Our second hatch of the year concluded this past Saturday with 20 healthy chicks. First hatch was pretty successful as well. Except for the Bantam eggs. In the first batch, none of the Bantam eggs developed at all. This time around, there were three (If I remember right) that were quitters and there was one out of 8 total Bantam eggs that I know developed and was alive right up until lock down. I candled and it was moving around a lot with good veining. I could see toes and beak and everything. We let it stay and waited for 3 extra days before we gave up. When we took them out, hubby opened it and it was fully developed and looked like it had started absorbing yolk but never pipped. I know the Bantam roo is good because there were 2 from the last batch with feathered legs and red lacing from him and also 2 in this batch from BA hens. The Bantams are the only ones with feathered legs. I don't know how healthy she is reproductively because I haven't been able to get any eggs from her to hatch at all.
Now, I've read about the fatal gene causing chicks to die right before hatch if both parents carry it and I'm thinking this must be the issue. He's a red Cochin and she's a mottled Cochin. Can this also cause them to quit like the other Bantam eggs have done? I thought it was just a Japanese Bantam problem but I didn't think Cochins were a Japanese variety? I'm probably wrong on that. I've got one of her eggs under a broody BA hen right now, hoping it will hatch. This fatal gene is the only thing that makes sense. They all have the same diet, are fat and sassy and eggs from the others have all hatched perfectly fine in the same incubator, under the same conditions. Quick side note this batch of chicks hatched MUCH fatter than the first and I'm certain it's due to the a-hole guineas not being here to bully the hens away from the best food anymore so their nutrition is definitely better this time around. Back on topic, is this common in Cochins and is there any way to tell if I were to get a new roo or hen if they carry it before trying to hatch from them? There's not much hope of the SLW roo mixing with her either. She's the only hen the Bantam roo protects from him. Neither of them are going anywhere either way They are both keepers, regardless of whether or not I get any babies from the pair.
Now, I've read about the fatal gene causing chicks to die right before hatch if both parents carry it and I'm thinking this must be the issue. He's a red Cochin and she's a mottled Cochin. Can this also cause them to quit like the other Bantam eggs have done? I thought it was just a Japanese Bantam problem but I didn't think Cochins were a Japanese variety? I'm probably wrong on that. I've got one of her eggs under a broody BA hen right now, hoping it will hatch. This fatal gene is the only thing that makes sense. They all have the same diet, are fat and sassy and eggs from the others have all hatched perfectly fine in the same incubator, under the same conditions. Quick side note this batch of chicks hatched MUCH fatter than the first and I'm certain it's due to the a-hole guineas not being here to bully the hens away from the best food anymore so their nutrition is definitely better this time around. Back on topic, is this common in Cochins and is there any way to tell if I were to get a new roo or hen if they carry it before trying to hatch from them? There's not much hope of the SLW roo mixing with her either. She's the only hen the Bantam roo protects from him. Neither of them are going anywhere either way They are both keepers, regardless of whether or not I get any babies from the pair.
