Saturday, June 18, 2005
INCUBATION
In natural conditions most parrots provide three important conditions which have to be met to ensure successful incubation. The eggs are warmed to the optimum temperature, the humidity is maintained at the required level and the eggs are turned regularly.
If artificial incubation is decided upon, the choice of incubators can be difficult. All electric incubators are convenient but other factors must also be taken into consideration. If eggs are to be hatched successfully by artifical means the criteria in respect of warmth, humidity and turning of the eggs have to be met. Ventilation, too, is an important factor if the eggs are to be hatched without loss of chicks. With so many different make and models to choose from the first time buyer must do a fair amount of research to find the machine that will duplicate as close as possible to what the hen on the nest will do. There are two types of incubators: still air and forced air. The former is generally of a smaller capacity and heated from above. The cooler air leaves from ports near the base, so it actually operates by convection. Still air machines, with their large capacity heaters and ether capsules, are prone to overshoot as the capsules are not sufficiently sensitve and are slow to respond. Forced air incubators rely on a fan or paddle to circulate the hot air given off from the heater, the circulator normally being situated near the heat source. Many small incubators are constructed of plastic to give a clear view of what is happening, however these machines lose heat very quickly because of their lack of insulation.
Although the control of humidity is not as critical as that of temperature, it is a very necessary factor. Many incubators fluctuate five to ten percent from what it is actually set at. Humidty control must be given consideration when selecting an incubator. Also, relative humidity in the incubator can and will fluctuate, depending on the weather. When choosing an incubator to artificially incubate those precious parrot eggs it all boils down to one thing, "you get what you pay for". It only stands to reason that an incubator that cost $500 should do a better job of incubating than one that cost $80. And naturally an incubator that cost $2000 will be better than the $500 machine. Many breeders will say that they hatch their parrot eggs just fine in their incubator, that only cost them $125 but do they tell you how many eggs they lose.
The third essential for successful incubation is the turnng of the eggs to ensure that the embryo does not adhere to the protective membranes. Most incubators have automatic turners, vital if the incubator is to be left unattended for long periods. It is useless in this day and age to purchase a machine that does not turn eggs. Eggs must be turned a minimum of 8 times in a 24 hour period. I prefer my eggs to be turned every one to one and one half hours or a minimum of sixteen turns in a 24 hour period. There have been many studies that actually show the hen turns the egg at least once an hour and sometimes more often depending on the stage of incubation the egg is at. When deciding on what type of incubator to purchase you must check the turning mechanism, many incubators vibrate to such an extent that they can and will seriously jar the egg of many species. During the first week to ten days care must be taken to handle and turn the eggs very carefully as this is the most vulnerable time to damage the formation of the vitelline blood vessels.
In natural conditions most parrots provide three important conditions which have to be met to ensure successful incubation. The eggs are warmed to the optimum temperature, the humidity is maintained at the required level and the eggs are turned regularly.
If artificial incubation is decided upon, the choice of incubators can be difficult. All electric incubators are convenient but other factors must also be taken into consideration. If eggs are to be hatched successfully by artifical means the criteria in respect of warmth, humidity and turning of the eggs have to be met. Ventilation, too, is an important factor if the eggs are to be hatched without loss of chicks. With so many different make and models to choose from the first time buyer must do a fair amount of research to find the machine that will duplicate as close as possible to what the hen on the nest will do. There are two types of incubators: still air and forced air. The former is generally of a smaller capacity and heated from above. The cooler air leaves from ports near the base, so it actually operates by convection. Still air machines, with their large capacity heaters and ether capsules, are prone to overshoot as the capsules are not sufficiently sensitve and are slow to respond. Forced air incubators rely on a fan or paddle to circulate the hot air given off from the heater, the circulator normally being situated near the heat source. Many small incubators are constructed of plastic to give a clear view of what is happening, however these machines lose heat very quickly because of their lack of insulation.
Although the control of humidity is not as critical as that of temperature, it is a very necessary factor. Many incubators fluctuate five to ten percent from what it is actually set at. Humidty control must be given consideration when selecting an incubator. Also, relative humidity in the incubator can and will fluctuate, depending on the weather. When choosing an incubator to artificially incubate those precious parrot eggs it all boils down to one thing, "you get what you pay for". It only stands to reason that an incubator that cost $500 should do a better job of incubating than one that cost $80. And naturally an incubator that cost $2000 will be better than the $500 machine. Many breeders will say that they hatch their parrot eggs just fine in their incubator, that only cost them $125 but do they tell you how many eggs they lose.
The third essential for successful incubation is the turnng of the eggs to ensure that the embryo does not adhere to the protective membranes. Most incubators have automatic turners, vital if the incubator is to be left unattended for long periods. It is useless in this day and age to purchase a machine that does not turn eggs. Eggs must be turned a minimum of 8 times in a 24 hour period. I prefer my eggs to be turned every one to one and one half hours or a minimum of sixteen turns in a 24 hour period. There have been many studies that actually show the hen turns the egg at least once an hour and sometimes more often depending on the stage of incubation the egg is at. When deciding on what type of incubator to purchase you must check the turning mechanism, many incubators vibrate to such an extent that they can and will seriously jar the egg of many species. During the first week to ten days care must be taken to handle and turn the eggs very carefully as this is the most vulnerable time to damage the formation of the vitelline blood vessels.
