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Bugs
Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 10744
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anneka
Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 158
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Treacodactyl Downsizer Moderator
Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 25795 Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism
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Lindsay
Joined: 03 Nov 2004 Posts: 61 Location: Stuck in the suburbs
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anneka
Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 158
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anneka
Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 158
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Lindsay
Joined: 03 Nov 2004 Posts: 61 Location: Stuck in the suburbs
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scarecrow
Joined: 15 Dec 2004 Posts: 115 Location: Manchester, Up North
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wildberries
Joined: 04 Jan 2005 Posts: 23 Location: highlands
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Lindsay
Joined: 03 Nov 2004 Posts: 61 Location: Stuck in the suburbs
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Posted: Thu Jan 06, 05 12:39 am Post subject: |
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So sorry for the delay in replying to these questions!
Turning was purely manual for the first hatches - a cross and a nought on opposite sides, each egg turned through 180 degrees along the long axis of the egg, 5 times a day. The semi automatic method was fine (again through 180 degrees, 5 times a day), it's the equipment that we built it out of that I wasn't happy with, as it's too high up, leaving little room for a chick to stand, and is too solid so it restricts the airflow very severely. Also the design left me little room to add water containers.
My humidity meter, which I used for the first hatch, was utter rubbish. I would have had a better hatch, I believe, if it had been accurate. In subsequent hatches I have not added any water until day 18 (just like the first hatch), then I have filled every available space with water containers - ferrero rocher boxes, lids, sponges...I think lack of humidity in the last few days have possibly been the biggest obstacle.
I didn't notice the yolks sticking to the sides, so I don't think they can have done too badly, but it's something to be aware of for future hatches, thanks. I will observe more closely. I do think it's down to the number of turns a day though, more than humidity, but I'm not an expert as yet. I have read that you should turn an odd number of times a day to allow the developing embryo balanced access to the nutrients in the yolk, which is supposed to be more of a problem if you turn an even number of times a day.
Hope I've answered your questions - feel free to be more explicit if there's something you want more info on. Thanks for your input! |
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wellington womble
Joined: 08 Nov 2004 Posts: 15051 Location: East Midlands
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Marigold123
Joined: 06 Feb 2005 Posts: 224
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Posted: Sun Feb 27, 05 6:24 pm Post subject: |
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Do you think if you monitored the temperature scrupulously, that using overhead heat from a bulb would work? (The hen keeps them warm from above, after all.)
I'm asking because my dad told me that during the war his mother used to incubate eggs in some kind of 'ring', (he wasn't clear on details as he was quite young), using just a light bulb for heat. I used a suspended bulb with a home-made foil reflector when I was brooding the chicks we bought at 6 day-old last February, and it worked very well. We just winched it up and down to adjust the temperature. (I still have the hook screwed into the underside of my desk that supported the string - two strands, with evenly spaced knots - v. high tech!)
They were in a fairly cold room with the door closed, so the surrounding temperature didn't fluctuate too much. (Though I admit I did used to get up in the middle of the night to check on them at first!)
Obviously the right temperature is more critical for eggs, though the odd slight temperature drop ought not to be a problem, as long as it wasn't for very long, as a broody hen does get up to eat and poop every now and again.
Frequent turning, I can cope with. I was wondering whether a piece of towelling or an old flannel in the water trays would to help the humidity levels in the final stages, by wicking the water up to evaporate more quickly?
I must say I like the idea of using the fish box, (free) and brewing mat, (useful when I get round to making my own beer!) |
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oldangrey
Joined: 18 Nov 2007 Posts: 48 Location: Melton Mowbray, Liecs
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Bodger
Joined: 23 May 2006 Posts: 13524
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