|
|
Post by AussieBirds on Sept 20, 2004 11:17:07 GMT 10
How much of a part does humidity play in the hatching process?  I have been told that it is fine to actually spray the inside of the nest box while the hen is sitting in order to raise the humidity. Of course that would be a silly thing to do during cold weather, but what are your ideas and opinions on this. [glow=red,2,300]John[/glow] |
|
|
|
Post by billspets on Sept 20, 2004 14:33:42 GMT 10
i have been advised not to spray the birds in the log because if there is to much humidaty and can do damage to the eggs
but i have noticed that about three days prior to hatching the females get very wet to increase the humity to soften the shell ready for hatching
hope this helps
regards
bill
|
|
|
|
Post by josiedownunda on Sept 20, 2004 17:26:47 GMT 10
I always allow my breeders access to bathing water as well as drinking water. I have noticed too that the hens will wet themselves down before sitting at times to increase the humidity. In extremely hot dry weather I have misted the walls of the nestbox but that has only been on the odd occasion. The parents seem to know what to do and keep control of the situation.
Jo-Anne
|
|
|
|
Post by Catbird on Sept 20, 2004 17:45:43 GMT 10
Yep - too high humidity can also cause problems, including increased funal or microbe growth.
Some species need a more humid hatching environment than others. A species from a drier climate is unlikely to be as sensitive to humidity changes because water would be scarce and in their natural states birds would be unable to increase the chamber humidity. Hens of certain species, like the Barraband, with drench their breast feathers with water and return to the nest, whereas other hens don't bother at all.
Fresh leaves may also help increase the humidity through water loss through the leaves.
- Claire
|
|
|
|
Post by hillcresttiels on Sept 20, 2004 20:41:43 GMT 10
Hi John Humidity plays a huge part in the early survival rate of chicks as it controls the size of air sac in the large end of the egg not enough humidity and the air sac will reduce in size causing the chick to grow to large in the egg and sticking to the shell.This in turn stops them from rotating in the egg which leads to disater if not assisted in the hatch.Too much humidity increases the size of the air sac which leeds to a tiny chick which normally develops rickett or stunted growth or even worse death I dont have any problems lightly spraying water in the nest during warm dry conditions:-[cheers Frank
|
|
|
|
Post by josiedownunda on Sept 21, 2004 8:01:06 GMT 10
Wow Frank...good info. I never new that was what caused different sized chicks...you are a genius! Thankyou so much for that it explains a lot.
Jo-Anne
|
|
|
|
Post by hillcresttiels on Sept 21, 2004 16:49:38 GMT 10
The initial size of a new born chick Josie has no bearing on the chicks true size! ;)Frank
|
|
|
|
Post by josiedownunda on Sept 21, 2004 17:47:56 GMT 10
I have noticed that Frank over seeing many clutches hatch and I have seen that one pair that normally has average size chicks may suddenly have huge babies! With all other factors being constant the humidity difference must be the cause. It did have me wondering what had made the difference but i would say you have solved the mystery!
Jo-Anne
|
|
eckie
Bronze Member
Posts: 223
|
Post by eckie on Oct 14, 2004 9:46:22 GMT 10
i have heard that you let the mother get the humity right
she will go and dip in the water and go sit on the eggs to raise the humity.
|
|
|
|
Post by Zack on Oct 18, 2004 15:48:43 GMT 10
Do tiels learn by trial and error??
My hen loves bathing and having a merry old time in the water but she doesn't seem to bath just to go back into the nest to alter the humidity.
One of the chicks in her first clutch died during hatching, nothing I could do by the time i discovered it, which was upsetting. Thought it could have been a humidity problem.
Any ideas on how to prevent tragedy striking again if a chick is in trouble. Eg. what are trouble signs for a hatching chick?
