Raising Gamebirds > Incubation

Incubation and Humidity

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Reeves:
Incubator Environment

A.   Temperature

    Temperature is the most critical factor in the hatchability of eggs. In forced-draft machines, the temperature should be between 99 and 100f (37 and 38C) with a mean setting of 99.5f (37.5C). In still-air machines, the temperature taken at the top of the egg should be about 102f (39C); care should be taken that the temperature does not exceed 103f (40C). The lowest temperature (or physiological zero) for the egg development has been determined to be about 68f (20C); the highest temperature is about 109f (43C).

B.   Humidity Requirements

    Humidity is important because it controls the evaporation of water from the egg and maintains the proper physiochemical equilibrium among the various egg constituents. High humidity seals the pores of the egg shell and prevents proper exchange of gasses and can lead to asphyxiation of the embryo. Low humidity permits excessive evaporation of the egg contents and retards development of the embryo. The normal relative humidity for the incubation of pheasant, partridge, and quail eggs is about 46 percent. In a constant forced-air machine, pheasant and partridge eggs develope best if exposed to a wet-bulb reading of 82f (28C) during incubation and a temperature of about 90f (32C) in the hatcher. Quail generally require a higher humidity at the beginning of incubation, 86f (30C) wet bulb and about 90f (32C) wet bulb in the hatcher (Table 6-2). Refer to figure 6-3 for converting wet-bulb readings (degrees Fahrenheit) to relative humidity (percent).

Fig 6-2


Fig 6-3

Reeves:
Hatching

    As hatching is done at a higher humidity and lower temperature than incubation, a separate hatcher is usually required. A glass or transparent front or top of the hatcher will assist in monitoring the hatch without disturbing the hatching environment. The hatcher should operate at 98.5f (37c) with a wet bulb at 90c to 92f (32.2c-33.4c) or higher. A high humidity is helpful for slightly softening the egg shell membrane, making pipping and escape easier. The lower temperature reflects the additional heat being generated by the chick as it prepares for pipping and changes over from amniotic to pulmonary breathing. Some operators sprinkle the egg with warm water during the transfer from incubator to hatcher. This gives the egg a start by slightly softening the shell membrane.

Pheasant Hollow Farm:
Wet bulb is exactly what it states. It is the temperature relative of the humidity in degrees. A  Hygrometer Wick is placed over the stem of the thermometer and the other end of the sleeve is placed in the water pan. The same thermometer can be used for wet bulb or checking incubator temps. This is what I have in my GQF 1502 Sportsman incubator.
I have two of them instead of the one. This way I can view the wet bulb temp and the incubator temp the same time

Steve
Pheasant Hollow Farm

Reeves:
Had to be a typo. I re-read the book & it doesn't match any other numbers. So I edit that post.
Sorry ! I should have caught it when first typed it out !

re temps between eggs. Temperatures should be taken no higher than top of eggs. You may want to tweek it down a bit, or at least next time.

wildergamebirds:
  About a hundred years ago, I promised to post links to a humidity/wet bulb conversion calculator.  Here are five, plus, one that has several other calculators, also.

  http://www.wtoctv.com/Global/category.asp?C=10666

  http://www.csgnetwork.com/dewptrelhumcalc.html

  http://www.abc15.com/content/weather/calculators/wetbulb_drybulb.aspx

  http://www.the-snowman.com/wetbulb.html

  http://www.johnsnhweather.com/wetbulb.html

  http://www.pipingnews.com/psychrom.htm

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