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Breeding Your Own Chicks
Suitable Eggs
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Introduction Breeding Stock Suitable Eggs Incubator Egg Turning Temperature Humidity Candling Pipping & Hatching Optimum Conditions Useful Items |
It goes without saying that eggs must have been fertilized in order to be capable of development. If there are not enough of them to fill the incubator, they can be stored for a week in a cool room. It is possible to incubate eggs stored for longer periods but it is also worth remembering that hatchability declines at the rate of 2% a day after two days. They are best stored with the blunt end upwards, in egg trays or cartons. The optimum storage conditions are 15-18oC with 75% humidity.
The ideal eggs are medium sized, which for hens would be in the 53g - 63g range. With larger ones there is a risk of ‘double-yolkers’ that can lead to development problems. They should be clean and with no hairline cracks. Having said that, it may be necessary to use such eggs if they are only available in small numbers from a rare breed. I have successfully hatched cracked eggs that have had a little sticky tape or clear nail varnish applied to the crack.
Eggs should also be selected on the basis of shape, shell quality and texture. Ones with ridges and chalky patches, as well as those that are too long or too round should be discarded. The former may have weak areas in the shell while the latter may displace the internal air cell that provides the embryo with its essential oxygen. An obvious exception is with a breed such as the Pekin duck that tends to have rounded eggs. They can prove difficult to incubate.
It is vital to wash the eggs in an egg sanitant solution before placing them in the incubator. This helps to ensure that pathogens do not get into the egg and then develop as diseases, killing the embryo. Egg sanitants are available from incubator suppliers.
Remember to make the solution warm to the touch and dip the eggs completely. If the liquid is cold, pathogens may be drawn into the shell pores, producing the opposite of the desired effect. After ensuring that the breeding stock is healthy and fertile, this practice of egg washing is the most likely factor to improve overall hatching rates.
Copyright © Katie Thear 2005