The Poultry Keeper

doodledoo · Joined: 02 May 2008 Posts: 7

Hi, first post on this forum having had no joy elsewhere Sad

I've just finished incubating 17 eggs in my Octagon 20 incy, first time I've used it. There was 7 Silver Dorking, 6 Ixworth and 4 Maran. We had 6 Silver Dorking and 1 Ixworth hatch. We looked at all the other eggs and found all the Marans, dorking and 1 Ixworth had formed a few had pipped but not cracked out. So my questions are......

1. I had trouble keeping humidity up in the last 3 days, highest reading of 63%. Had both troughs full, sponges on the floor, vent almost shut.. what else can I do? A friend's recent incubation only had 10 eggs in it and no humidity problems, could less eggs mean higher humidity?

2. When chicks have hatched, as they move around the incu they disturb other eggs, could this affect hatching success of other eggs as a couple of our eggs had pipped at the bottom? Should you risk taking hatched chicks out after 24 hours max or leave well alone?

3. Anyone had experience of hatching Ixworths as I have read they need higher humidity ?

Really hope to get some advice here.. Thanks

bronskibeat · Joined: 09 Sep 2007 Posts: 1613 Location: Clawddnewydd

Hi, sorry I've no idea about Ixworths or Octagons but I am in the middle of a mixed hatch myself. The first one (yesterday) out I had real problems with and had to keep opening the inc up to gradually open the shell. I had 6 leghorn eggs in with it and they werent due until today but so far 1 has hatched, 1 is nearly out and 3 have pipped whilst the last is still deciding Rolling Eyes

The first one out has been playing football with the other 6 and rightly or wrongly, I would put them right way up so the pip was uppermost. It doesnt as yet seem to have affected the others........... Very Happy

Sorry cant be of more help but someone is bound to come along soon and give you more advice, they were certainly fantastic with my problems Very Happy

mojo · Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 2:40 pm Post subject:

i have oct 20 so here are my answers ...1....thats ok .......2 they knock the eggs about under a broody too.....when they dry and fluffy and minimum 12 hours in incubby move to brooder if you want..i always leave mine to play football for 24 hours.......3 sorry no....4 ........marans can take a day or so longer to hatch out(i beleive the shell is harder).........always go a full 25 days in incubby before you discard eggs......good luck

doodledoo · Joined: 02 May 2008 Posts: 7

Thanks for replies, new to this and so any input is a real bonus! I'm about to put another batch in the incy and so will leave quite alone and will also leave it running for full 25 days.

Diane · Joined: 05 Feb 2006 Posts: 271 Location: Dorset

I noticed that when my silkie hatched some marans - on checking the shells they were rock hard. Took ages to hatch and two didn't make it. Next time she hatches I will spray the eggs on pipping day to help things along.

mojo · Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 10:32 am Post subject:

marans seem to need a lot of humidity to get out of both shell and membrane .....if you spray shells check water is blood heat