How many days does a chicken incubate eggs
To increase the number of birds, you need to apply incubation. But beginners always face an important question: "How many days does the hen hatch eggs, what does it take?" In a brief overview, we will analyze in detail all the subtleties and factors affecting this process.
How many eggs hatch
Removal features
Using a brood hen for several weeks to produce chicks is the fastest way to increase the herd population. But before that, you need to find out how much the eggs hatch. This type of bird has the strongest maternal instinct, so it will not be difficult to seat the female on the egg. Novice farmers are worried about the natural process, what needs to be done additionally, so we will tell you about the important subtleties.
Brood health depends not only on the brood hen, but also on the knowledge of the owner. Rational nutrition, the creation of optimal living conditions affect the fertilization of eggs and the mother's immunity. Chickens rush without a rooster, but this material cannot be used to obtain offspring.
In the presence of a male, the cell is fertilized and moves to the yolk membrane. Protein forms around it, after which a natural defense is formed - a shell. In the final bird lays an egg... It takes 40 minutes before postponing and moving on to the next stage, but the whole process takes about 20 hours, that is, almost within one day.
When the hen reaches puberty
The brooding instinct is more pronounced in individuals of heavy breeds. They are not so mobile, so they sit on the nest for a long time without problems. It is important to choose a suitable female from the livestock, which must cope with a serious procedure and a rooster.
The age of puberty is not the same for all chickens. Egg breeds ready after 5 months, and regular and meat types 34 weeks after birth. It can be determined by external signs by observing the chickens throughout the day, but the most characteristic is the darkening of the head ridge.
How does a hen hatch eggs? The increased body temperature creates an optimal microclimate for the formation of the embryo. Under normal conditions, it does not exceed 37 ° C, but with the appearance of the maternal instinct, it increases to 42 ° C. The ratio of heat to periodic turning helps in the dawn of new life.
How to choose a bird
Before you know how many days you need to incubate eggs, you need to find the "right" nest. Not all mature individuals are suitable for this important procedure. There are signs by which you can determine the expectant mother.
- Quagging. The bird makes short, guttural sounds, unlike the usual singing.
- Changing the color of the comb. The growth on the head grows dull and bloodshot.
- Anxiety. The character of the expectant mother is being transformed. Yesterday, a sociable creature becomes irritable and nervous.
- Increased body temperature.An increase of 2-3 ° C is noticeable with the hands.
- Constant presence in the nest. The Corydalis avoids the company of its own kind, looking for a quiet place.
The cackling bird is not always ready for incubation of chicks, the hen must mature for this. Experienced farmers recommend putting trompe l'oeil under the mother for a couple of days. If the mood of the slice has not changed, then the incubation material can be introduced.
Professionals know that not all mature females are able to sit on the nest. Klushka should have a number of characteristic features:
- dense body without obesity;
- large wings and crest;
- wide belly;
- clean plumage without baldness.
The bird gets up before everyone else, and in the evening is in no hurry to sit down on the perch. Her physical capabilities allow a sufficient number of eggs to hatch, and her behavior speaks of an enhanced maternal instinct. Before the process, it is recommended to carry out preventive treatment from parasites.
Pay attention to hatching eggs
While the brood hen is sitting on blendes, it is worth starting to collect the incubation raw materials. Remember to take fresh eggs to produce healthy offspring. Optimal shelf life is no more than 6 days. Starting from the next day, the quality of raw materials deteriorates by 10%.
How to prepare the material correctly? Pay attention to shell structure and shape. Experienced farmers manually inspect each specimen, leaving the raw materials:
- no cracks;
- medium size;
- with a smooth surface;
- clean.
It is not advised to give preference to small or giant eggs. In the first case, there will be a bad embryo, and in the second there is a possibility of a double yolk. By the way, huge raw materials do not always fit under the hen.
Before placing the chicken on the nest, the material is translucent ovoscope... Any inclusions and veins indicate the unsuitability of the product for incubation. From 10 to 15 units are placed under one bird. It is important that they lie in one layer and are completely covered with feathers.
By the way, professionals use the Corydalis for incubating geese and ducks eggs. How long does a chicken incubate such eggs? Remember that the size of the source material does not match the "native" one, so you need to choose the optimal amount. To obtain ducklings, from 9 to 11 units are placed, and with specimens of larger bird species, a maximum of 7.
Incubation time
How long does a house hen laying hen sit on eggs? The hatching process lasts 21 days, after which the chickens begin to hatch. During this period, the raw materials are checked three times on an ovoscope, separating the missing. Often the bird itself rejects frozen specimens.
If overheated, chicks may appear 24-48 hours earlier. If after 21 days the babies do not show signs of life, then you should not wait any longer. It is recommended to inspect the entire clutch: a broken shell should indicate that the baby does not have enough strength to get out. Professionals advise to help the crumb and gently tear off the cover. When blood comes out, the procedure is stopped immediately.
