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

[AmyPaperlady]

I never hatch upright. I incubate upright, but I lay the eggs down on their sides to hatch. Interesting, there have been studies done that show that the chance of some malpositions is actually higher when they are incubated in the traditional horizontal position as opposed to vertical. Kind of weird, right?

Well, actually, when you consider how many (chicken) generations people have been incubating eggs in a vertical position...

Not that I'd thought of that until just now (and probably wouldn't've thought of it now if the link to the contact incubator didn't mention how poultry have been self-selecting for hatching well in incubators).

 

[Lacy Blues]

That is probably because their body/butts are heavier than their heads. I did notice that in my last hatch. My turner had burned out so I had to finish the incubation period with them on their sides, it didn't help that they were two weeks into their incubation before I figured out that the turner wasn't turning! I had several chicks that were either upside down, completely sideways or just had their heads pointing to the bottom of the egg. A few were stuck to the egg's inner membrane.

 

[subhanalah]

All of mine seem like the embryo is attached to the air cell...is that normal/okay? Is it a bad sign? Everything I see says that they normally attach against the side?

 

[AandAranch]

Interesting.  Just saw this on another thread.  Brinsea developed a contact incubator to mimic a broody hen.  Bee, yours is about $5,980 cheaper! 

http://www.brinsea.com/products/cit1.html

They mention some studies on broody nests.

That is incredibly AWESOME. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to have one of those. But yikes! That price is pretty steep.

 

[Beekissed]

Interesting. Just saw this on another thread. Brinsea developed a contact incubator to mimic a broody hen. Bee, yours is about $5,980 cheaper!

http://www.brinsea.com/products/cit1.html

They mention some studies on broody nests.

Someone would really, really, REALLY be needing to hatch something to invest that much moola. What they said about the eggs being heated from above and the bottom of the eggs being up to 10 degrees different has been evidenced in these nests of mine...when internal egg temps are at 99.5-100.5 the surface heat is 107.0-108.0. The bottom of the nest is cool to pee warm and when I turn the eggs you can feel those temp differences. That the random~or not so random, according to research~shuffle and turning of the eggs by the broody and her getting off the nest to let them cool at times creates a better hatch rate is no surprise to me.

I truly think if I had a clutch of viable eggs, this nesting incubation would prove to be a method with a high hatch rate

 

[Lacy Blues]

All of mine seem like the embryo is attached to the air cell...is that normal/okay? Is it a bad sign? Everything I see says that they normally attach against the side?

I think when they're being hatched upright, that do tend to start growing up at the top. At least I think that's what I remember from last year when my turner actually worked. Now, starting them laying down, the embryo seems to be lower in the egg. Its probably a case of which area is warmest.

 

[Lacy Blues]

Someone would really, really, REALLY be needing to hatch something to invest that much moola. What they said about the eggs being heated from above and the bottom of the eggs being up to 10 degrees different has been evidenced in these nests of mine...when internal egg temps are at 99.5-100.5 the surface heat is 107.0-108.0. The bottom of the nest is cool to pee warm and when I turn the eggs you can feel those temp differences. That the random~or not so random, according to research~shuffle and turning of the eggs by the broody and her getting off the nest to let them cool at times creates a better hatch rate is no surprise to me.

I truly think if I had a clutch of viable eggs, this nesting incubation would prove to be a method with a high hatch rate

Oh Bee! You're so funny! The things you think about and compare other things to!

 

[Lacy Blues]

Well, I got my two little babies put to bed tonight. I finally figured out how to put the heating pad in there and have everything work.

I had a strip of 1x3 lumber about 16" long, a wire oven rack from a toaster oven and a piece of 2x4 that was about 5" long. On the bottom edge, I used the 1x3 on its wide side and put some short screws in it to hold the little oven rack in place at the edge. At the other edge of the oven rack, I put the piece of 2x4 to hold the front up at an angle so that as these chicks grow, they can move forward to whatever their comfort range is. I put my heating pad on top of that and then on top of the heating pad, I put a gallon baggie with some rice in it for weight and I wrapped those two items in a plastic grocery bag from Walmart and taped it all shut. I'll be watching to see if they start to peck at the plastic... if so, I'll have to put something else on there but for now, this will work.

I was really amazed at how easily these two went to bed. Usually, when I turn the lights out, chicks cry and cry, calling to each other for a good 20 minutes. Makes me want to strangle ALL of them! But these babies were only afraid of the monstrosity that I put in their box with them. After they got over that, one jumped on top and investigated a bit and the smaller one joined him. Then I turned out their closest light and guided them underneath... they went without a hitch! Good little babies!

 

[subhanalah]

Well, I got my two little babies put to bed tonight.  I finally figured out how to put the heating pad in there and have everything work. 

I had a strip of 1x3 lumber about 16" long, a wire oven rack from a toaster oven and a piece of 2x4 that was about 5" long.  On the bottom edge, I used the 1x3 on its wide side and put some short screws in it to hold the little oven rack in place at the edge.  At the other edge of the oven rack, I put the piece of 2x4 to hold the front up at an angle so that as these chicks grow, they can move forward to whatever their comfort range is.  I put my heating pad on top of that and then on top of the heating pad, I put a gallon baggie with some rice in it for weight and I wrapped those two items in a plastic grocery bag from Walmart and taped it all shut.  I'll be watching to see if they start to peck at the plastic... if so, I'll have to put something else on there but for now, this will work.

I was really amazed at how easily these two went to bed.  Usually, when I turn the lights out, chicks cry and cry, calling to each other for a good 20 minutes.  Makes me want to strangle ALL of them!  But these babies were only afraid of the monstrosity that I put in their box with them.  After they got over that, one jumped on top and investigated a bit and the smaller one joined him.  Then I turned out their closest light and guided them underneath... they went without a hitch!  Good little babies!

how old are they? I may have to experiment with some oven racks for my next batch of chicks...heating pads I got...heat lamps not so much

 

[Lacy Blues]

how old are they? I may have to experiment with some oven racks for my next batch of chicks...heating pads I got...heat lamps not so much

About six days.