Subject:  Re: Here are some helpful tips.. |
Author:
Sandy
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Date Posted: 11:54:43 07/26/02 Fri
In reply to:
Marion
's message, "Uhmmm, is something wrong? Day 18 and bantams hatching" on 07:38:23 07/26/02 Fri
It sounds like your himidity was too high. Check out these guide lines for this and future hatches. If you need more information, please feel free to post a request. Welcome to the Brooder Box message board!!!
To get a good hatch, it is important to consistently do the following:
Maintain temperature. For chickens the ideal incubation temperature in:
Still-air incubator (no fan):101.5 degrees measured at the TOP of the eggs.
Fan Forced incubator: 99.5 degrees measured anywhere in the incubator.
Humidity: 60-65% for the first 18 days, 80-85% for the last 3 days
This should be held within a half degree. Set up the incubator a few days before your eggs arrive so that you can adjust the thermostat to hold the correct temperature. Make sure you are using an accurate thermometer and that you are measuring temperature where the eggs will be located. When you first introduce the eggs into the incubator, it will be several hours before the temperature returns to its set value because the entire mass of the eggs needs to be warmed. Your incubator was probably designed to operate in a room at or near typical room temperature. If you locate your incubator in an area that is too cold it may not be able to maintain correct incubation temperature. Don't locate your incubator near a window where it will be in sunlight. It will get too hot possibly killing some or all of the developing embryos. Monitor temperature closely, especially if the temperature of your house is not closely regulated.
Maintain humidity. A good target humidity is 60%. Humidity is maintained throughout incubation by putting water in the bottom of the incubator. If you are getting a large amount of condensation on the windows, you may reduce the amount of water used. For the incubator I used, I tried to maintain the humidity at a level such that there was a small amount of condensation (non-dripping) on the windows. About three days before hatching, the humidity should be increased by introducing a wet sponge or rags into the incubator. This makes it easier for the chicks to peck their way out of their shells.
Turn eggs. A broody hen does this instinctively. You, acting as mother hen, must turn the eggs yourself. When you first introduce the eggs into the incubator, mark one side of each egg with an "X" using a pencil. (Do not use a pen or marker) Starting on the second day and continuing until about three days before hatching, turn the eggs 1/4 turn three to five times a day. If this is not done, the developing embryo may adhere to the shell making hatching very difficult. It is also important to keep the pointy end of the egg slightly lower than the rounded end. If you notice any bad (e.g. rotten-egg) smells while inside the incubator, identify the offending egg and throw it away.
Candle the eggs at three days for white eggs and five days for brown eggs. I candled my eggs a couple more times before hatching to assure that the embryos didn't die. Discard any eggs that are not developing. (See below.)
Keep a record. Make a table where you can record turning times, temperature, and notes for 23 days. This will help you do everything consistently and the record can be used for troubleshooting if there is a high mortality.
21 Day Hatching Chart:
It is important to make sure the incubator has proper humidity, Keep the reservoir filled!
What you do DAILY!
1 Incubator should already be set up and at desired temperature and humidity. When eggs are put into the incubator, the temperature will drop for several hours as eggs are warmed.
2 Start turning eggs minimum 2-3 times per day.
3 Keep turning eggs. Check the water level.
4 Keep turning eggs.
5 Keep turning eggs. Candle eggs.
6-14 Keep turning eggs. Check the water level.
15 Keep turning eggs. Candle eggs again. The developing embryo should be a dark mass filling a significant portion of the egg. If most of the egg is clear , slushy or cloudy, the embryo is not developing.
16-17 Keep turning eggs. Check the water level.
18 STOP turning eggs. Increase humidity. In a still-air incubator, this is often done by adding a damp sponge to the incubator.
19-20 Wait and watch, maintaining temperature and elevated humidity.
21 If the correct temperature was maintained the chicks should start hatching. It could be a day late or a day early depending on how well temperature was maintained.
First they will pip, pecking a small breathing hole in the shell. Then they may rest for awhile. They tend to peck at intervals often chirping loudly inside the shell. It is important to let them hatch out on their own. Typically it takes a few hours for each chick to hatch completely although it can take as long as a day or more.
Leave the chicks in the incubator long enough to completely dry. When their down fluffs out they are ready to introduce to the brooder.
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