Jump to content

Incubating Eggs Artificially


Recommended Posts


  • Member ID:  4,580
  • Group:  Site Members
  • Followers:  0
  • Topic Count:  136
  • Topics Per Day:  0.01
  • Content Count:  707
  • Content Per Day:  0.04
  • Reputation:   0
  • Achievement Points:  4,920
  • Solved Content:  0
  • Days Won:  0
  • Joined:  14/08/08
  • Status:  Offline
  • Last Seen:  
  • Birthday:  14/04/1995

If you were breeding and the mother escaped or abandoned the eggs, and you had no other pairs breeding as foster parents...Could you get an incubator and incubate them yourself? If you had to, what are the postives and negatives for incubating the eggs yourself? How would you do it? (I mean, how and when would you turn the eggs, etc) How hard is it and should you not do it unless absolutely necessary? Could you change an incubator for eggs and use it as a brooder for chicks?

I think that's all of my questions! :D Just curious, trying to research that kind of thing before breeding this time, in case anything does go wrong.

Edited by Jen144
Link to comment

  • Member ID:  4,233
  • Group:  Site Members
  • Followers:  0
  • Topic Count:  329
  • Topics Per Day:  0.06
  • Content Count:  4,498
  • Content Per Day:  0.78
  • Reputation:   0
  • Achievement Points:  28,540
  • Solved Content:  0
  • Days Won:  0
  • Joined:  06/04/08
  • Status:  Offline
  • Last Seen:  
  • Birthday:  17/12/1982

It's not the incubating that's hard but the chick raising, it is rare that a chick will survive being handraised from birth. Personally I would dispose of the eggs if that were to happen as it would be a lot of work for most likely only dead chicks. :(

Link to comment

  • Member ID:  4,449
  • Group:  Site Members
  • Followers:  0
  • Topic Count:  123
  • Topics Per Day:  0.01
  • Content Count:  2,475
  • Content Per Day:  0.12
  • Reputation:   0
  • Achievement Points:  14,280
  • Solved Content:  0
  • Days Won:  0
  • Joined:  18/06/08
  • Status:  Offline
  • Last Seen:  
  • Birthday:  21/04/1991

If you incubate eggs you need to turn them every hour or so, to prevent one side getting too hot and burning the embryo. You need to keep the incubater at a certain temperature always.

Personally I would just throw away the eggs unless they were within 5 days of hatching, then I would try incubate.

Link to comment

  • Member ID:  4,580
  • Group:  Site Members
  • Followers:  0
  • Topic Count:  136
  • Topics Per Day:  0.01
  • Content Count:  707
  • Content Per Day:  0.04
  • Reputation:   0
  • Achievement Points:  4,920
  • Solved Content:  0
  • Days Won:  0
  • Joined:  14/08/08
  • Status:  Offline
  • Last Seen:  
  • Birthday:  14/04/1995

Okay. I would try to incubate the eggs (it is worth trying rather than throwing them away, at least if you try they have a small chance, better than none) and then if I had a pair that had not been right (for fostering eggs) at that time, when the eggs hatch I can give them the newborns? Would that work? Then I would not have to feed the babies, except maybe once, a while after hatching so it is strong enough to call for food from its new parents?

Is incubating eggs really hard? Do the incubators that automatically turn eggs break them or addle them or are they fine to use? Do you have to turn eggs if they are 5 days from hatching? (or less)

Link to comment

  • Member ID:  4,449
  • Group:  Site Members
  • Followers:  0
  • Topic Count:  123
  • Topics Per Day:  0.01
  • Content Count:  2,475
  • Content Per Day:  0.12
  • Reputation:   0
  • Achievement Points:  14,280
  • Solved Content:  0
  • Days Won:  0
  • Joined:  18/06/08
  • Status:  Offline
  • Last Seen:  
  • Birthday:  21/04/1991

You have to turn them every hour until they hatch, otherwise the incubater will heat the same spot and burn the embryo. Their may be better incubators now that do not require this, I'm not sure. Ive never heard of an incubator that turns the eggs by itself either.

Once the eggs hatch you can move them to a parent with chicks or a parent with eggs about to hatch.

