A Bielefelder Thread !

[DesertChic]

My bielefelders have been hatching today. They are taking their own sweet time. So far, three are out. One needed A LOT of help. I also hatched a bunch of bielefelder X cream legbar crosses. I'm not sure which are the bielefelders. LOL

I'll get a pic when more of them hatch.

Yeah...my Biels took their time too. I had one that hatched almost exactly one hour after pipping, and another about 4.5 hours after pipping, but most of them took 20 - 30 hours to hatch after pipping. Very frustrating!

 

[Sill]

My bielefelders have been hatching today. They are taking their own sweet time. So far, three are out. One needed A LOT of help. I also hatched a bunch of bielefelder X cream legbar crosses. I'm not sure which are the bielefelders. LOL

I'll get a pic when more of them hatch.

The crosses should make some pretty green eggs!

Yeah...my Biels took their time too. I had one that hatched almost exactly one hour after pipping, and another about 4.5 hours after pipping, but most of them took 20 - 30 hours to hatch after pipping. Very frustrating!

Is this breed known for sluggish hatching? Is it because the eggs are so big?

 

[kittydoc]

The crosses should make some pretty green eggs!

Is this breed known for sluggish hatching? Is it because the eggs are so big?

I have Jubilee Orpingtons, which have very large eggs even as young pullets, and they take their SWEET time hatching after they pip. Not like even other colors of Orpington. I have learned to be very patient as long as I know they have pipped externally in a reasonable time. They are slow for the veins to recede and slow for the yolk sacs to be absorbed. I wouldn't be surprised if Bielies do the same thing for the same reason.

 

[DesertChic]

The crosses should make some pretty green eggs!

Is this breed known for sluggish hatching? Is it because the eggs are so big?

I honestly don't know. Some of my eggs were pretty small...obviously from pullets...and egg size in itself didn't seem to determine hatch time. I do know that statistically the hatched chick is supposed to comprise roughly 65% of the original egg weight, and many of many exceeded that number. Mine averaged 71.2% of original egg weight with one of my girls weighing 85.4% of the original weight. There was also minimal mess with my hatch, whereas my NN Turkens were very messy by comparison.

 

[texasmomma]

So far, I have had only 3 of the bieles hatch and all of the hybrids. Not all have made it, but I've had incubator issues. I'm going to wait a few more days for the bieles and then try again. I've been collecting eggs so I can keep on hatching.

I may end up getting another incubator before I do some more hatching just so I don't have to worry about incubator issues.

My first batch of bieles did pretty well, but I was using a different incubator.

They are so darned adorable, though, scooting from one end of the brooder to another.

 

[Ron Skekel]

So far, I have had only 3 of the bieles hatch and all of the hybrids. Not all have made it, but I've had incubator issues. I'm going to wait a few more days for the bieles and then try again. I've been collecting eggs so I can keep on hatching.

I may end up getting another incubator before I do some more hatching just so I don't have to worry about incubator issues.

My first batch of bieles did pretty well, but I was using a different incubator. 

They are so darned adorable, though, scooting from one end of the brooder to another.

I just finished my first day of lockdown Came home to two chicks one biefelder hatched and more to go never had a hatch this early. Also did dry hatch because of marens eggs. I'm finding better hatches with dry hatchins more hatch and healthy and ready to eat.

 

[DMRippy]

Quote: I incubate everything DRY. I have marans and that is about the only way you can get them to hatch. All the other do fine too.

 

[Ron Skekel]

I incubate everything DRY.  I have marans and that is about the only way you can get them to hatch.  All the other do fine too.

Thanks for the valadation. Now i do it dry for all eggs too.
Pam

 

[DesertChic]

I just finished my first day of lockdown Came home to two chicks one biefelder hatched and more to go never had a hatch this early. Also did dry hatch because of marens eggs. I'm finding better hatches with dry hatchins more hatch and healthy and ready to eat.

I incubate everything DRY. I have marans and that is about the only way you can get them to hatch. All the other do fine too.

Thanks for the valadation. Now i do it dry for all eggs too.
Pam

Okay...so how "dry" do you guys go on your humidity? I've heard many mentions of "dry" incubation, but I'm still a bit fuzzy as to the details. And do any of you live in very dry climates? I'm in southern AZ where our daytime humidity is typically below 11%, so I'm not certain a dry hatch would even work. ????

 

[Stekewood]

I am interested in this too. I'm about to pull the trigger on a new incubator and was looking at the Brinsea octogan 20. If dry works, it would seem to make sense to just go with the Eco instead of the advance. I am going with the turner regardless. Thoughts?