If duck raw materials are used for incubation, then the terms increase to 28 days. Goslings appear after 30 days. It is important to remember these features and not to put different types of material. The bird will leave the nest after the first chick hatches and it will be difficult to force it to continue the process and the eggs will have to ripen in the incubator.
Poultry beginner mistakes
Beginners often make a common mistake: they gradually bring eggs under the hen, getting hatching chicks of different ages. As a result of negligence, the breeding time is violated and many chickens have to be left to "ripen" in incubator or under another bird if there are those that are sitting. If you want to breed a healthy livestock, then make sure that the kvochka sits on all specimens at the same time.
What if you can't get chicks to hatch at the same time? Experienced farmers place the young in a separate box or basket. The nursery maintains a constant temperature from 26 to 28 ° C. After the process is completed, the chicks are given to the mother.
After the first clutch, the Corydalis is able to hatch another or more. But don't experiment. The procedure is very exhausting for the chicken's body and it takes some time to recover. If you need a continuous hatching process, then it is better to purchase an artificial incubator.
How to care for offspring
The bird sits on eggs for 21 days. Depending on the nature of the individual, it is advised to install the nest in a chicken coop in a calm, twilight place. Water and food are available nearby. Some nervous mothers can leave the clutch, so they are covered with a net or a box with holes on top.
It is necessary to take care of the kushka during all this time. If the Corydalis does not get up to eat, then it is removed on its own. Gently raise the wings and paws, being careful not to crush the shell. Juveniles often have to be force-fed. During this period, high-calorie grains and a special diet are used.
The hen that incubates the eggs is very dependent on the owner. A person is obliged to follow the terms of rest of the expectant mother. However, after 20 minutes, the clutch will begin to cool down, so the bird is seated back. It is important not to scare her or bother her again.
While the hen is eating, it is advised to carefully examine the nest. Crushed chicken eggs and dirty bedding are thrown away. In cold weather, the hatching site can be covered with a light cotton cloth.
How to wean from incubation
What to do if the laying hen starts to cluck? The internal schedule of the hen may not always coincide with the wishes of the farmer. Often in the same farm several individuals sit on the egg or choose the wrong time. Time-tested methods will help to correct this situation.
Stress will help to wean the corydalis from the maternal instinct for a short time. Often the most unusual techniques are offered on the video. However, experts advise to bathe in containers with cold water. The body temperature drops, so the laying hen stops clucking after a couple of days.
If the bird does not respond to the execution, then it is locked in an empty nest without bedding and masonry. Remember that even one egg will provoke incubation. Mommy gets put in a lonely aviary until he forgot about instinct.
What a laying hen can dream about
Why do we see a hen in a dream? During household chores, we often do not think about the meaning of dreams. Our ancestors have preserved information that will be of interest to contemporaries. Let's look at the main interpretations of visions.
In the dream book, a chicken is a symbol of prosperity, therefore, if you see a healthy, beautiful individual, you should not worry. Buying a crested bird, a person gets good luck and easy profit in his life. A calm cluck hints at a joyful event.
If a pregnant woman sees poultry in a dream, then this means the birth of a girl. Feed the hens? The ancestors claimed that such a sign symbolizes good guests. The larger the number of livestock, the more pleasant the meeting will be.
The abundance of chicken dishes in the dream book is great news. Unexpected news will delight and bring happiness and fun to the house. But if you see the process of killing birds, then the news will be unpleasant and shocking.
Dreamed of a rooster
Do you see a rooster in your dreams? The subconscious mind warns of surprises, which are not always joyful. The “head” of chickens rushing at a predator is a symbol of a weak defender. Difficult chores means trying to catch a nimble male. In the dream book, meanings are interpreted in different ways, but the essence remains the same.
The egg is a symbol of ideas and new plans. A hen on chicken specimens means a healthy wait. Do not rush things: let everything go on as usual. Sometimes it is better to go to a goal for a long time than to lose everything quickly.
In the dream book, the symbol of chickens is ambiguous. Clean, healthy babies portend small joys in the house. But if the crumbs run away in fear, then this bodes well. A mother with a brood can most often dream of losses. A bird with dark plumage speaks of an upcoming sacrifice, and with a white one - to success.
Don't like the meaning of the vision in the dream book? We advise you not to worry and repeat the words of the ancient conspiracy three times:
No matter what I dreamed, I was forgotten to be able during the day.
Our ancestors washed themselves with blessed water and no longer remembered the unpleasant dream. They threw a coin into the window with the words "Paid". Such a ritual neutralized any negative prediction.
Crocheting is a simple and affordable way to increase the number of poultry. Our recommendations will help you choose a healthy individual and chicken eggs. Compliance with simple rules will easily allow you to get strong young growth, regardless of how many times the hen hatches eggs.