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

[Lacy Blues]

Bee, I think perhaps a lot of people count the viable eggs. But the best way is to count what you start with. That will include notes (at least to yourself) on fertility of the rooster... or at least who his least favorite hen is.

 

[Beekissed]

The reasons I want to try Crested Cream Legbars:
1 - they are great layers, right up there with leghorns
2 - they lay blue eggs
3 - efficient feed conversion, small hens large eggs
4 - chicks are auto-sexing, sexable at birth

I don't mind that the roosters don't get much size to them before crowing. Mike can boil them and make a casserole, not try to fry them.

They sound wonderful! Wouldn't mind having a few of those myself!

Will you post pics of the chicks when they come? I'd love to see them and also see how you like them down the road. I know there are many folks out there getting into this new cross and I'm wondering how long before it is an actual breed on the registry...or is it already?

 

[Beekissed]

Bee, I think perhaps a lot of people count the viable eggs. But the best way is to count what you start with. That will include notes (at least to yourself) on fertility of the rooster... or at least who his least favorite hen is.

That's what I was thinking, that most folks just count viable eggs, because when you read further about incubation and how many are actually weeded out when candling, then folks report high hatch rates and it can be confusing.

 

[enola]

Hatching percentages are based on the number of eggs put in the incubator and the number of chicks that hatch.

For example if you put 20 eggs in the incubator and then later remove 4 of them (for what ever reason) you will have a 80% hatch rate.

 

[Beekissed]

Hatching percentages are based on the number of eggs put in the incubator and the number of chicks that hatch.

For example if you put 20 eggs in the incubator and then later remove 4 of them (for what ever reason) you will have a 80% hatch rate.

That would explain it when folks say they get a lower hatch rate from shipped eggs and this had left me wondering why if they were going on only the viable, hatchable eggs.

 

[Beekissed]

Had turned down the heating pad to #2 to get temps down from 102 to 100 but it didn't seem to work yet, so I put a piece of felt between the heating pad and the eggs and it has dropped it down to 100* now. I wanted to utilize the felt instead of turning down the control once more because that is my bottom limit of control and I have a feeling I'll need to use that one around Day 13.

The felt is working well, then, at this time. Glad I just happened to have some around but I'm thinking the same thing could be accomplished by using a thick washcloth if one does not happen to have a piece of felt.

 

[fisherlady]

Had turned down the heating pad to #2 to get temps down from 102 to 100 but it didn't seem to work yet, so I put a piece of felt between the heating pad and the eggs and it has dropped it down to 100* now. I wanted to utilize the felt instead of turning down the control once more because that is my bottom limit of control and I have a feeling I'll need to use that one around Day 13.

The felt is working well, then, at this time. Glad I just happened to have some around but I'm thinking the same thing could be accomplished by using a thick washcloth if one does not happen to have a piece of felt.

Bee, my broodies get off of the nest for about a 10 minute break at least once a day, this leaves the eggs exposed to ambient air temps for a while, and when they get back in they tend to touch each egg with their beak or cheek and then rearrange them before settling back down. It may be part of their method of temperature control. If you are having temp spikes at the same time each day, or near the same time it may be part of the natural circadian cycle and perhaps it is when the hen gets up for her daily break? Have you tried leaving the eggs uncovered for a short time during the day or are they only uncovered when you are candling them?

 

[Beekissed]

Bee, my broodies get off of the nest for about a 10 minute break at least once a day, this leaves the eggs exposed to ambient air temps for a while, and when they get back in they tend to touch each egg with their beak or cheek and then rearrange them before settling back down. It may be part of their method of temperature control. If you are having temp spikes at the same time each day, or near the same time it may be part of the natural circadian cycle and perhaps it is when the hen gets up for her daily break? Have you tried leaving the eggs uncovered for a short time during the day or are they only uncovered when you are candling them?

This just started today, so it's not a cyclic thing that I know of....yet. Each day I set the timer and leave them open to air for 15-20 min. on the mid-day turning, usually, but sometimes I'll leave it open a little in the morning also while I'm brushing my teeth, etc.

The felt didn't work, so I went ahead and turned it down to #1 on the controls and will monitor it there. If they need tweaked down from there I'll try more insulation between the heat source and the eggs. It's a warm day out and it's mildly warm in the room, but I have the window open to allow for air flow and the air itself is pretty cool.

I'll try to see if these spikes have a rhythm to them and report here on it.

 

[Lacy Blues]

This just started today, so it's not a cyclic thing that I know of....yet. Each day I set the timer and leave them open to air for 15-20 min. on the mid-day turning, usually, but sometimes I'll leave it open a little in the morning also while I'm brushing my teeth, etc.

The felt didn't work, so I went ahead and turned it down to #1 on the controls and will monitor it there. If they need tweaked down from there I'll try more insulation between the heat source and the eggs. It's a warm day out and it's mildly warm in the room, but I have the window open to allow for air flow and the air itself is pretty cool.

I'll try to see if these spikes have a rhythm to them and report here on it.

Maybe use your feather filled pad that you used before?

 

[enola]

I leave my incubator open every morning while my coffee perks. Seems to work really well for my hatches. But starting with this month's hatches, I am going to count and get precise percentages for hatch rates. I think I am hatching around 90%, so we will see.

I do know that my Araucana rooster is doing his job now. So, when my hens get to full laying capacity, I will fill the incubators again.