Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: rugbymad40 on March 20, 2007, 19:55

Title: Incubation Starts
Post by: rugbymad40 on March 20, 2007, 19:55

Okay Folks,

The moment of truth has arrived.

We have built a home-made incubator from a propogator with a 40 watt light bulb for heat.  Our thermometer test over 36 hours proved we could provide a reasonably stable temperature of between 98 & 102 degrees.

We purchased some "Cheep" eggs (excuse the pun) from e-bay and they have gone into the incubator to warm up and get started.

After a week I will candle the eggs and see what success we have had and if it is good to reasonable I will let you know and then draw up the plans for the incubator for public view.

Our coop is being modifyed and the run being built by father-in-law (The woodwork expert) and we have sourced a local supplier of point of lay hens to get egg production started (£7.00 per bird for Susses or Warrens?!).

My daugthers are very excited as are all the school pals who think we are cool parents for attempting to brood chicks for Easter.  I personally can't wait to have some laying hens again.  The thought of waking in the morning to the prospect of a fresh eggs for breakfast is making me salivate already.  The further thought of a freshly slaugthered bird served with veg from the plot later in the year is even more exciting.

God I am becoming more like my parents every day.

We will keep you posted.

Rugbymad40 + family and brood

Title: Incubation Starts
Post by: MontyTom on March 20, 2007, 22:14

did you let the eggs settle for 24 hours before hand and also leave them at room temp before putting them into your incubator?  Is the incubator in the house away from abrupt sunlight?  How did you get the propagator to reach those temperatures??  Don't forget the humidity and to turn the eggs at least 3 times per day!

Hope you get somenew chicks in 3 weeks!  Good luck.

Title: Incubation Starts
Post by: muntjac on March 20, 2007, 22:54

i hope he gets them in 28 days monty mate .  :wink:

Title: Incubation Starts
Post by: BJ on March 23, 2007, 12:37

I too have started incubating 6 Rhode Island Red Eggs,when I candled them today 4 look good up to now,I bought an expensive incubator so mine better work!  :lol:
Fingers crossed,hen house bought,wood bought for the run just need mesh now and lots of patience!! SOMETHING I DONT HAVE!

 :D
CHECK OUT MY BLOG FOR PICTURES ETC.. (if you want to that is)

Title: Incubation Starts
Post by: MontyTom on March 23, 2007, 14:44

Quote from: "muntjac"

i hope he gets them in 28 days monty mate .  :wink:

aint chickens 21 days??  mine have been

Title: Incubation Starts
Post by: MontyTom on March 23, 2007, 14:45

Quote from: "BJ"

I too have started incubating 6 Rhode Island Red Eggs,when I candled them today 4 look good up to now,I bought an expensive incubator so mine better work!  :lol:
Fingers crossed,hen house bought,wood bought for the run just need mesh now and lots of patience!! SOMETHING I DONT HAVE!

 :D
CHECK OUT MY BLOG FOR PICTURES ETC.. (if you want to that is)

hi. what incubator did you get?

Title: Incubation Starts
Post by: BJ on March 23, 2007, 15:39

I got the MPS24 s semi automatic turner,its a real nice one too,thermometer allsorts with it,check out my blog there are pictures on there scroll down...

Title: Incubation Starts
Post by: muntjac on March 23, 2007, 16:42

just go to show ya listening to me tom lolo :lol:

Title: Incubation Starts
Post by: BJ on March 23, 2007, 18:57

My 6 eggs have been in incubation now for 27 hrs and I candled them I have picture but because I have never done this before could anyone tell me if these are ok ones if I send pictures either I can post them on my blog or I can email them...someone help,then I know I am doing right
Thankyou

Title: Incubation Starts
Post by: Aunt Sally on March 23, 2007, 19:00

Post them her BJ

Instructions here:

http://www.chat.allotment-garden.org/viewtopic.php?t=630

I'd love to see them  :D

Title: after 27 hrs incubation
Post by: BJ on March 23, 2007, 19:10

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v422/alwaysronan/24hrs18.jpg)

Title: Incubation Starts
Post by: BJ on March 23, 2007, 19:11

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v422/alwaysronan/24hrs5.jpg)

Title: Incubation Starts
Post by: BJ on March 23, 2007, 19:12

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v422/alwaysronan/24hrs2.jpg)

Title: Incubation Starts
Post by: BJ on March 23, 2007, 19:15

What do you think so far...?  have I got it right? or are these duff ones...I am doing everything by the book here.....and I have more photos if you want to see them...

Title: Incubation Starts
Post by: BJ on March 23, 2007, 19:18

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v422/alwaysronan/24hrs15.jpg)

I have more but I wont bore you all...ANY ADVISE WOULD BE BRILL....this one to me and from what ive seen and read looks promising but I could be wrong

Title: Incubation Starts
Post by: technobob on March 23, 2007, 19:47

Are you candling at 27hrs did you say... we tend not to worry until about 10 days, although we always leave all the eggs in the incubator until they are due to go in the hatcher, when we candle them again and dispose of any eggs that are clearly empty.

Have hatched several hundred chicks over the last 2 years and Mrs TB does the candling. So far she has a 100% success rate in telling if there is a chick happy inside, and she always checks the duds to see what the problem was.

I wouldn't worry about it too much in the first instance. If you candle at 10 days you'll know for sure...

Title: Incubation Starts
Post by: BJ on March 23, 2007, 20:17

thats great advise thankyou very much....

Title: Incubation Starts
Post by: muntjac on March 23, 2007, 23:48

your not gonna see anything happening till at least ten days bj just keep em happy in the incubator .can i just tell ya the candler depending on what your using can actually damage the egg by heating it up to much on the spot its closest to , try to take care in your excitment hon :wink: