When do you start your spring incubation?

[ManitobaQuail]

Hi everyone, we live in a cold climate (central Canada, in the prairies) and it is still -10C (-14F) or so this week, and is warming up to 0C (30 ish F) next week. We are preparing to hatch our first batch of spring 2019 chicks in two weeks.

When do you start collecting eggs for hatching? Do you think 0C (30F) is too cold to collect the eggs for the incubator? Last year we did this and it worked out ok, not the greatest hatch rate as some eggs (corturnix) were left in the cold for too long.

What is your experience like? At what temp would you feel ready to hatch?

 

[aart]

and it is still -10C (-14F) or so this week

-10C = +14F.

Can be hard to grab those eggs before they get too cold!
I just try to gather frequently.

 

[Quailguy728]

If you had a small interior space for your birds, I'd recommend that. Just an area you could keep the pair/flock you're breeding for a week or two. (Of course if they've never been inside, or don't sit well with the interior sounds, they may stop laying on yea...)

If you're leaving them out, just collect frequently and hope for the best. Cheers from Ontario!

 

[Little Jerry Seinfeld]

It is 32 here and i have a broody hen due to hatch tomorro, plus 50 eggs perculating in the incubator. It gets to 75 during the day, i make sure to collect eggs before it gets too cold in the evening. I think as long as you collect regular they will do good for you.