A
Anonymous
Guest
Well, I didn't read this till after buying 2 incubators. Thanks Tim for putting my mind at rest on the Suro as it is 2 of those I have bought.
I used to breed reptiles and obviously had to incubate any aggs layed, I have heard people say reptiles are harder to hatch than chooks, but I have to disagree. My reptile incubators where all home made and I rarely got less than 95% hatch rate. I found humidity easier to gauge as the eggs from most reptiles are soft shelled and sink if the humidity was too low.I couldn't use those incubators for poultry eggs as the stats wouldn't cater for temps above 32c at the max and the humidity aspect was rather daunting.
My mind is certainly more at ease having the suro's that for sure, both are in use as I type so lets hope a few hatch at least
I used to breed reptiles and obviously had to incubate any aggs layed, I have heard people say reptiles are harder to hatch than chooks, but I have to disagree. My reptile incubators where all home made and I rarely got less than 95% hatch rate. I found humidity easier to gauge as the eggs from most reptiles are soft shelled and sink if the humidity was too low.I couldn't use those incubators for poultry eggs as the stats wouldn't cater for temps above 32c at the max and the humidity aspect was rather daunting.
My mind is certainly more at ease having the suro's that for sure, both are in use as I type so lets hope a few hatch at least
Tim
Administrator
Good luck Kym-J - You will find some eggs are easier to hatch than others - this is because some pure breeds are closely bred and hatchability decreases. In general though, they are easy to hatch. I just which I could stop hatching cockerels!
Davidd
Active member
Hi, yes, that's a good plan - that's what i do 
regards, David
regards, David
Tim
Administrator
That's the way I hatch here too.
Although sometimes I forget (like tonight) and I have ducklings hatching in the incy... poor things getting turned and no extra humidity to hatch! 3 out of 3 hatched this evening though!
Tim
Although sometimes I forget (like tonight) and I have ducklings hatching in the incy... poor things getting turned and no extra humidity to hatch! 3 out of 3 hatched this evening though!
Tim
A
Anonymous
Guest
id say you'd be ok have had runners hatched end of july /august and been showable at end of year , ducks are better growers than chickens.
Tim
Administrator
If you want some Abacot eggs, I can send you some. They are from German stock that I imported last year. I have enough ducklings now and they lay really well... I would ask you pay the P&P but it would be good to spread the bloodline a little in case of disaster..
I will also have pairs available later in the year.
As for new blood next year, Chris and Mike Ashton also imported some at the same time as me - all being well, we will be swapping a pair later in the year and will then have two separate bloodlines for the future.
I have tried some UK Abacot lines and found all sorts of things popping up in the offspring - Eye stripes, orange bills and various other bits and bobs. During the late sixties there was a popular hybrid created by Leslie Bonnet that looked very similar to an Abacot Drake - the result is that (most probably) this duck got unintentionally crossed. 80% of the offspring haven't been suitable to breed from.
The Germans have done a lot for the Streicher Ente as they call it - there were 40 or so entries at Hanover last year, all looking really good -they are really well established in the show scene.
Let me know anyway. I have seen the birds on ebay and haven't tried that breeder before.
As for hatching now - it's perfect timing. To get the best Abacot ducks at Hannover the breeders were hatching 4 months before the show..
Tim
I will also have pairs available later in the year.
As for new blood next year, Chris and Mike Ashton also imported some at the same time as me - all being well, we will be swapping a pair later in the year and will then have two separate bloodlines for the future.
I have tried some UK Abacot lines and found all sorts of things popping up in the offspring - Eye stripes, orange bills and various other bits and bobs. During the late sixties there was a popular hybrid created by Leslie Bonnet that looked very similar to an Abacot Drake - the result is that (most probably) this duck got unintentionally crossed. 80% of the offspring haven't been suitable to breed from.
The Germans have done a lot for the Streicher Ente as they call it - there were 40 or so entries at Hanover last year, all looking really good -they are really well established in the show scene.
Let me know anyway. I have seen the birds on ebay and haven't tried that breeder before.
As for hatching now - it's perfect timing. To get the best Abacot ducks at Hannover the breeders were hatching 4 months before the show..
Tim
Tim
Administrator
No problem - well if you have a bad hatch or would like some later on, if they are still laying, you are welcome to them, just PM me with your address and I'll send you some.
