Sulmtalers Thread

[Extra Java]

FUN! Sulmtaler hatch-a-long.
42 in the incubator - hatch day December 11.

 

[Bama1]

We do have a Sulmtaler hatch-a-long! I'm setting at least 12 eggs weekly, hatching every Monday! Two of my pullets have laid every day for the past three days!!! The others are still laying every other day.

 

[DCchicken]

I am having trouble with getting the eggs to lose the required amount of weight (I do weight tracking instead of the aircell thing). I have lowered the humidity to 42% but I am afraid that I am going to have to go lower. Are the shells on Sulmtaler eggs just really thick or what?

BTW I love my RCom 20 Pro incubator. It is so easy to adjust the humidity on it. And I love that you don't have to open the incubator to add water. Plus you can write your own hatching program for each type of bird.

We need a theme song for the hatch-a-long.

 

[Bama1]

I am having trouble with getting the eggs to lose the required amount of weight (I do weight tracking instead of the aircell thing).  I have lowered the humidity to 42% but I am afraid that I am going to have to go lower.  Are the shells on Sulmtaler eggs just really thick or what?

BTW I love my RCom 20 Pro incubator.  It is so easy to adjust the humidity on it.  And I love that you don't have to open the incubator to add water.  Plus you can write your own hatching program for each type of bird.

We need a theme song for the hatch-a-long.

I am in Alabama, so temp, room humidity etc will be different, but what I do is day 0-16 room humidity (30-40% here in Alabama). Day 17 up to 50% humidity. When first pip, up it to 62-65% humidity, and after the first one hatches the humidity raises itself to around 70% for the remainder of the hatch. I use a hovabator with fan and have had excellent Sulmtaler hatches using this method. And my Sulmtaler shells are fairly thick compared to my legbars and barnevelders! Also, my Sulmtaler chicks seem remarkably HUGE to be in such a small to medium size egg. Best of luck!

 

[DCchicken]

I am in Alabama, so temp, room humidity etc will be different, but what I do is day 0-16 room humidity (30-40% here in Alabama). Day 17 up to 50% humidity. When first pip, up it to 62-65% humidity, and after the first one hatches the humidity raises itself to around 70% for the remainder of the hatch. I use a hovabator with fan and have had excellent Sulmtaler hatches using this method. And my Sulmtaler shells are fairly thick compared to my legbars and barnevelders! Also, my Sulmtaler chicks seem remarkably HUGE to be in such a small to medium size egg. Best of luck!

I guess I am just a little worried about going to low on the humidity. I live near the Chesapeake Bay. That snow that the rest of the country got hit the warm waters of the Chesapeake and turned into non-stop rain (freezing rain to make it worse). The sump pumps in the basement are pouring out water like they are Niagra Falls. I have never had this trouble getting eggs to get to the appropriate weight for hatching.

 

[Extra Java]

It all depends on your location, weather and incubator.

I know several breeders who dry hatch ~17% up until lockdown.

Key is to watch the air cells and experiment until you find what works for you.
Humidity is easier to tinker with than temperature.

 

[lalaland]

I've noticed the sulmtaler pullets have absolutely no hawk sense - when the roosters call the hawk warning, everyone runs and hides, or freezes in place, but the sulmtalers just go about their business.

Has anyone else noticed this? I have a fairly secure run with hawk fencing as a roof, but there are a few areas open to the skies, and of course, the sulmtalers like to perch on the gate just to make it easier for the hawks.

am wondering if this is a breed trait or not...

 

[DCchicken]

Thanks for the air cell info but I can't candle to save my life. I use the weight loss method.

 

[Arielle]

I am one of those that uses the dry method. THe last group of eggs had about19% humidity for a good size air cell-- temp ran a little low the last week so waiting to see if this egg will hatch. THe weight method works just as well. I alter the humidity to get the air cell size I need-- it varies at different times of the year as we use a wood stove.

 

[bayocum]

Here in California, we typically run our eggs at about 45% humidity up to 18 days, and then at about 55% through to the end. We have had really excellent hatches using this method and our Genesis Hova-bator, which I can't say enough good things about. We hatch everything in the house most times of the year, which insures a reliable ambient temperature. I've noticed major fluctuations in table-top incubators, and for our money, the Genesis is the best bang for the buck. Not to say that there may not be better models out there, but in terms of value for the money, its hard to beat. When we first started with Bresse, we hatched 14 out of 15 eggs that were shipped from Greenfire (Florida) to us (California). We just followed the directions

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving.
Best,
Brice @ SF