CindyinSD
All will be well, and that will be well is well.
I know! Aren't those eggs gorgeous? Maybe breeding for that trait has forced breeders to ignore other factors, maybe negative health-wise, that just come packaged with the non-functional production of large amounts of egg color? I got three females and a male from Cackle Hatchery. Nice birds, but I lost one in the brooder, one I found dead in the coop as a new layer, and the beautiful little roo was henpecked to death recently. dam little raptors. I have one left and she always pecks me if I touch her though she seems to want to be close to me.I agree with your assessment. I don't think changing incubators would have caused malpositions as long as they were incubating on their side in both. If they went from upright incubating to sideways hatching then I'd say maybe.
As for Marans eggs...I hate to say this...but they do seem to be more difficult to hatch. My best hatch ever was 17/21. My Marans consistently had hatch rates 10-15% lower than my other chickens. This could be inbreeding or ??? I never had a chance to figure it out.
After 7 years keeping, 3 years breeding, BBS and Black Copper Marans a predator got my breeding stock last year. They seem to be a significant degree of difficulty above other breeds. Constant uphill battle. I'm taking a break.
Of course I say that. Then see everyone's beautiful dark eggs and immediately get the itch for more.