August Hatch-A-Long!

Ummm, welll if you are just locking down- well, no, because a few .1 or .2 degrees won't hurt the chick, make sure their is plenty of moisture in the incubator so chicks don't stick to the shell.
I highly doubt that was because of you, it sounds that one is highly disformed- don't buy Maran eggs from that place again. I think it is genetics, but how many eggs total did you hatch with flock eggs?

the black copper marans can be very discouraging. I have always been able to hatch chicks. the marans can just quit on you. I kept thinking I was doing some wrong. I got 2 dozen more eggs from my friend only moved them 3 miles only 6 hatched. probably 12 didn't get out of the shell. the other 6 un fertile. She even has a hard time hatching them... WISH people that hatch them successfully would release secrets (LOL) Plus they seem to died very easy after hatch.I got discouraged a sold my flock off. Just to start over got the 2 dozen eggs. I think there is 5 chicks out there. When a beautiful young roo desided to eat plastic netting and choked to death. Not only are they hard to hatch thy're stupid too. LOL.
Plus I have seen the same thing happen under broodys. (not getting out of shell) it is a marans thing. or just LAZY chicks....
 
Well, I put another batch in the incubator yesterday. 31 of my own EE eggs. My 3 week old marans and RIR's are doing good.
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I am sad to announce that I'm shutting down the bator until spring. That and I don't think I'll ever try to hatch shipped eggs again, I had 2 Black Copper Marans successfully hatch out of 14 eggs. I pulled 6 duds out at day 14. Some shells were so dark I could barely see what was going on, so 4 early deaths made it to lock down (I am still learning, this is only my 4th bator hatch). 1 looked perfectly fine after eggtopsy except the yolk wasn't completely absorbed. The other egg, I'm not sure WHAT happened, I want your opinions if the issues were just genetic or I did something horribly wrong.

I only had 2 of my flocks eggs not hatch out of the 14 that made it to lockdown, I think they were malpositioned and drowned?

Here are the horrible, shipped Marans eggs

And here is the deformed chick, its white not black, has a crooked jaw, and only 1 eye.


with shipped eggs these things happen...the hatch rate for shipped eggs is 50% or less usually...not my opinion a disclaimer, also my experience but with the deformed one I'd be concerned about the breeders flock...I'm sorry it's heartbreaking...
 
Ok I did! After reading some responses I voted with the majority. I originally would have kept the wonky air cells in the carton but after reading about malpositions, laying them down is a good idea.




Chicks have done well overnight. So gratefully that all 4 that went into lockdown on my first hatch made it
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They're so cute!

Well I woke up this morning and all 6 chicks are doing great! The little slinged chick is now running around with no leg support at all. I dont know if it was the sling and hobbles or the vitamins or all 3, but I am happy! The last chick that was so weak is much better! Pics as soon as I get a chance!
awesome :)
I felt like I was getting my fix this morning. I met a guy at an auction that has eggs. He's a driver for UPS so I met him at 5:45AM in the parking lot to buy eggs and 2 chicks.

I now have two tiny Mille Fleur chicks in with my 2 hatched chicks. They seem happier with company. I have 3 Golden Red Pheasant eggs, 4 MilleFleur eggs and 10 Orpington eggs going into the incubator today thanks to my early morning parking lot drug deal, I mean chick/egg deal.
I prefer black market transactions myself
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My first ever hatched baby! Have another egg pipping!
keep the pics coming!
open my peachick that I lost hope in and was officially due today...it died due to rupturing it's yolk....it was beautiful UGH!
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Oh no
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And... since my shipment of Quechuas and Colloncas seems to have fallen through again this week I figured why not throw another dozen of my mutts in there too... since I am already had turning multiple batches... why not FILL THE BATOR! LOL! If I am lucky I will get a few EE's out of my Lav Ameraucana/White Leghorn possible crosses. And maybe some olive eggers.

How much space do you have for your chickens. I am curious, because we're looking at some land. I live in the city, so far I have 28 (10 which are full grown. the rest are babies)

I am sad to announce that I'm shutting down the bator until spring. That and I don't think I'll ever try to hatch shipped eggs again, I had 2 Black Copper Marans successfully hatch out of 14 eggs. I pulled 6 duds out at day 14. Some shells were so dark I could barely see what was going on, so 4 early deaths made it to lock down (I am still learning, this is only my 4th bator hatch). 1 looked perfectly fine after eggtopsy except the yolk wasn't completely absorbed. The other egg, I'm not sure WHAT happened, I want your opinions if the issues were just genetic or I did something horribly wrong.

I only had 2 of my flocks eggs not hatch out of the 14 that made it to lockdown, I think they were malpositioned and drowned?

Here are the horrible, shipped Marans eggs

And here is the deformed chick, its white not black, has a crooked jaw, and only 1 eye.

hugs.gif


the black copper marans can be very discouraging. I have always been able to hatch chicks. the marans can just quit on you. I kept thinking I was doing some wrong. I got 2 dozen more eggs from my friend only moved them 3 miles only 6 hatched. probably 12 didn't get out of the shell. the other 6 un fertile. She even has a hard time hatching them... WISH people that hatch them successfully would release secrets (LOL) Plus they seem to died very easy after hatch.I got discouraged a sold my flock off. Just to start over got the 2 dozen eggs. I think there is 5 chicks out there. When a beautiful young roo desided to eat plastic netting and choked to death. Not only are they hard to hatch thy're stupid too. LOL.
Plus I have seen the same thing happen under broodys. (not getting out of shell) it is a marans thing. or just LAZY chicks....

I have heard that a lot of the hard shelled maran eggs need assistance at hatch...just from reading...haven't incubated any


I have heard from more than one person that marans can be a sensitive breed. I have one black copper marans pullet and already she lays very thin shelled eggs. Shellz said she had to put one down, it had crushed shells inside of her when she did the autopsy. I'm afraid this will be the case for mine :(
 
Reading all of this about Marans, I put 24 in the incubator and not one hatched. I thing it was due to a combination of things though. Now I have 15 more in the bater that i got from a different breeder and these are in a much better incubator. I am hoping to see a good hatch rate this time. 19 more days and i will know.
 
Quick question!

the bacitracin is building up on the chicks and I need to clean it off and put on a fresh coat.. what can I use? warm water and epsom salt? I also have contact lense cleaner (I use for piercings) but it would be cold. or should I just clean it off and let the area dry out. Looks like it needs a layer or two of skin for it to completely heal.
 
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Devastation with my treasured Sweet Potato and Quechua eggs :( 2 are broken, 7 are smothered in broken egg, 3 are splattered with egg and only 6 look like they might be the same as when they shipped although some of those are seriously porous looking eggs. I am devastated :hit Will have to try navigating the insurance claim... In the meantime - do I try to clean the smother eggs - I mean the shell is so saturated it has changed colors?? I haven't even candled yet - will have to wait till its dark enough tonight. There may be no viable eggs. They arrived to my PO upside down in the bottom of the hamper. I am so heart broken - my most special eggs and the first to ever arrive broken :hit
 

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