Hatching out?

[sdaddy68]

I was wondering how the large scale hatchers work.  Do the eggs get put into the hatcher in the same trays that they are in in the incubator?  If so, does the shells and trays pose a problem for the chicks.  There may already be a thread on this topic if so please point me in the right direction.

[lamike]

Large scale as in 100s or 1000s ?

[sdaddy68]

I guess what I am trying to find out is when you take a rack of eggs out of the incubator into hatcher (or stop turning eggs like in a 1000 egg incubator), do the shells and trays that the eggs are in cause any problem.  I have seen some of the 1000+ incubators and hatchers that I do not quiet understand if you take the eggs out of the trays before they hatch or do you put the whole tray in hatcher.  I was just assuming that the whole tray went in the hatcher.  I just need a better understanding of how this works.

Thanks

[cv]

I guess what I am trying to find out is when you take a rack of eggs out of the incubator into hatcher (or stop turning eggs like in a 1000 egg incubator), do the shells and trays that the eggs are in cause any problem.  I have seen some of the 1000+ incubators and hatchers that I do not quiet understand if you take the eggs out of the trays before they hatch or do you put the whole tray in hatcher.  I was just assuming that the whole tray went in the hatcher.  I just need a better understanding of how this works.

Thanks

I'm sure someone will jump in with the answer but may I ask for what and what kind of game bird?

[sdaddy68]

Quail.

[cv]

Quail.

Quail have different incubation periods. What kind of quail, bobwhite, scaled, calfornia valley, cortunix, button or some other?

What does your manual say to do? I'd follow that unless I see another way that works.


Incubation charts

http://game-birds.com/incubationchart.html

http://msucares.com/poultry/reproductions/poultry_environment.html

http://www.gbwf.org/quail/quail_chart.html

https://www.gqfmfg.com/pdf/Cabinet%20Model%20Instructions.pdf

There are all sorts of charts availible on this forum and throughout the web.Here's some info from the TQP mainpage.

http://www.thatquailplace.com/raising/humidity.htm

and......

http://www.thatquailplace.com/smf/index.php?board=11.0

[sdaddy68]

I must not be describing my question good.  If I had 4 trays in my incubator that hold 200 BW quail eggs each, and on day 21 I stop the turner.  Can I put the trays straight into the hatcher,  or do I need to take 800 eggs out of the 4 trays and lay them in the hatcher?  I was concerned that the eggs being in the trays as close as the are together (eggs) that when they hatched there is no room for the chicks to get out of the way of the shells.  Do they just walk around on top of shells.  Maybe I am way out in left field on this one, but I have been hatching on a small scale (20-30) per week.  I just take them out of the turner and lay them in the hatcher.  I am building a incubator that will hold trays that I can remove and put in the hatcher.  I guess it would be similar to the way a sportsman incubator works, trays that are one above the other.  Please bear with me and this typing and I will get it explained sooner or later. Thanks for your responses.

[cv]

I've taken them off and left them on the egg tray. depends on time and temps for me. either way eggs and chicks will still bounce around. I'd suggest to find a method you're comfortable with.

[cv]

Hatching trays

https://www.gqfmfg.com/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?idProduct=306#

https://www.gqfmfg.com/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?idProduct=141#

[sdaddy68]

The 3036 tray is the principle that I am wanting to use.  My trays will be 4"-5" high like that and be approximately 2'x2', holding 4 of the 11.75" egg holders.  The turner that I have built will hold 4 of these trays with the ability to take trays out of turner.  I am planning to remove the trays and be able to slide into hatcher cabinet.  Just trying to keep from handling eggs as much as possible.  What do you all think?  Will the congestion of the shells inside the holders be too much for the chicks to walk around on until they are put in brooder?  I finally feel like I am getting somewhere with this.

[lamike]

I personaly dont hatch that many at a time I do however have a friend who does and I know he puts his in in the tray.He has a good survival rate with it.
Best thing to do is try and watch close what happens.

[cv]

We're all suppose to leave them alone, let them hatch by them selves and dry.

You're hatcher sounds pretty close to this https://www.gqfmfg.com/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?idProduct=74#

[Little Bear Game Farm]

They ran a show on Food Network a year ago where they showed how MacFarlane Pheasants incubate their eggs.  They raise about 1.7 million a year, so prob a few more than you're talking.  They had an incubation and hatching room for their eggs and used this for transferring eggs from trays.

http://www.kuhlcorp.com/cgi-bin/cp-app.cgi?usr=51J3285914&rnd=3447069&rrc=N&affl=&cip=&act=&aff=&pg=prod&ref=PEECO-30&cat=poultry-peeco&catstr=HOME:poultry:poultry-peeco

The guy from Food Network accidentally hit the release and dropped like 600 eggs and broke them, one of those "want to get away" moments!

If you are looking at 1000 eggs or so, my guess is most people will either do it by hand, utilize something like this, or leave them in the trays.  I usually incubate about 350 at a time and transfer them out of the trays by hand.  Takes a little bit but my hatches have been good so I haven't tried leaving them in the trays yet.

[sdaddy68]

   Thanks for all the help!!

[CharlieHorse]

There's been several members over the years say that they leave them in the trays.

I think "jimmurray3" may be one of them,  you may want to drop him a PM.