Time-lapse Thread Showing Key Steps in Hen-hatching

[aart]

To be expected as she had 15 embryos in incubator and two hatched as of this morning.

So you had been collecting her eggs to put in bator?
She laid so many and now is 'done' having produced a clutch?
Or maybe stress from being in new pen stopped her laying?

 

[centrarchid]

So you had been collecting her eggs to put in bator?
She laid so many and now is 'done' having produced a clutch?
Or maybe stress from being in new pen stopped her laying?

Hen was under another cock until about 2 weeks ago. Eggs were collected from that pairing because of low temperatures (23 F) at night while she was not incubating. She produced 18 eggs during that interval and went broody for about 36 hours before giving up. Those embryos were placed in incubators, two set dates, with latter batch 8 days into incubation last Saturday and first yielding 2 chicks. I assumed incorrectly this time with this hen, that 10 days was long enough refractory period to build back up reserves needed to produce a second clutch. Sperm in her tract not an issue because of genetic marker allowing detection of offspring from first rooster based on down coloration and second cock's sperm would swamp the first cocks sperm.

The stress is not from the second (current) cock, rather is was from the sustained period of lay previously with possible interaction with other issues. These are games, not leghorns, so only so many eggs can be produced before a resting period must be realized.

 

[centrarchid]

Just about to restart. Had to purchase another rubber 15-gallon feeding bowl. One camera will be on each nest with photographs taken at > 5 minute intervals.

 

[centrarchid]

Having to work out a few kinks. Starting to betray I have more investment than my game fowl buddies think I have.

55-gal serving as base.

Rubber tub purchased for project.

Tub placed to plug opening of barrel.

Completed nest sites ready to begin.

Cameras in place above nest sites.

 

[centrarchid]

Note rooster in multiple images. Not staged. He had to check everything out jumping up and in. If he had to, then he would fly up to my shoulder to get a better view. The behavior is seasonal.

 

[centrarchid]

Spur issue largely solved. Point part removed. Not as would be done for fighting but will make hens happier.

 

[aart]

Dremel cutoff wheel?
Blood stop powder?
How long did it bleed?

 

[centrarchid]

Fiskar brand cutter like used in gardening. Not suitable for cuts closer to base. Bleeding minimal as in a few drops per spur. Flow stopped before I could take picture. No powder used to suppress bleeding. That only used when dubbing and not always then. Bird and fish blood clot very quickly.

 

[centrarchid]

Now have 11 eggs in the nest closest to door. As far as I can tell only one hen depositing eggs. Should be able to get a handle on timing and which hen is laying. Broodiness can happen any day now.

 

[centrarchid]

At 15 eggs. May have cuckoldery going on.