Re: Incubators

From: Jill. (news_at_REMOVETHISkintaline.co.uk)
Date: 10/23/04 

Date: Sat, 23 Oct 2004 18:01:22 +0100

Deb wrote:
>> And that channel in the bottom of your incubator should be for the
>> water. If it has a hole in it then that can be stopped up with some
>
> Ok, thanks. But for the BIG question (regarding incubators)...How do
> you measure the humidity level or do you just keep water in the bottom
> period? And if that is the case, how much water?

Look up hygrometer on the various supplies web sites
You use that to give you the readings

>
> The next BIG question (regarding the eggs)...If I were to seperate my
> one rooster with say 5 of my best hens, how long should I wait to
> start saving the eggs?

If you have had another rooster with them then 2 weeks should clear them of
any other influence
If you only have one anyway then you can collect after a couple of days

  I know they produce eggs and they slowly
> develop through their system, kind of like a string of pearls only the
> size increases. Would it take about two weeks or so to get to the
> fertilized ones? Then, I have also read on this site that people save
> up the eggs to put in their incubators. How long can I save them and
> how?

up to 2 weeks is normal
7 days is better

 Do they need to stay in a warm, moist place?

cool constant temperature where you can turn the eggs 3 times a day
What you DO NOT want is warm - you do not want to start the eggs until you
put them in the incubator

>
> I would like to try at least 2 doz. eggs and with only 5 hens doing
> the job, it will take a bit. Or should I just start putting the eggs
> in as I get them and have a couple chicks hatch each day until they
> have all run their course?

NO NO NO
you will have birds of different ages and different requirements all over
the place -- teh oldest will bully and attack the youngest
BE a hen :~))
Collect for 7 - 10 days and then incubate

BUT - you also need to filter out the eggs - only hatch the best eggs
- eggs of the right size for the breed - do not hatch over sized eggs or
small eggs
- eggs that are a good shape - not long and thin, or ones that have
incorrect shells
- if your chosen breed should lay an egg of a certain colour - don't set
eggs that are not of that colour
- don't set eggs that have a crack in - check each one with a candler - look
this up on google there are various ways to make one - you need it for later
too

Its better not to set as many than to hatch from poor eggs 

--
regards
Jill Bowis
Pure bred utility chickens and ducks
Housing; Equipment,  Books, Videos, Gifts
Herbaceous; Herb and Alpine nursery
Holidays in Scotland and Wales
http://www.kintaline.co.uk
>
> (Learned trial-and-error information like this does not come in an
> instruction booklet)  :o)
>
> Thanks,
> Deb

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Incubators
    ... > And that channel in the bottom of your incubator should be for the ... you measure the humidity level or do you just keep water in the bottom ... I know they produce eggs and they slowly ...
    (sci.agriculture.poultry)
  • Re: Diddys eggs in the mail. :-)
    ... No eggs side by side. ... But I'm trying to figure out how to maintain humidity while ... > gone, If I fill ther reservior, that means it will be dry for 4 days. ... I can plug the incubator into my ...
    (sci.agriculture.poultry)
  • Re: Incubation
    ... I'm struggling with the humidity, ... I have a large water-holder that takes up most of the space in the bottom of the incubator, and I've added two spnges, but am still not getting a humidity over 40. ... There is a layer of batting between the water and the eggs and I removed that to see if it made a difference, but the improvement was about 2points, and not enough to justify the difficulty in controlling the rolling of the eggs. ... The only way I know to check your hygrometer is using a wet bulb thermometer and comparing the temp differences between the dry and the wet thermo. ...
    (sci.agriculture.poultry)
  • Re: Incubation
    ... I'm struggling with the humidity, ... I have a large water-holder that takes up most of the space in the bottom of the incubator, and I've added two spnges, but am still not getting a humidity over 40. ... There is a layer of batting between the water and the eggs and I removed that to see if it made a difference, but the improvement was about 2points, and not enough to justify the difficulty in controlling the rolling of the eggs. ... The only way I know to check your hygrometer is using a wet bulb thermometer and comparing the temp differences between the dry and the wet thermo. ...
    (sci.agriculture.poultry)
  • Re: Incubation
    ... I'm struggling with the humidity, ... I have a large water-holder that takes up most of the space in the bottom of the incubator, and I've added two spnges, but am still not getting a humidity over 40. ... There is a layer of batting between the water and the eggs and I removed that to see if it made a difference, but the improvement was about 2points, and not enough to justify the difficulty in controlling the rolling of the eggs. ... Then I put a couple pieces of batten or something under the edges and then if the eggs roll they can't roll off the tray. ...
    (sci.agriculture.poultry)