WHAT CAN EFFECT THE HATCH RATE
-Low quality incubators, - - Incubator settings could be incorrect -- - The egg may not have been fertilised.
- The embryo may have died at an early stage of development.
- The chick may have been weak, abnormal or diseased, causing death before or during hatching.
- Some rare breeds carry lethal genes that can kill chicks before they hatch.
FAULTY/INACCURATE INCUBATOR
Temperature is the most important factor in ensuring a good hatch. Incubators should be checked with a medical thermometer (the type used to take body temperature) if you're are worried about temperature .
If the chicks pipped but did not manage to get out of the shell, the humidity (the amount of water in the air) may have been too low. If the air is too dry, the shell is harder for the chick to break through and the membrane inside the egg can stick to the chick, preventing it from moving freely and getting out.
NOT TURNING THE EGGS ENOUGH
If the eggs are not turned frequently enough, the chicks may be weak or die inside the shell. Automatic incubators turn the eggs approximately every hour.
EGGS CAN BE DAMAGED IN THE POST
During the spring and summer, we send out hundreds of eggs by post every week. Most of these hatch successfully. Occasionally when eggs have been through the postal system, they fail to hatch. There is no evidence that this is due to transportation. However, it is possible that X-rays may prevent embryo development. It is important that eggs are rested overnight before incubation begins, to help repair any damage to the air sac caused during transit. Failure to do so is likely to affect hatching results.
EXPECTATIONS
When you start out, you need to have realistic expectations. Even with a good incubator in a suitable place, not all of the eggs will hatch. Some eggs may not have been fertilised, some may not develop properly and some chicks may not make it out of the egg.
When the incubation process works well A 100% hatch rate is exceptional, a 75% hatch rate is good, a 50% hatch rate is OK. Less than 50% points to what could be a be caused by a list of problems.
We don't want to ruffle any feathers... BUT
All this for only £199
Don't just wing it...
Let us help you make your science lesson THE BEST!
With our Hatching package you will get:
- 7 eggs, which have been candled and checked to ensure that they contain alive embryos
- The use of a professional Brinsea incubator
- A Brood box and light set up and ready for when your chicks have hatched.
- Bedding and enough food to last the process.
- Collection of the chicks up to a 7-10 days after hatching before they out grows their brood box. Chicks will come back to our small holding to live a happy free range life.
- On hand support
- Downloadable worksheets to use in the classroom
- A small gift for each child in your class as a little memento of their little fluffer friends.
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