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

[AmericanMom]

Here is my version of an Unnatural incubation method... Long story short, I had a few eggs in an incubator that was four days behind the eggs my broody was sitting. I was able to get some turkey eggs and needed the incubator for them so I moved 5 of the incubator eggs under the broody and hoped she could get them to catch up.. Well she didn't and Saturday her eggs started hatching, out of the 5 she was sitting 4 hatched by early Sunday morning.. I knew she would leave the nest eventually and I was going to be away from my house all day Monday and Tuesday so I made the decision to move the 5 late comers into the house, below is the crude set up I devised on the fly... Much to my amazement I have been able to keep the temp pretty steady at between 98-101 degrees and when I candled the eggs this morning 2 of them have internally pipped!!! BTW.. I removed two eggs, One that she was sitting had died before pipping and one that was in the incubator looked to be an early quitter.. So now we have these four.. I have no way of measuring the humidity or of even raising it so these eggs will or will not hatch, I am just amazed they have made it this far!!

Update... I have worried about the humidity, I know I said it will be what it is, but I decided to try and figure out how I can get them alittle humidity so they wouldn't shrink wrap, I mean they got this far

... I moved the whole operation to the master bathroom, Turned on the shower to steam it up a bit, plugged in the humidifier and put the eggs and heat lamp in there... Waiting for the tester to show me where I am at with the humidity , don't really expect an outer pip til later this evening but at least now they have a bit of moister.. The humidity in the living room where they were measured at 28% ( I borrowed the tester from the incubator)... way to low MHO

 

[aart]

I wonder what would happen if you could put a clear piece of plastic over most the box, leaving some open for air, would the light still heat up the box?
Then maybe put a damp sponge inside?

Best of Luck!

 

[AmericanMom]

I wonder what would happen if you could put a clear piece of plastic over most the box, leaving some open for air, would the light still heat up the box?
Then maybe put a damp sponge inside?

Best of Luck!

I took the Temp/Humidity gauge out of one of the incubators (its got a fan and has ran steady at 100 degree's for two days now) As we speak, the temp on the un natural incubator is 99 and the humidity is 49....I'm comfortable with it, if I need to raise it I can turn on the shower lol

My mother who lives in Oklahoma calls for daily updates...She was so excited that two have internal pips.. I try hard to remind her that a pip is not a hatch and a hatch isn't a live healthy chick.. She said if they hatch we should call them Holy chicks...lol...I told her if one hatches I might accidently say it the other way lol

 

[fisherlady]

Quote:
Hoping all goes well for them... sounds like you have a good handle on the humidity for what you are faced with, a sponge or washcloth in the box may increase it slightly even without covering it but unless you have a shrink wrapped first hatch I wouldn't change what is already working.

 

[AmericanMom]

Hoping all goes well for them... sounds like you have a good handle on the humidity for what you are faced with, a sponge or washcloth in the box may increase it slightly even without covering it but unless you have a shrink wrapped first hatch I wouldn't change what is already working.

I am running back and forth making sure I don't get the temperature to high...The Humidity is now at 60% with just the little humidifier !!!!! Now to devise a way to keep it there, may keep the door open here and there if it keeps climbing.. Its right where I want it..

 

[foxvalleyfarm]

I am running back and forth making sure I don't get the temperature to high...The Humidity is now at 60% with just the little humidifier !!!!!   Now to devise a way to keep it there, may keep the door open here and there if it keeps climbing.. Its right where I want it..

Sounds like you are doing great. My humidity for my hatch last week was 55% until the first pip then it jumped and stayed till I removed the last baby.

On more good news I moved my 2 ducks and 1 goose to the hatcher Monday morning and last night the goose had a big shadow in the air cell as it got into final position. Then this morning one duck did too. Little Opps probably won't have shadows since his air cell is on it's side instead of on to like it should be but he's moving like crazy in there.

 

[BCMaraniac]

I am running back and forth making sure I don't get the temperature to high...The Humidity is now at 60% with just the little humidifier !!!!! Now to devise a way to keep it there, may keep the door open here and there if it keeps climbing.. Its right where I want it..

Keep up the good work....a great idea, BTW! Are you in lockdown?

 

[AmericanMom]

Sounds like you are doing great. My humidity for my hatch last week was 55% until the first pip then it jumped and stayed till I removed the last baby.

On more good news I moved my 2 ducks and 1 goose to the hatcher Monday morning and last night the goose had a big shadow in the air cell as it got into final position. Then this morning one duck did too. Little Opps probably won't have shadows since his air cell is on it's side instead of on to like it should be but he's moving like crazy in there.

That's so exciting!!!! Good luck!! Pics are a must

 

[foxvalleyfarm]

That's so exciting!!!!  Good luck!! Pics are a must

Here they are in lockdown in the hatcher.

Opps is in the egg carton.

And the goose

Can you see the shadow?

 

[AmericanMom]

Here they are in lockdown in the hatcher.

Opps is in the egg carton.

And the goose

Can you see the shadow?

Yes, I can see the shadow!!! I love this part....So freaking nerve wracking tho!!!