Bantam eggs are late..

[Fraoch21]

I set some average chicken eggs on the 10th and bantam eggs on the 12th thinking the bantams would hatch quicker than the standard eggs. So today is day 21 for the standard eggs and 19 for the bantams and im beginning to worry! There are only 4 standard eggs- 2 have pipped externally, 1 pipped internally and 1 I don't think is going to hatch. It has an oversized air cell and there was no movement when i candled it...

But my bantam eggs are what I'm really worried about! I put all eggs into lockdown 2 days ago but have since been turning the bantam eggs by hand a couple of times a day because they don't look ready yet! I candled them today and they are not ready to hatch, they don;t even look like they will be ready to hatch by day 21! There's a lot open space around the embryo still. I don't have much experience but with standard sized eggs i would say they need another 5 or so days till hatch. Do bantam eggs develop quicker than standard eggs-making my estimation wrong? Since these are my first bantam eggs, i'm panicking a bit!

Anyway, first problem- 4 eggs are in lockdown and need the humidity higher, will this affect the bantam eggs? The bantams are my priority and I dont want to risk them!

 

[nanaluvsgps]

It takes 21 for bantams and normal chicken eggs to hatch. Your normal eggs will hatch tonight or tomorrow, and your bantams won't hatch until the 2nd or 3rd of april. I would suggest to not touch the bantam eggs, and the normal eggs shouldn't be knocked at all. good luck make sure you post pics!

 

[Fraoch21]

Thank you! I looked online and most sites told me bantams hatched day 18 or 19, oops! So the bantams should be fine in lockdown now and the humidity won't drown them? I will do- so exciting no matter how many times you do it!

 

[Fraoch21]

two of my standard eggs that pipped externally have pipped at the wrong end, this wasn't worrying me because i've had a few in the past do the same and were fine. But one seems to be zipping up the length of the egg back towards the air sac instead of round the bottom end and getting out?

 

[cmfarm]

I have always had batams hatch at the same time as large eggs (although I have only done like 6 dozen throughout my incubating experience). I have heard people say they hatch earlier though.

 

[nanaluvsgps]

The extra humidity shouldn't matter... not completely sure though :/ Also what do you mean by pipping wrong? Are they pipping around the air sack because sometimes the air sack isn't a perfect circle. As long as they are pipping at the round, fatter end then I assume all is fine

 

[Fraoch21]

They both pipped at the pointy end of the egg opposite the air sac and one started zipping up the egg instead of round the bottom. But all three eggs that pipped hatched naturally last night and my last standard egg has externally pipped so no worries

 

[nanaluvsgps]

They both pipped at the pointy end of the egg opposite the air sac and one started zipping up the egg instead of round the bottom. But all three eggs that pipped hatched naturally last night and my last standard egg has externally pipped so no worries

Thats great news! How are the banties going?

 

[Fraoch21]

My 4th standard egg had to be assisted but i got a lovely healthy chick! Tha bantams started hatching yesterday, two had to be helped but I have 8 bantams so far, 1 hatching and 2 more not yet pipped but alive! 4 seem to have died, could have been the mixed up hatch dates but who knows! Happy to have this many chicks

 

[Fraoch21]

Oh no...I think there's something wrong with one of the bantams!

All the rest are up and walking and this little guy just hunches over and can't walk. He sits on his haunches and can't seem to rock himself up onto his feet to walk even though he tries! Its not splay leg or something like that cause his legs are normal he just sits funny?

Edit; I put him back in the incubator for a bit and he seems to be getting stronger, maybe thats all he needs!