Advice on best way to proceed...please

tattytails · **Joined:** Tue Oct 20, 2009 2:52 pm **Posts:** 34

Hi all,
I have large austrolorps and recently 1 went clucky. We sat her on 12 eggs and to our dismay only 1 hatched. Reason being (I think) when she got up of a day to get food and water, it was too cold as there was a few partially grown foetuses.
Long story short I have ordered an 48 egg incubator. This is my first time and I have no idea what I am doing. Can anyone tell give me some advice. Can I collect my best eggs and store them until it arrives in a week? how long do they last in a cool dry cupboard or is it best for them to be a day or 2 fresh? What eggs do I choose? I have picked out the larger eggs with good shells although all my girls are really well feed and have good eggs/shells. How long should I run a test on the new incubator before adding the eggs? Is there any books or information that I can read up for the improve the success? How often do I check the eggs (candling etc) once the incubator has started? and what am I looking for?
many thanks
Karon

mickt · **Joined:** Sun Mar 28, 2010 8:52 pm **Posts:** 51

hi tattytails i hatch duck and quail eggs here is what i do, eggs are collected every day and stored in egg cartons in the pantry i turn the eggs every day as i add one only average size eggs are collected small or big eggs are tossed away i have stored eggs for 14 days and still hade good hatches but normaly 7-10 days is best i run the incubator for a day to make sure its holding temp depending if your incubator is fan forced or still air will depend on the temp you set it at fan forced is set at 99.5 deg far and still air is set at 101-102deg far with the tempreture taken at the top of the eggs humidity whith chickens im not 100% sure but i set it at 60% till the lats 3 days then 80% for the hatch once incubator is all good place the eggs in keeping an eye on the temp after 6 days i candle the eggs and what is not fertile take out i turn eggs a minium of 2 times a day (normaly 6am 12 and 6pm) 3 days before there due to hatch stop turning and up the humidity by adding more water make sure u keep water in the incubator during the hatch ,dont for get your first hatch is a test for you to get to know the incubator so dont be to upset if they all dont hatch.read the manual that comes with your incubator it will help good luck and ask as many questions as you need :-D

tattytails · **Joined:** Tue Oct 20, 2009 2:52 pm **Posts:** 34

Thanks so much Mickt. You don't know how much I appreciate your input. I started to collect my best eggs on the 9th, which I have to admit with this cold there are a few bottoms on strike but all in all I got just over 3 doz by today the 16th and they have been turned once and day as you suggested. The incubator arrived and it is a 48 egg fan forced auto turn. I did the full day test run and all is running perfectly. The manufacturer instructions for chooks suggest day 1-6 38.2C; day 7-14 37.8C; day 16-21 37.5C. For humidity 55-60% first week, 30-55% the second week and 65-70% the final week. Does this sound right? as the duck ones said start at 37.8C then brood period 37.3C (equates to 100.03F and 99.1F)

It has been interesting reading my english translated chinese directions but I hope I am on track as I seem to ready it several different ways each time I go over them. All my girls and boy are looking really healthy so hopefully my eggs have the best shot so I want to get these temps/humidity right too. Will read some older posts again and see what else I come up with and get as much info as possible. Kids would be crushed again if they didn't get anything out again
thanks so much
karon

tattytails · **Joined:** Tue Oct 20, 2009 2:52 pm **Posts:** 34

Can anyone tell me....I was reading that incubators can cause some leg problems. I have an auto turn but is it worth giving them a quart turn each day as I notice the auto turn seems to turn from side to side so that they are being more evenly rotated

andre · **Joined:** Tue Oct 13, 2009 5:21 pm **Posts:** 612

You would take the turner out or turn it off on day 18. Take care to leave the lid on the incubator for the last couple of days so that humidity is kept high. If you open it too much while the chicks are hatching then the membranes will dry & the chick will fail to emerge.

Also keep the incubator somewhere with stable temperature. Generally 15 to 25oC room is fine. Colder than that or hotter and the incubator will struggle to maintain the temperature.

tattytails · **Joined:** Tue Oct 20, 2009 2:52 pm **Posts:** 34

Thanks Andew,
The incubator although plastic came with foam around the outside and I have it in a room that keeps the temp stable. I would have liked to have seen the egg turner literally turn the eggs a little more than a slight side to side movement...is that normal? I have been quite impressed with it other than this
thanks

andre · **Joined:** Tue Oct 13, 2009 5:21 pm **Posts:** 612

The eggs only need about a 30% turn. If you're worried, you could flip them over to lay on their other side about once a week.

tattytails · **Joined:** Tue Oct 20, 2009 2:52 pm **Posts:** 34

Many thanks, I have given the eggs just a rotational turn and all appears to be going well. I will be candling them tonight with my new torch. Very exciting!!
Will let you know how it goes
Karon

rayroberts · **Joined:** Wed Jan 27, 2010 2:37 pm **Posts:** 33

Hiya Tattytails
We are all waiting your results with your chinese bator
Good luck with it
Cheers Ray

tattytails · **Joined:** Tue Oct 20, 2009 2:52 pm **Posts:** 34

Hi All
Well, I have candled my batch and got about a doz fertile growing little babes happening. Reason I know for the rest of the infertile ones is that my boy is with 19 girls which is way to many but I have been unable to separate them at this point so I was expecting this to happen
The incubator is working extremely well after a week. I was very dubious as to what would happen but when I ordered it, I received it within a week and it has been working fabulously. The only thing I could fault is when you remove the lid to candle you need to disconnect the turn (although this is quite easy) it is just an added extra thing to do getting into it. It has 4 view holes and does 48 eggs. Extremely easy to clean, I am surprised. Cost me $250aud plus $90 for postage so I think it is a good buy. Had a foam casing around the plastic one to help with keeping the temp/hum more stable and is a great size for my office. Will keep you posted on my hatch rate. Thanks for the help and interest
Karon

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