Link to comment

  • Member ID:  4,580
  • Group:  Site Members
  • Followers:  0
  • Topic Count:  136
  • Topics Per Day:  0.01
  • Content Count:  707
  • Content Per Day:  0.04
  • Reputation:   0
  • Achievement Points:  4,920
  • Solved Content:  0
  • Days Won:  0
  • Joined:  14/08/08
  • Status:  Offline
  • Last Seen:  
  • Birthday:  14/04/1995

Well there are ones where you have to manually turn them, and ones that automatically turn the eggs but I'm not sure how..

If the incubator has an even temp throughout then there would be no need to turn them? Or would you still have to because the embryo would get stuck to one side or something?

So if I do have eggs abandoned it is worth trying to incubate them if I have foster parents that will be available when the eggs hatch?

Link to comment

  • Member ID:  4,449
  • Group:  Site Members
  • Followers:  0
  • Topic Count:  123
  • Topics Per Day:  0.01
  • Content Count:  2,475
  • Content Per Day:  0.12
  • Reputation:   0
  • Achievement Points:  14,280
  • Solved Content:  0
  • Days Won:  0
  • Joined:  18/06/08
  • Status:  Offline
  • Last Seen:  
  • Birthday:  21/04/1991

The incubator I had was bought in 2003. It was a proper incubator. It was a polystyrene box and lid, with a wire bottom. The heater was at the top and their was also a thermometer. You had to stick the eggs on the wire base. If left for over an hour in one spot the light at the top would burn the top of the eggs, killing the embryo. On my incubator the base of the egg didnt get any light, so did not get burnt. The incubators you can get now might be better, im not sure. Best to wait for someone who has a recent one.

Link to comment

  • Member ID:  3,771
  • Group:  Site Members
  • Followers:  0
  • Topic Count:  147
  • Topics Per Day:  0.01
  • Content Count:  6,621
  • Content Per Day:  0.33
  • Reputation:   0
  • Achievement Points:  39,450
  • Solved Content:  0
  • Days Won:  0
  • Joined:  23/10/07
  • Status:  Offline
  • Last Seen:  
  • Birthday:  09/04/1911

The egg turning is to stop the embryo sticking to the side.

If you have parents that are able to raise the babies then they will be able to take care of the eggs too. If they have babies that have hatched and are a lot older then the fostering may not work.

 

You will have a real challenge ahead of you. i hope it works out.

 

Personally, I would put the eggs in a bucket of seed and take them to someone who has birds who can foster the eggs and chicks.

Edited by **Liv**
Link to comment

  • Member ID:  4,580
  • Group:  Site Members
  • Followers:  0
  • Topic Count:  136
  • Topics Per Day:  0.01
  • Content Count:  707
  • Content Per Day:  0.04
  • Reputation:   0
  • Achievement Points:  4,920
  • Solved Content:  0
  • Days Won:  0
  • Joined:  14/08/08
  • Status:  Offline
  • Last Seen:  
  • Birthday:  14/04/1995

Okay thank you all. So if this happens my options would be..

Throw out the eggs

Take them to someone who has pairs able to be foster parents

Or incubate them myself and raise them from day 1...

I think taking them to someone else is the best idea, one of my pairs breeding at the moment is part of a little joint breeding project with me and a friend, so I can easily give her some of the eggs if they do get abandoned or anything. Thanks!:(

Link to comment

  • Member ID:  1,976
  • Group:  Site Members
  • Followers:  2
  • Topic Count:  521
  • Topics Per Day:  0.03
  • Content Count:  25,294
  • Content Per Day:  1.28
  • Reputation:   0
  • Achievement Points:  152,977
  • Solved Content:  0
  • Days Won:  0
  • Joined:  24/01/06
  • Status:  Offline
  • Last Seen:  
  • Birthday:  07/01/1956

Okay thank you all. So if this happens my options would be..

Throw out the eggs

Take them to someone who has pairs able to be foster parents

Or incubate them myself and raise them from day 1...

I think taking them to someone else is the best idea, one of my pairs breeding at the moment is part of a little joint breeding project with me and a friend, so I can easily give her some of the eggs if they do get abandoned or anything. Thanks!:D

You have a window of 20 mins to get eggs that have begun incubation under another hen. Best way to transport is warm some seed in the sun in a tub, and put the eggs in it under the seed surface and race the eggs over to your friend.

