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Egg incubating...Please help!

54 replies

jeremyspants · 29/01/2008 16:13

Has anyone ever incubated poultry eggs? I am a total novice but am just about to begin incubating six bantam eggs (Brinsea 20)
How much water do you put in to start with?
I'm terrified of getting it all wrong.

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Original poster
jeremyspants · 17/02/2008 20:23

I used an old standard lamp (£6 from Ikea) and took the lampshade off then squashed a wire coathanger into the wee hole then bent it to a 90 degree angle. sort of like an electric gibbet. You can get a fair bit of play with the flex by faffing about till you get the right height.
It looks well dodgy but did the trick for loads of chicks. When they get older you can niftily flick the lamp off without having to unplug it at the socket.
I think Monday or Tuesday is DDay so am pacing the floor nervously.
The hydrometer decided to play up damn thing emoticon so I hope all goes well.

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jeremyspants · 19/02/2008 13:43

Right. It is day 21 and absolutely nothing is happening despite bantam eggs possibly hatching early.
Has anyone else had any joy?
GUTTED

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dividedself · 19/02/2008 13:45

I have incubated 3 lots in a Octagon 10.

I am more laissez faire as I go on.

Have duck eggs atday 14 right now.

dividedself · 19/02/2008 13:46

It may be a day or so less so they should be hatching.

Are you still candling them? What is going on when you candle?

Original poster
jeremyspants · 19/02/2008 15:10

Oh no! I don't have a candler.
Not sure if there was a tiny bit of movement in a couple of the eggs an hour ago....

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dividedself · 19/02/2008 17:40

I've always used a bright torch or the LED light on my mobile torch. If the bulb is big you'll need to use a peice of card with a hole to direct the light.

You need to see if they've pipped through the air sac. When they are on their way you wILL hearthem cheeping. Try cheeping at the eggs - they cheep back.

Have you stopped turnign them? If not they coudl have become malpositioned.

Original poster
jeremyspants · 19/02/2008 18:20

Yes, I stopped turning them on Sunday morning. DH has gone to get the torch so I can look at them and cheep.
I was always a bit wary of the wet bulb thermometer...it is showing 37 C.

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Original poster
jeremyspants · 19/02/2008 18:34

i candled them with a really powerful torch but cannot see a thing. One egg DEFINITELY moved in my hand. no cheeps though.

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dividedself · 20/02/2008 08:26

Morning!

Will reply better after school run but....

If the egg is moving then they will be through the air sac and they should cheep. If they don't break through the shell soon they will suffocate so put them somewhere well ventilated (still in incubator). You may have to assist the hatch. I have a good link to this somewhere and have used the advice very effectively with at least 5 assisteds!

When yo candle take a look at the air sac in particular - any shadows in that space?

If they hatch today they will share my birthday

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jeremyspants · 20/02/2008 09:05

Oh dividedself, HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!!

One egg that just seemed really dark when it was candled last night has chipped a tiny hole in the shell and my dd saw it move this morning!
I think the other eggs are not doing so well, two are a bit iffy but we are so excited with the progress of the largest egg.

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dividedself · 20/02/2008 09:35

Oh that is looking very promising! It will be able to breathe now and should hatch within the next 24 hours or so. Keep humidity high so that the shell doesn't stick and make hatching difficult but also bear in mind that too high humidity can 'drown' the others who haven't broken the shell yet.

Watch the other eggs carefully and if no progression you could try using a skewer or similar to lift a little bit of shell at the air sac end.

I've done this in dire emergencies and have been able to see whether the chick is alive. If it is, don't pierce the membrane but wait for it to pip through. If the beak is not at the air sac end then it won't be able to hatch so look for the beak just under the membrane.

this isn't the link I was lookign for but it might be helpful.

Main thing with assisting hatches is to not let the blood vessels bleed too much. Peel and dry, peel and dry, bit by bit is the technique.

Many don't agree with assisting hatches.

Thanks for Bday greetings!

dividedself · 20/02/2008 09:38

bationhatchingtips.html better link

dividedself · 20/02/2008 09:41

oops!

Original poster
jeremyspants · 20/02/2008 15:05

We have a THUMPING great big chick !!!
After all the concern and studying your links (thank you - they are excellent ), the Godzilla of chickens just burst out of the shell.
It is a black silkie and the feathers are drying to a fine fluff.
I'm not so sure about the other five but will wait and see.

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TheDuchessOfNorksBride · 20/02/2008 15:33

Oooh congratulations on your PFB!

And happy birthday dividedself.

Whenever I watch our cockerel treading the hens he still doesn't seem to be hitting the mark. I don't want a broody for another month yet so he has a little time to improve his performance. I am impatient for chicks though!

dividedself · 20/02/2008 16:13

Oh wow! Congratulations! Are you brave enough to Google the sexing of chicks? rofl

Still time for the others...

My broody just got off of 15 eggs after 2 weeks of sitting - the silly girl. I felt compelled to do a post mortem.

TheDuchessOfNorksBride · 20/02/2008 16:23

ds - is your broody off for good or just stretching her legs? Why am I asking, you know what you're doing!

As for sexing chicks, most of my hens are Light Sussex which should make the job easier for me, assuming we ever get there!

dividedself · 20/02/2008 16:49

Well, when she first started sitting on them she didn't get off to even feed or drink as far as I could tell so I took her a snack and a bowl of water every day! That batch didn't hatch for some reason and then she just started sitting on the 15 and I noiced she was around a lot hanging out with the others all day. Same the next day, and the day after. I candled a few from the nest and no sign of life so I removed them and put 3 in the incubator with the duck eggs.

Not expecting much from the hen eggs because the temp and humidity is set for ducks but thought I'd give it a whirl.

I'm very much still learning though!

Original poster
jeremyspants · 21/02/2008 08:48

OOOOH ! A second tiny little chick this morning.
dividedself- googled sexing and had a bit look but it is all ahem a tad fluffy there. I will wait a few months for crowing or egg laying
Hope you had an eggcellent birthday !!

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TheDuchessOfNorksBride · 21/02/2008 15:43

Tis very exciting though. Can you post pictures of your chicks? Pleeeeease!

Original poster
jeremyspants · 21/02/2008 17:55

The most gorgeous little blond silky made a surprise appearance! We HAD to call her Marilyn.
Am not sure how you put photos on but will try.

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jeremyspants · 21/02/2008 18:39

Pics posted on profile page

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dividedself · 22/02/2008 08:27

Oh how lovely!

Marilyn is gooooooorgeous! lol

What are you naming the others?

If Marilyn is a boy that still works kinda doesn't it?

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jeremyspants · 22/02/2008 09:09

Marilyn is beautiful..great minds think alike dividedself! (Marilyn Manson)
The dark good looking feisty one is called Tommy (after Brother Sheridan) and the little one has yet to be named ..any suggestions?

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TheDuchessOfNorksBride · 22/02/2008 14:51

I'm very now! They are lovely.