April Hatch Along

[WVduckchick]

I wonder if thats why my BCM hatch was so poor. 2/16 hatched. I hadabout 75 % with my other eggs in the same incubator shipped in the same box.

I've known quite a few people have trouble hatching BCM's until they drop humidity wayyyy down. Once they do that, they always hatch better. Those thick, dark shells are a pain to get to lose moisture.

I've also read about lightly sanding the air cell end, or even areas around the egg to help open up some pores to help with moisture loss.

I wonder if sponging/misting them, like we do with ducks, would work? I might have to talk to a friend that breed them about experimenting with that.

 

[rookhomestead]

I had to sponge my brown eggs. Humidity was around 35% for most of the incubating, and the air cells looked terribly small. So I gave it a try. They seem to be doing ok hatching. One popped out early from high temps and 2 are zipping now. I was able to get the air cells bigger but not perfect because I started doing it late.

 

[rookhomestead]

I'm by no means an expert, but I think its worth a try if you can't get a good hatch rate otherwise.

 

[Jessimom]

I've known quite a few people have trouble hatching BCM's until they drop humidity wayyyy down. Once they do that, they always hatch better. Those thick, dark shells are a pain to get to lose moisture.

I've also read about lightly sanding the air cell end, or even areas around the egg to help open up some pores to help with moisture loss.

I wonder if sponging/misting them, like we do with ducks, would work? I might have to talk to a friend that breed them about experimenting with that.

I have had HORRIBLE luck hatching Marans. I've been told by a breeder to INCREASE the humidity, but that goes against EVERYTHING I have read. So, I'd love to hear what else you can find out!!! I have a batch of Maran eggs I'm setting for a friend. I'd love to be able to hatch some chicks for her!!!

Thanks!!

 

[SunHwaKwon]

Well I will check the humidity in both incubators when I get home and let you know what it is and also keep you guys posted on how these Marans do. Like I said, with the last batch of four, I incubated at 16% and hatched at around 40%. I had some mixes before that and they incubated in the mid 20s and I did the normal hatch thing of upping to about 70%.

Recently I tried to hatch some Olive Egger (Marans) eggs from a local seller. I think 4 out of 6 hatched (2 died during hatch) and then every single one died within two days. Given that I have been able to get my own Marans to hatch, I can't fully think it's a Marans thing, but the other eggs (olive and green) that I got from her hatched fine and did not have that sort of early mortality. Of course, her flock is not very good quality so there's no telling what's going on with them genetics wise and as far as inbreeding.

 

[tao chick]

2 pips visible. I have most in hatching trays that aren't visible from my incubator window. Good defense from my desire to mettle early. Day 19 over. Should have chicks tomorrow and Friday...

 

[SunHwaKwon]

I've got three out and two still pipped. They're a bit sticky. The Chinese incubator is @26% dry.

Oh, and one of my bantam rocks is broody now too. It must be something in the water!;

 

[Kyanite]

DAY 18!!!

4 SFH, 4 CCL and 5 FBCM are officially in LOCKDOWN!!!

I. Can. Not. Wait.

I candled everyone, marked the air cells and pulled the turner. It looks like one of the CCL has internally pipped!

possibly one of the FBCM too. That egg has had a decent air cell before, but it was impossible to find today, I think there is chick in it now. Hubby and I had way more fun than we should have making whistles and clucks at the eggs and watching them twitch and jiggle. He was positive that he heard a peep more than once over the fan in the incubator.

I filled all the water channels in my incuview and put a sponge in there. It's at 66% humidity right now, but hasn't fully stabilized since the candling so we'll see what it holds at.

 

[Jessimom]

DAY 18!!!

4 SFH, 4 CCL and 5 FBCM are officially in LOCKDOWN!!!

I. Can. Not. Wait.

I candled everyone, marked the air cells and pulled the turner. It looks like one of the CCL has internally pipped!

possibly one of the FBCM too. That egg has had a decent air cell before, but it was impossible to find today, I think there is chick in it now. Hubby and I had way more fun than we should have making whistles and clucks at the eggs and watching them twitch and jiggle. He was positive that he heard a peep more than once over the fan in the incubator.

I filled all the water channels in my incuview and put a sponge in there. It's at 66% humidity right now, but hasn't fully stabilized since the candling so we'll see what it holds at.

Go chickies go!!!! Be prepared with some tubing and a syringe of some sort to add water through that ventilation hole. Or, if the sponge is under the ventilation hole, I have been know to use a turkey baster to squirt water in. My incuview had trouble holding any type of moisture for long periods and I had to frequently add water.

 

[WVduckchick]

Good news all around!

Jessimom, that's just crazy. I think whoever told you that was on drugs.