Anyone here incubate chicken eggs?

paulsharvey · Jun 2, 2016

We have 4 Lavender Orps and 4 something Orps in the incubator as we speak.

muddstopper · Jun 5, 2016

The question was asked about hatch rates and shipped eggs. I have shipped dozens of eggs all across the US. Packing is extremely important. The USPS is extremly ruff when it comes to eggs. I used to put all kinds of labels on the shipping boxes, fragile, Live embryo, and anything I could think of to insure the boxes where handled with care. Nothing seemed to work, boxes would be delivered looking like they had been drop kicked from the 40yrd line. I was shipping some eggs one day and had all my warning lables on the box, I paid for the postage and the lady behind the desk turned and just tossed my package across the room, into the big basket. I stood there and just looked at her for a few seconds and then asked her if she even looked at the labels before she threw a box full of eggs across the room. I finally stopped putting any kind of label other than the address on the boxes and all of a sudden, my packages started arriving un-damaged. I honestly believe the USPS workers delight in knowing that they broke something that will make a mess in the shipping bags.

With that said, I used to wrap each egg individually in the small bubble wrap and then wrap again, in pairs with more bubble wrap. then line the walls of the box with bigger bubble wrap and fill in any voids with dry sawdust. This seemed to keep the eggs from breaking. Hatch rates usually ran about 60-70 percent on shipped eggs. Even with all the extra care in packing, you will loose a few eggs because of the bumping and handeling during shipping. I once drove 200 miles to pick up hatching eggs just so they wouldnt be shipped. Worse hatch rate I ever had, I think I got 6 or 7 chicks out of 2 dozen eggs. Guy I bought the eggs off of made good on the unhatched ones and gave me 2 more dozen, but I had to drive the 200 miles again to get them. I think I eneded up with about 75% of those hatching. Its a gamble shipping eggs, even if you are the one doing the handeling between supplier and your incubator.

jwmorris · Jun 5, 2016

The lady I got my eggs from just put them in an egg carton, only about a half hour drive though.

paulsharvey · Jun 5, 2016

We candles the eggs yesterday. Incubator held 8, 4 jubilee Orps and 4 Lavender orps; set the other 4 outside with a broody hen separated from the rest, in a dog crate. We have 3 of the 8 develpoing; and 3 of the 4 the hen had showed development too.

paulsharvey · Jun 24, 2016

paulsharvey said:
We candles the eggs yesterday. Incubator held 8, 4 jubilee Orps and 4 Lavender orps; set the other 4 outside with a broody hen separated from the rest, in a dog crate. We have 3 of the 8 develpoing; and 3 of the 4 the hen had showed development too.

So, as an update; we put all the fertile eggs in incubator, 6 lavender Orpingtons and 1 Jubilee Orp. All seven of those hatched out on day 21 (wife had to do some egg removal on the jubilee).

Big problem now... she ordered 12 more... 4 Americanuas, 4 Copper somethings, and 4 Olive Eggers. I think this is turning into a mild addiction. We currently have 7 active layers (2 production reds or Red star; 1 Bhrama, 2 black something, and 2 white something ). Anyone know the North Florida number for Crazy Chicken Ladies anonymous?

jacain · Jul 9, 2016

I incubate them, under broody hens. Lol! Nice mix of birds you have there! I love orpingtons, btw. I have chocolate type, but would love to get some buff someday. I've got olive eggers and blue copper marans and americaunas too. I have a bunch more different breeds too. My wife has poor chicken math also and keeps acquiring more chicks or sticking fertile eggs under broody hens. I just about finished another run that we can move all of our ornamental birds (silkeys) to so I can shuffle my various groups of chicks around until I can integrate them.

TomSeller · Jul 9, 2016

paulsharvey said:
Anyone know the North Florida number for Crazy Chicken Ladies anonymous?

Uh oh. Sounds serious.

podieroe · Aug 25, 2016

jwmorris said:
Guess we both get to learn something this way and the price happened to be just right, free. My junk pile also won't be any larger when we are done playing around. I understand buying stuff too, although I generally don't post about it in Build It Yourself forums when I do.

Temp is ideal at 96 to 98, need to turn eggs atleast 2 and prferably 4 regular intervals, about a quarter turn or half depending on intervals, do not point eggs small end up, needs to be small end down, humidity must be at or near 80 hg, till near hatching, then increase to 90 + the last four days, or chicks will stick to the shell. Icrease humidity by increasing water surface ie: use a larger vessel to increase surface area of water tank, like a 4x4 inch tray to start and the increase to 8x8 tray, the last four days. a light bulb will work for heat but it needs a thermostat to control temp. do not open incubator if not necessary. and a very slow draft will increase viability. but only a contained draft not open to room air.
Theres lots of info on google or contact me or some other soul for more help. good luck.

jwmorris · Aug 26, 2016

Our eggs were laying on their side and turned automatically throughout the day and night until set for hatching.

The water tray/sponge didn't seem very consistent and we changed to a humidifier and digital control.

gghb · Aug 26, 2016

we use broody hens just save up clutch of eggs from hen we want to hatch and shove them under banty hen at night will raise a bunch of chicks with no fuss no muss.

Greg