That Quail Place Forum
Raising Gamebirds => Incubation => Topic started by: schultz on July 06, 2007, 07:07:35 AM
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Ok, I just hatched a few pheasants. Started with 20 eggs, candled them at 10 days and then again at about day 18.
By hatch date I had 16 eggs that appeared to be maturing.
What a bunch of duds, I ended up with 6 healthy chicks.
Of the 16 eggs I had 10 that did not pip.
I waited until day 30 and then opened the remaining eggs, and all appeared to have been healthy and ready to hatch.
Through out the incubation I kept my humidity at 60% and temp at 99.5.
Raised the humidity to 70% the final 3 days.
What did I do wrong?
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Ok, I just hatched a few pheasants. Started with 20 eggs, candled them at 10 days and then again at about day 18.
By hatch date I had 16 eggs that appeared to be maturing.
What a bunch of duds, I ended up with 6 healthy chicks.
Of the 16 eggs I had 10 that did not pip.
I waited until day 30 and then opened the remaining eggs, and all appeared to have been healthy and ready to hatch.
Through out the incubation I kept my humidity at 60% and temp at 99.5.
Raised the humidity to 70% the final 3 days.
What did I do wrong?
Humidity should have been wet bulb at 82-84 degrees. The % should be between 52-54%.
Steve
Pheasant Hollow Farm
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Ok, I just hatched a few pheasants. Started with 20 eggs, candled them at 10 days and then again at about day 18.
By hatch date I had 16 eggs that appeared to be maturing.
What a bunch of duds, I ended up with 6 healthy chicks.
Of the 16 eggs I had 10 that did not pip.
I waited until day 30 and then opened the remaining eggs, and all appeared to have been healthy and ready to hatch.
Through out the incubation I kept my humidity at 60% and temp at 99.5.
Raised the humidity to 70% the final 3 days.
What did I do wrong?
Humidity should have been wet bulb at 82-84 degrees. The % should be between 52-54%.
Steve
Pheasant Hollow Farm
So is the information on the propagation page of this site inaccurate? It says 60% at 99.5 degrees until the last 3 days and then raise to 70%
Thanks
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Ok, I just hatched a few pheasants. Started with 20 eggs, candled them at 10 days and then again at about day 18.
By hatch date I had 16 eggs that appeared to be maturing.
What a bunch of duds, I ended up with 6 healthy chicks.
Of the 16 eggs I had 10 that did not pip.
I waited until day 30 and then opened the remaining eggs, and all appeared to have been healthy and ready to hatch.
Through out the incubation I kept my humidity at 60% and temp at 99.5.
Raised the humidity to 70% the final 3 days.
What did I do wrong?
Humidity should have been wet bulb at 82-84 degrees. The % should be between 52-54%.
Steve
Pheasant Hollow Farm
So is the information on the propagation page of this site inaccurate? It says 60% at 99.5 degrees until the last 3 days and then raise to 70%
Thanks
Well let's see, I use two GQF 1502 sportsman cabinet incubators. It has the electronic thermostat and auto turners. I have been using these for the last 3 years. The manufactures instruction manual states: 99.5 degrees and a wet bulb @ 82-84 degrees. When using a radio shack digital thermometer, my two QGF thermometers, one for the cabinet temperature, and the other with a wick over the thermometer stem inserted in the water tray shows 83 degrees wet bulb. I run the humidity in the middle as much as possible. The radio shack digital show the humidity at 53%.
When I hit a wet bulb at 84 degrees my radio shack shows me a humidity reading at 54%. This is all with the incubator temp running at 99.5 degrees.
What does you incubator manufacture recommend? Are you also using a wet bulb or are you just using a digital thermometer?
Please post the link to the page your are referring to : So is the information on the propagation page of this site inaccurate? It says 60% at 99.5 degrees until the last 3 days and then raise to 70%
Steve
Pheasant Hollow Farm
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http://www.thatquailplace.com/raising/incubate.htm
Here is the link from the Home page under the propagation tab.
This is what it says about 3/4 of the page down.
Temperature inside the incubator should be maintained at 99 1/2 degrees and a relative humidity of 60 %. During the final 2 days of incubation the temperature can be decreased one degree and the humidity increased to 70%.
Not trying to create an arguement, just trying to understand.
Thanks in advance.
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If I say anything, t-boss will ask for data !
:laugh:
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If I say anything, t-boss will ask for data !
:laugh:
:grin:
Well, you just wouldn't expect everybody to just take your word for it would ya? Do to your lack of experience and all? :twisted:
I won't ask for anything anymore, it's just too expensive! :cry:
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I won't ask for anything anymore, it's just too expensive!
Ya !
You told me the cheque was in the mail a year ago & it's still not here !
:laugh:
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http://www.thatquailplace.com/raising/incubate.htm
Here is the link from the Home page under the propagation tab.
This is what it says about 3/4 of the page down.
Temperature inside the incubator should be maintained at 99 1/2 degrees and a relative humidity of 60 %. During the final 2 days of incubation the temperature can be decreased one degree and the humidity increased to 70%.
Not trying to create an arguement, just trying to understand.
Thanks in advance.
The last paragraph also states:
The incubation process is often a result of trial and error. Temperature, humidity and turning of the eggs are three essential factors in a successful hatch. It is recommended that you consult incubator documentation and more specific material available about how to incubate quail eggs before attempting to incubate eggs yourself.
Steve
Pheasant Hollow Farm
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I won't ask for anything anymore, it's just too expensive!
Ya !
You told me the cheque was in the mail a year ago & it's still not here !
