The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: Stereo on January 14, 2015, 08:37:52 am
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I've got a couple Brinsea Octagon 20's and while we have had good success, we always seem to get drawn out hatches. I've got 5 chicks which hatched 48 hours ago and I really need to get them out this morning but I've also got eggs still pipping and I know they'll get shrink wrapped if I open the lid. Is there a reason for this? Hunidity too low? I've always filled both channels with water at lock down but I suspect they are now empty. Would it be wise to re-fill them on day 20?
How do you cope with a larger amount of eggs? I was looking at a Brinsea 190 with the hatching tray and humidity control etc.
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Those that hatched 48 hours ago will certainly need swift access to crumbs and water. Are the eggs a mix of breeds? This can certainly lead to a variation in length of incubation time. If your hatching period is, say, four days, it would be worth considering adding more water to prevent the egg membranes drying out. I was advised not to add water at all by Shaun Hammon of the Wernlas Collection, as it tended to make the chicks too big to pip the eggs, but I know a lot of folks do so.
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I've taken them out now. Had a few pipping last night so decided to hold off. They say they can last up to 3 days without food but it seems a long time. They are all RIR and humidity was on the low side all through. When you say no water at all, do you mean including at lock down?