How can we increase humidity for hatching for free rangers

[CarolynEarley]

This probably sounds like a stupid question but answers would be appreciated. We have a problem with hatching at this time of year and through the Summer here in Crete as the temperatures rise. We have chicks that start to pip but cannot make it out of the shells. We lost 4 today. The hens are housed in individual brooders and the air temperature in the shade of the brooders is now at about 25 degrees. (I am not trying to rub it in folks but that is the truth of it). Anyway, 4 pipping eggs were lost today and we think it was due to it being so hot and dry. When we came home (from the beach) they had died in the shells. I put some water onto one that had survived and it later hatched successfully. So we need to do something to make sure this does not happen in the future ... we have a turkey sitting on 16 eggs due to hatch in 2 weeks when it will be even hotter and drier and anothr hen has 3 weeks to go. This is what I am thinking of doing: tipping a bowl of water out onto the floor of the brooder away from the nest to raise the general humidity in the area; lightly spraying the eggs with water once a day (but I don't know whether to start now or leave it until a few days before the hatching date); and/or putting water in the nest area under the eggs. If anyone can advise that would be great. It is so upsetting to come home to four shells with perfectly formed chicks dead inside! We sit our hens on turkey, chicken and duck eggs so advise for all would be appreciated. Thanks :?

 

[Philcott]

Am wondering if water on the soil underneath the nest itself isn't the way to go. You don't say what they are nesting on, but if the ground is damp underneath the nest then that would raise the humidity. Just a thought and I could be totally wrong!

 

[AlexArt]

Agree with the above maybe a damp sod of turf under the broody would be an idea, my neighbor tried that one year when we had a very dry summer and hers hatched fine, or maybe even some damp sponges under the eggs that you can just keep moist might help, another less popular idea with the hen - dip her in some water twice a day so she's damp underneath?

 

[CarolynEarley]

Sorry, yes one nest is in a metal brooder raised off the ground and has straw for the nest. The other is in a wooden brooder with a concrete floor and then straw for the nest again. I will try both ideas with different broodies and see what works. Thanks very much.

 

[chrismahon]

Lewis Wright details the arrangement for broodies. They should be in a coop with no floor with a nest made from hollowed earth base lined with straw. The earth then maintains the humidity.

 

[Marigold]

I think Alex's idea of wetting the hens feathers is good idea. I used to take my primary school class to a farm where there were broodies sitting in the traditional way and being moved off the nest regularly, and the farmer explained that when she walked through the long dew- soaked grass in the morning she was then able to dampen the eggs when she returned to sit on them. I suppose spraying the eggs whilst she was taking a break would have the same effect, maybe.

 

[Japanesebantamkate]

Hiya,
i know Im posting a bit late as this is over a month old but I had a thought regarding your scenario when you went to the beach and the pipped eggs had died in the shell on your return. You could carefully wrap a strip of wet kitchen roll round the opposite end of the egg from the pipped part. That way it gets some moisture without it blocking its exit route! Through my trials and errors of learning to hatch in an incuabtor Ive done this when Ive stupidily tried to help a chick out too early and the method has been successful.
Kate.......PS/ Very jealous aout your 'heat issue' We dont know what 'heat' is in England at the mo....Can tell you alot about rain though

 

[CarolynEarley]

Hi All. Thanks for all the tips. We have since had successful hatchings. I put an old tea towel under the nests and when the broodies came off each day I dribbled a little water into the nests. One hen hatched out 6 chicks, another 7, and the bantam cross hatched out .... 11 chicks! All doing well. The weather has now cooled to mid 20+ so should be fewer problems now.