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

[Tomtommom]

That's awesome. My dh worked on my box and we now have an awesome hatcher!

See.

That looks great! Much more natural than the big styrofoam thing most folks use

 

[Tomtommom]

Love Love LOVE her... I took her off the hands of a lady last year that was tired of her broodiness and this is her first attempt for me... will know this weekend if it all works out.. Promised my oldest Grandson he could spend the weekend with us so he could see the new babies.

Isn't it just so funny how someone elses headache is our blessing?

 

[Beekissed]

That's awesome. My dh worked on my box and we now have an awesome hatcher!

See.

That looks so cozy!!! Okay...tell us what we are seeing....is the surface temps 91*? If so, what are the internal temps from your water wiggler? Using a light at an angle like that are you shuffling eggs towards the warmth are they pretty much all the same temps? Still using soil under it to hold humidity? Air flow....is that a piece of glass on top and if so, how are you doing air for this nest? What day are you on with those air cell marks? Almost ready to hatch?

for those that r interested - air cell growth - pencil marks r - day 7 ,day 14 - pic day 18

Thanks, Pete!

I think my air cells are right on track...not as big as the 7 day mark but are well on their way to getting there. I have one egg, though, that shows lovely development inside but the air cell is larger than all the rest...almost looks like 7 day air cell on a 5 day egg....what does that mean for this egg? There was one egg I included in this clutch that was older than the others by at least 7 days and I think this one might be it, so if it is, will it cause a difficulty for this chick, you think?

 

[AmericanMom]

Isn't it just so funny how someone elses headache is our blessing?

Exactly.... She has a lot of hens and sells her eggs, she didn't want another broody as she already has so many, this hen has been a wonderful addition to our flock and is one of the roosters favorite.. Time will tell if she will be a good mom, I am really hoping so!

 

[Beekissed]

Exactly.... She has a lot of hens and sells her eggs, she didn't want another broody as she already has so many, this hen has been a wonderful addition to our flock and is one of the roosters favorite.. Time will tell if she will be a good mom, I am really hoping so!

I'm going to try this whole tinfoil experiment on my flock and see if I can pop a broody before these chicks are hatched....anyone else want to try this? It sure would be cool to have a mama to brood these chicks for me.

 

[foxvalleyfarm]

...

That looks great! Much more natural than the big styrofoam thing most folks use
[/quote

Thank you.

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That looks so cozy!!!  Okay...tell us what we are seeing....is the surface temps 91*?  If so, what are the internal temps from your water wiggler?  Using a light at an angle like that are you shuffling eggs towards the warmth are they pretty much all the same temps?  Still using soil under it to hold humidity?  Air flow....is that a piece of glass on top and if so, how are you doing air for this nest?  What day are you on with those air cell marks?  Almost ready to hatch? 

I had just closed it. The temps hold around 99. I an shuffling then every now and then. Using the duet and towels for moisture. It's plexiglass and there are several pretty large holes in the sides of the box as well as the plexiglass doesn't fit all the way down on the box in some spots. My wiggle is rock solid at 100*. They are due Thursday!

 

[Beekissed]

That is wonderful!! I think we've really all stepped out of the box~ by going into a box, haven't we?

I'm so excited to see your hatch...please post pics and tell us how it went? Will you increase humidity now or is what you have now enough?

 

[AmericanMom]

I'm going to try this whole tinfoil experiment on my flock and see if I can pop a broody before these chicks are hatched....anyone else want to try this? It sure would be cool to have a mama to brood these chicks for me.

Tinfoil?? I must have missed something...............

 

[foxvalleyfarm]

That is wonderful!!  I think we've really all stepped out of the box~ by going into a box, haven't we?     I'm so excited to see your hatch...please post pics and tell us how it went?  Will you increase humidity now or is what you have now enough? 

Exactly. And of course I will. We are keeping it around 60%

 

[Beekissed]

Tinfoil?? I must have missed something...............

Just read about an experiment BYC did about using reflective tinfoil in the nest boxes and how it increased the broodiness of their hens by 48%, so, of course, I have got to try this.