Always best is to breed more than 2-3 pairs at once to be able to foster eggs and chicks and save headaches :(

Link to comment

  • Member ID:  4,233
  • Group:  Site Members
  • Followers:  0
  • Topic Count:  329
  • Topics Per Day:  0.06
  • Content Count:  4,498
  • Content Per Day:  0.78
  • Reputation:   0
  • Achievement Points:  28,540
  • Solved Content:  0
  • Days Won:  0
  • Joined:  06/04/08
  • Status:  Offline
  • Last Seen:  
  • Birthday:  17/12/1982

If it is a cold day you can warm the seed in the microwave but only for ten seconds or so and check it with a thermometer before putting the eggs in, if you can be very careful you can hold them gently in your hand while the seed warms to keep them warm if it's a very cold day and you are worried about them chilling

Link to comment
  • 2 years later...

  • Member ID:  5,641
  • Group:  Site Members
  • Followers:  0
  • Topic Count:  27
  • Topics Per Day:  0.01
  • Content Count:  205
  • Content Per Day:  0.04
  • Reputation:   0
  • Achievement Points:  1,295
  • Solved Content:  0
  • Days Won:  0
  • Joined:  07/10/09
  • Status:  Offline
  • Last Seen:  

Okay thank you all. So if this happens my options would be..

Throw out the eggs

Take them to someone who has pairs able to be foster parents

Or incubate them myself and raise them from day 1...

I think taking them to someone else is the best idea, one of my pairs breeding at the moment is part of a little joint breeding project with me and a friend, so I can easily give her some of the eggs if they do get abandoned or anything. Thanks!:D

You have a window of 20 mins to get eggs that have begun incubation under another hen. Best way to transport is warm some seed in the sun in a tub, and put the eggs in it under the seed surface and race the eggs over to your friend.

Always best is to breed more than 2-3 pairs at once to be able to foster eggs and chicks and save headaches :(

I have had eggs moved between myself and other breeders that have lasted a trip of over 100 plus kilometres stopping at mackas on they way,transported in a plastic container lined with wood shavings & placed under a hen and hatched two days later.So they have a lot longer than a 20 minute window Kaz,ive also moved full cold eggs when a hen has died into another nest and those eggs have also hatched.

Link to comment

  • Member ID:  1,976
  • Group:  Site Members
  • Followers:  2
  • Topic Count:  521
  • Topics Per Day:  0.03
  • Content Count:  25,294
  • Content Per Day:  1.28
  • Reputation:   0
  • Achievement Points:  152,977
  • Solved Content:  0
  • Days Won:  0
  • Joined:  24/01/06
  • Status:  Offline
  • Last Seen:  
  • Birthday:  07/01/1956

 

I have had eggs moved between myself and other breeders that have lasted a trip of over 100 plus kilometres stopping at mackas on they way,transported in a plastic container lined with wood shavings & placed under a hen and hatched two days later.So they have a lot longer than a 20 minute window Kaz,ive also moved full cold eggs when a hen has died into another nest and those eggs have also hatched.

 

 

Thats good to know PJ :)

Link to comment
  • 2 months later...

  • Member ID:  6,432
  • Group:  Site Members
  • Followers:  0
  • Topic Count:  4
  • Topics Per Day:  0.00
  • Content Count:  7
  • Content Per Day:  0.00
  • Reputation:   0
  • Achievement Points:  85
  • Solved Content:  0
  • Days Won:  0
  • Joined:  28/12/10
  • Status:  Offline
  • Last Seen:  

I have incubated dozens of budgie eggs over the years mainly due to a death or just to many eggs to share around

 

you will need a proper incubator which you can get for about $150 on ebay that way they turn the eggs for you.

 

and it will need to be set at 36.8 degrees celcius with abbout 65% humidity.

Link to comment

  • Member ID:  1,976
  • Group:  Site Members
  • Followers:  2
  • Topic Count:  521
  • Topics Per Day:  0.03
  • Content Count:  25,294
  • Content Per Day:  1.28
  • Reputation:   0
  • Achievement Points:  152,977
  • Solved Content:  0
  • Days Won:  0
  • Joined:  24/01/06
  • Status:  Offline
  • Last Seen:  
  • Birthday:  07/01/1956

I have incubated dozens of budgie eggs over the years mainly due to a death or just to many eggs to share around

 

you will need a proper incubator which you can get for about $150 on ebay that way they turn the eggs for you.

 

and it will need to be set at 36.8 degrees celcius with abbout 65% humidity.

 

 

Good information ecca and thanks....but the original poster of this question posted it 2 yrs ago.

Link to comment

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...