Bantam eggs.

[kelly a]

Hi everyone. I'm on my second attempt at incubating. First attempt -100% failure. ( 1 hatched under a broody I had going at the same time). Think it was maybe poor quality eggs. This time, I've got 5 bantam eggs in the incubator. They are all very small eggs, and I've heard they sometimes hatch a little early. I'm on day 11 now, and when candling, they look more like day 14/15 pictures I've seen! Should I put them into lockdown a day or so early? Don't want to mess this hatch up. My little girl will be upset again if I do! Any advise much appreciated.

 

[chickenlver2013]

Do lockdown on day 19

 

[kelly a]

So a day later than normal? I always thought the rule was day 18?

 

[bugglesmommy]

I personally find bantam eggs to hatch a day earlier then standard eggs. I would not lockdown a day later. If they are early, this could cause you trouble but nothing will be harmed by locking down a day early. It stops being as vital to turn after day 14.

(18 days is the norm. so a day early would be day 17)

 

[bugglesmommy]

Also, what temp. is are you incubating at? Still air or fan? Did you calibrate the thermometer? Slightly high temps also lead to early hatches.

 

[kelly a]

It's a still air manual turn incubator. It has the standard glass thermometer, reading approx 99 to 100, and I've also added a digital probe type one, that's reading 99.3 at this exact moment, though it does fluctuate to about 100.5 - does this sound about right?

 

[bugglesmommy]

Normally in still air you want to aim for slightly higher temps than with a fan. You would want aim for 101.5 or so at the top of the eggs to compensate for heat layers. Slightly low temps makes for slightly late hatches but is safer than slightly high.

 

[kelly a]

Thanks for that. The temperature probe is level off with the eggs, ill maybe turn it up ever so slightly.

 

[bugglesmommy]

Watch it like a hawk if you do to make sure a tiny twitch doesn't make the temp shoot way up. It can happen easily.

 

[kelly a]

Will do. It seems to take a full 360 degree turn to increase the temp by 0.5 so should be quite safe. Will watch it carefully though. Thanks for the advise!