What did I do wrong with my peafowl eggs?

[govega]

Hi all,

After having moderate success with hatching chicken eggs, I decided to try six peacock eggs given to me by my daughter's boyfriend, his family has about 11 peacocks male and female.

I used the Little Giant incubator, kept the humidity at about 60% and upped it as best I could when I stopped the eggs turning. That was about three days before planned hatching date... Nothing hatched on the planned date of hatching (August 29th) we kept them in for another week and when nothing happened my husband disposed of them but opened them to see what went on. Of the six, three were fully developed but did not make it.

I know a lot of things can happen but this is the third time I have had an unsuccessful hatch right at the end, when everything seems to be going fine before hand. What is the most likely cause for fully developed embryos not hatching? Humidity? Temps?

Thanks

Penny
(peacock-less in NJ)

 

[Pathfinders]

I will say here (as I've said elsewhere) that Little Giant units are (for me anyway) a complete waste of time. They are too hard to keep at the right humidity level, at the right heat, and for fragile/expensive eggs like peafowl, just aren't the best answer.

Is there someone near you with a Sportsman or other incubator (Brinsea, Dickie) who might hatch the eggs for you in the future?

 

[Paganbird]

I have had difficulty hatching peafowl even with a cabinet incubator. They are a lot touchier than chicken eggs. (My eggs were shipped, and that makes a difference, too.)
They are just more delicate eggs & need very constant temps and higher humidity. I wouldn't recommend using a styrofoam 'bator except maybe as a hatcher.

ETA: Also... if you should get peafowl to hatch, check out the UPA website. Peachicks need to be taught how to eat & drink. They are much more delicate than chicken chicks! Please read up on peafowl care if you decide to hatch them.

 

[govega]

I didn't realize that they were so hard to hatch! My dtr's boyfriend's peahens sat on and hatched the seven new peacocks they have, I guess nature may be best. I am glad I didn't order them at $40.00 an egg! Anyone know any good websites about hatching peafowl?

Penny

 

[Paganbird]

First start with the UPA website:
http://www.peafowl.org/
Then there are breeder websites such as:
http://www.leggspeafowl.com/
and
http://www.vonrussellfarm.com/pffrontpage.html

I recommend getting all the info you can before attempting peafowl. Like I mentioned before, the chicks are rather fragile when hatched.