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

[Beekissed]

This is so exciting and I'll be following your journey. One comment/observation: the hen puts very little weight on the eggs. She squats with them positioned between her legs. Maybe add the weight to two sides and it will pull the middle down a bit? Hope it all works out!

I don't know that a hen could squat effectively for 21 days on a large hatch...when I've had to lift one up I've had to exert some force to get her off the eggs, so I'm thinking a 2 lb Bible on top of the thick padded pillow won't exert too much pressure on the eggs. What do you think....2 lbs too much? My broody hen is a good 8 lbs of bird.

 

[enola]

1/2 a degree won't matter that much. 2 pounds sounds like a banty broody.

 

[blucoondawg]

I would consider this method a still air incubation, I thought the 99.5 was for a fan incubator and it was recommended to go a little higher for a still air setup? I wouldn't worry if your temp gets a little higher, even 101 or 102. I have a batch going now in a forced air unit and from the thermometer I have it has been fluctuating from 99 ish to 101 ish, hopefully all will be ok.

 

[Beekissed]

1/2 a degree won't matter that much. 2 pounds sounds like a banty broody.

Are you guys able to keep it exactly on 99.5 in your incubators?

 

[Beekissed]

I would consider this method a still air incubation, I thought the 99.5 was for a fan incubator and it was recommended to go a little higher for a still air setup? I wouldn't worry if your temp gets a little higher, even 101 or 102. I have a batch going now in a forced air unit and from the thermometer I have it has been fluctuating from 99 ish to 101 ish, hopefully all will be ok.

That's a comfort! What is the desired temp in a still air setup? I read it once but didn't remember it....I've read so much it's like information overload!

 

[enola]

My LG stays at 99º to 100º. My hatches have been good.

 

[Beekissed]

My LG stays at 99º to 100º. My hatches have been good.

Enola, what's your usual hatch rate?

 

[enola]

I don't keep "real" records but would not be afraid to say 80% or better last year using a 5 year old rooster.

 

[Beekissed]

I don't keep "real" records but would not be afraid to say 80% or better last year using a 5 year old rooster.

That gives me some relief...this rooster I am using isn't real vigorous or manly, though I've seen him breeding a time or two, so I know he's breeding and I've seen some fertile eggs in the frying pan. He doesn't even have spurs or is crowing yet! Don't know his age but I'm thinking maybe 5 months.

 

[blucoondawg]

Murray McMurray hatchery website has egg hatching tips in their Frequently Asked Question section, they recommend 99 3/4 degrees for a fan bator and 1 to 3 degrees higher in a still air so you would be looking at anywhere from 100 3/4 to 102 3/4. I am keeping my temp in the 99 to 101 degree range easily with my setup if it has went a little higher or lower for a few minutes I am not going to worry about it. The way I see it a chicken's body temp is higher than 99.5 anyways and a hen will get off the nest from time to time anyways so I don't think a little variation will hurt, also I am sure hens, like humans, don't all have exactly the same body temp. I am far from expert as this is my first hatch with my first incubator, I will see how my results are and if my reasoning is any good, LOL.