy until he was fully feathered and about 5 weeks old before she started getting after him because he was a boy. It seems the hens will drive the cockerels away before the pullets. So, this little guy's big sister was still in with him and I took the mama out. The big sister stayed with him, keeping him company and sleeping next to him on the perch for a few more weeks and then she started getting after him when she was about 4 months old so I took her out and now he is a big boy and wants out with the girls.

 

[Tumbleweed Farm]

Speaking of broodies... I have one, she brooded for me last year. She's broody now too. She is a fantastic mama!

Last year she sat for probably a couple weeks on duds and I finally gave in and let her hatch some. Well, for whatever reason, only one of them hatched. A few weeks later, my daughter had a lone chick hatch so I took a chance and brought the chick to her. She accepted it without a problem. Low and behold, another two weeks later (a full six weeks plus since her first single chick hatched) another chick was a lone chick. I could tell by the way the mama had been acting that she was just about done being a mama... but again, I took a chance and showed her the new chick. She wanted it so I put it down and she pulled it underneath her and though she was almost finished being a mama for the year, she mothered this little guy until he was fully feathered and about 5 weeks old before she started getting after him because he was a boy. It seems the hens will drive the cockerels away before the pullets. So, this little guy's big sister was still in with him and I took the mama out. The big sister stayed with him, keeping him company and sleeping next to him on the perch for a few more weeks and then she started getting after him when she was about 4 months old so I took her out and now he is a big boy and wants out with the girls.

How cute!

 

[foxvalleyfarm]

  Absolutely adorable!  Nice to see I am not the only sitting with the chicks!

Lisa

Ha these guys live in my living room and run around the while house

 

[Lacy Blues]

In case anybody wants to see, I did an assisted hatch... I know I know. I say not to do it. But this egg was bought and paid for... $35 to ship 16 eggs to me and this is the only one that grew and made it to hatch day.

Believe me, if this had been one of my own eggs that hadn't traveled anywhere, I would not do this. The only reason I did it was because it was a shipped egg.

It's kinda cool, if I do say so myself. Take a peek at the link in my signature. A different approach to assisted hatch.

 

[foxvalleyfarm]

I wanna see