:laugh:
Must be the difference in postage. :laugh:
Steve
Pheasant Hollow Farm
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I am about to set my first batch of Chukar eggs. This subject is making me a little nervous, as I have the chicks pre-sold.
I also found a 60%/70% suggestion for Chukars, from U.C./Davis, as well as several others. But two others, from southern universities, or wildlife departments, as I recall, that fall right near the 53% mark.
I've read that allowing eggs to lose a little moisture, just before being set, seems to help with hatch rate. I will set these at 53% and wait for further suggestions from Reeves, or Steve, or Trailboss, or...... . If humidity should be higher, I should be safe. Do you raise this to somewhere in the range of 63% for the last three days? Do you think this is about right for Chukars, all pheasant breeds, and quail?
My incubators were originally for Ratite eggs, so there is no suggestion for game birds. They are digital, and read outs are in %RH, and degrees Fahrenheit.
Also, is there a formula for converting wet bulb to %RH? I have a chart, but it is in whole degrees, and 5% humidity increments. I can calculate with the in between numbers, but then I am guesstimating. I'd rather have a formula (elementary calculus, or easier) that I can count on.
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I'll see if I can find the chart to post in the morning (re:conversions)
You should be good to go at 53%. 60-70 is too high for incubation. They would drown when hatching.
(note made to find chart)
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You read everything here : http://www.thatquailplace.com/raising/humidity.htm
??
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I hadn't read that, at least I don't remember the part about raising the humidity to 85% !!!! How would you do that, anyway? Install showerheads connected to hot water? I did a quick search for duck egg settings, thinking maybe water bird=high incubation humidity. I did find a reference to Pekins suggesting 80%, but most duck eggs seem to hatch around 55%-65%.
One problem is that some people refer to wet bulb temperature numbers as %. That isn't actually correct, is it? Here is one example of that http://www.duckeggs.com/hatching-eggs.html I have also seen this in reference to game bird eggs.
Some use **%, wet bulb, which is understandable. But isn't degrees wet bulb, or wet bulb temperature correct?
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You trying to confuse me ?
:laugh:
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I hadn't read that, at least I don't remember the part about raising the humidity to 85% !!!! How would you do that, anyway? Install showerheads connected to hot water? I did a quick search for duck egg settings, thinking maybe water bird=high incubation humidity. I did find a reference to Pekins suggesting 80%, but most duck eggs seem to hatch around 55%-65%.
One problem is that some people refer to wet bulb temperature numbers as %. That isn't actually correct, is it? Here is one example of that http://www.duckeggs.com/hatching-eggs.html I have also seen this in reference to game bird eggs.
Some use **%, wet bulb, which is understandable. But isn't degrees wet bulb, or wet bulb temperature correct?
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. (http://www.cutlersupply.com/store/html/images/3018.JPG)
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
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I hatched about 2000 chukars this spring and my incubator was set on 99.5 degrees and I kept my humidity at 84 degrees wet bulb. I moved the eggs to the hatcher where it was 98.5 degrees and 86 degrees wet bulb. I didn't keep real close track of my hatching % but rough estimate 90%. during the last day of hatching I would keep a small spray bottle in the hatcher filled with water and every 3 or 4 hours I would give the eggs a little spray just to keep the membrane from drying out. This worked well for me.
The only way I know to raise the humidity is more water surface area so when I need more humidity I just stick a plate of water on the floor of my incubator. Crude but affective.
Hope this helps.
Kindest regards,
SteveI am about to set my first batch of Chukar eggs. This subject is making me a little nervous, as I have the chicks pre-sold.
I also found a 60%/70% suggestion for Chukars, from U.C./Davis, as well as several others. But two others, from southern universities, or wildlife departments, as I recall, that fall right near the 53% mark.
I've read that allowing eggs to lose a little moisture, just before being set, seems to help with hatch rate. I will set these at 53% and wait for further suggestions from Reeves, or Steve, or Trailboss, or...... . If humidity should be higher, I should be safe. Do you raise this to somewhere in the range of 63% for the last three days? Do you think this is about right for Chukars, all pheasant breeds, and quail?
My incubators were originally for Ratite eggs, so there is no suggestion for game birds. They are digital, and read outs are in %RH, and degrees Fahrenheit.
Also, is there a formula for converting wet bulb to %RH? I have a chart, but it is in whole degrees, and 5% humidity increments. I can calculate with the in between numbers, but then I am guesstimating. I'd rather have a formula (elementary calculus, or easier) that I can count on.
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Going to start a new topic on this subject....
Steve, can you please re-post the same info from your last post, including the picture, in the new topic ? In "Incubation and Humidity".
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You trying to confuse me ?
:laugh:
Well, not on purpose. This time, anyway. If you mean because of the 85% statement, that is what is suggested for the last three days on the page to which you posted the address (I think it is for chicken eggs). "60-65% for the first 18 days, 80-85% for the last 3 days." I did babble-on, from there.
I understand the wet bulb method, have used it, and even use it to help confirm my incubator hygrometer, and others. It's the way some people reference the readings that seems contradictory (no one on this board, that I know of).
Olson, thanks, that was encouraging. "Roughly 90%" If I get anything like 80%, I'll be tickled, and have plenty of extras. Do you have one incubator that hatched all 2000 at one time. If so, have you had any luck hatching much smaller quantities?
Shultz, thanks for bringing up the subject in the first place.
Jack
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last year when I did my first chukars I think I only did about 60 just to try them out. I just put them in with coturnix eggs I don't remember the % hatch but it must have been ok because I bought more eggs. This year I sold eggs and still have enough chukars to fly my birds on.
Kindest regards,
Olson