Thanks
Karen
|
|
|
|
Post by hillcresttiels on Oct 18, 2004 16:12:47 GMT 10
The first sign to the astute is the initial sound of piping in the egg by the next day it should be out. Some chicks get stuck to the membrane impeding them from rotating and breaking thru,if its not thru after 1-2 days and you hear a fainting pip then its time to act.The 2nd sign is a larger than usual hole in one side of the egg, this is the time to assist the hatch with gentle removal of shell and membrane your window to commence is the Air sac end of the egg.Remove carefully if bleeding is noticed then you have struck to early and its highly likely the chick is doomed, if ok continue until you reach the opposite end taking notice that all the blood and sac has drawn in if so then you are done if not wrap tissue around the chick and wait for the remaining sac to be drawn in then you can finalize the hatch.Once all the sac is drawn into the chick.The vocals of the chick will get louder a good indicator that the sac has drawn in hope you dont have to go thru with it cheers Frank  |
|
|
|
Post by Zack on Oct 18, 2004 16:39:05 GMT 10
If there is the jagged ring 1/2 way around the egg of the chick breaking the shell but no piping. Does this mean chick is dead?
Thanks
Karen
P.s Frank did my 2nd email get through to you?
|
|
|
|
Post by hillcresttiels on Oct 18, 2004 16:48:52 GMT 10
Hard to tell Karen if its halfway then it could be other factors such as being chilled,i would only assist a hatch if there is a large hole evident, and let nature do the rest.I only received 1 email from you cheers Frank |
|
|
|
Post by Zack on Oct 18, 2004 16:57:52 GMT 10
How large a hole are you talking Frank? It was like the chick was making little serations but they didn't get all the way round.
The chicks are so fragile that I'd be worried I'd do more harm than good.
Kazz
|
|
|
|
Post by hillcresttiels on Oct 18, 2004 17:44:46 GMT 10
From what you say everything was normal until something went a miss and killed the chick i would say that it had nothing to do with humidity levels and more like a chilled chick cheers Frank
|
|
|
|
Post by Zack on Oct 19, 2004 13:42:33 GMT 10
How long does it take for eggs/chicks to become chilled?
The parents didn't seem to leave the nest much at all, only change-overs for feeding.
Most of the time they were both in the nest, even at night.
Thanks
Kazz
|
|
|
|
Post by hillcresttiels on Oct 19, 2004 16:45:46 GMT 10
Hi Karen its more crucial that an egg or chick doesn't chill in its latter stages of development rather tha early stages. The point i raise with you regarding chilling is aimed more specifically at hens exiting the box during the night and we dont notice in the morning coz by the time where up she has returned but by then the damage has been done especially if she has been scared and out of the box on a cold night.If humidity was a problem then all eggs would have had a problem not just the one. A chick that has Pipped the Air Sac is a lot more vunerable to chilling than one in Embryonic stage cheers Frank
|
|
|
|
Post by Zack on Oct 20, 2004 15:51:04 GMT 10
Thanks Frank, I'll see what happens this time round. She still has only two eggs. Last one laid on Sunday. Think they will probablybe infertile.
Plus I don't think she is quite ready to have another clutch just yet..?
See how we go.
Thanks
Kazz
|
|
|
|
Post by AussieBirds on Oct 20, 2004 16:08:28 GMT 10
How long do you leave eggs before you pull them as being infirtile? I have a Cinnamon hen sitting on eggs at the moment she is not moving off them other than a couple of times a say to drink, and when she leaves the nest the male takes over sitting. Im not sure how long she has been sitting so I am only guessing with this one.
John
|
|
|
|
Post by fischer on Oct 20, 2004 16:27:20 GMT 10
John, have you a strong bright light you can hold the eggs against? if you can see small red veins in the egg I would leave them a week, then do the same again, if you can see a difference, there fertile. any rough idea how long the pair may have been sitting? Cheers Tony
|
|
I have been told that it is fine to actually spray the inside of the nest box while the hen is sitting in order to raise the humidity. Of course that would be a silly thing to do during cold weather, but what are your ideas and opinions on this.
