BCM hatching fail

[karint]

Please help I just tried to hatch some of my bcm eggs. All but one made it to lockdown and they all seem dead now. What did I do wrong. Most of my speckled Sussex eggs hatched. I know they are harder to hatch but I need some tips and tricks for success as I have another batch in right now.

 

[wrathsfarm]

What incubator? What's the temp and humidity you ran? Is the incubator calibrated with a secondary hygrometer?

 

[karint]

What incubator? What's the temp and humidity you ran? Is the incubator calibrated with a secondary hygrometer?

A hova bator. Yes I had a second hygrometer and temperature thing. Ran temperature between 99 and 101. Humidity between 20-50 cause it wasn’t consistent. In lockdown my humidity was 60-70. Temperature was more consistent at 100.

 

[wrathsfarm]

A hova bator. Yes I had a second hygrometer and temperature thing. Ran temperature between 99 and 101. Humidity between 20-50 cause it wasn’t consistent. In lockdown my humidity was 60-70. Temperature was more consistent at 100.

I would suggest running a lower humidity for darker Marans eggs. I ran 20-30% essentially a dry hatch the first 18 and not over 50 for lockdown on my last hatch. 99.5 for temp.
Breeders that I've learned from say because of the harder shells and darker pigment, Marans eggs retain more moisture not needing the higher humidity during incubation.

If this was your issue I can't say for sure.


Were they your eggs or shipped?

Hope your next hatch is much better.

 

[karint]

I would suggest running a lower humidity for darker Marans eggs. I ran 20-30% essentially a dry hatch the first 18 and not over 50 for lockdown on my last hatch. 99.5 for temp.
Breeders that I've learned from say because of the harder shells and darker pigment, Marans eggs retain more moisture not needing the higher humidity during incubation.

If this was your issue I can't say for sure.


Were they your eggs or shipped?

Hope your next hatch is much better.

When i opened then i got the idea that they had drowned so that makes sense. I also thought the air sacs were smaller then my other eggs so was wondering about that.

They weren’t shipped eggs so I agree it might be humidity. Thanks for your help. I’m going to try hatching my speckled and my bcm separately and see if that helps with lower humidity.

 

[wrathsfarm]

When i opened then i got the idea that they had drowned so that makes sense. I also thought the air sacs were smaller then my other eggs so was wondering about that.

They weren’t shipped eggs so I agree it might be humidity. Thanks for your help.

Your welcome, I hope they all hatch for you.

I’m going to try hatching my speckled and my bcm separately and see if that helps with lower humidity.

I do this with my Marans. Mainly so I can keep them separate from my Marans hybrids that look too much alike.

 

[cscigu]

Former Hova-bator operator.

My guess as a non technical incubator is the time of year. I realized my Hova-bator really underperformed any time the temps were fluctuating much. Low temps would probably really be a bad deal, too.

When I began hatching only in summer, rates improved. What I switched to temp controlled Maticoopx, bigger improvement.

I'm due to hatch some in about 2 days, we'll see if I've managed those factors well or not. I'm actually curious to know if the fertilization, gathering, etc are harder to deal with in winter.

 

[karint]

Former Hova-bator operator.

My guess as a non technical incubator is the time of year. I realized my Hova-bator really underperformed any time the temps were fluctuating much. Low temps would probably really be a bad deal, too.

When I began hatching only in summer, rates improved. What I switched to temp controlled Maticoopx, bigger improvement.

I'm due to hatch some in about 2 days, we'll see if I've managed those factors well or not. I'm actually curious to know if the fertilization, gathering, etc are harder to deal with in winter.

I hope not but it is defintly possible. My hova bator is brand new I just got it. time will tell I guess

 

[TexasBlues]

I would suggest running a lower humidity for darker Marans eggs. I ran 20-30% essentially a dry hatch the first 18 and not over 50 for lockdown on my last hatch. 99.5 for temp.
Breeders that I've learned from say because of the harder shells and darker pigment, Marans eggs retain more moisture not needing the higher humidity during incubation.

If this was your issue I can't say for sure.


Were they your eggs or shipped?

Hope your next hatch is much better.

Do you think 20% humidity is ok for a mixed clutch of marans and green eggers? That’s my humidity after running the incubator for 3 days.

 

[wrathsfarm]

Do you think 20% humidity is ok for a mixed clutch of marans and green eggers? That’s my humidity after running the incubator for 3 days.

I like being closer to mid 20 -30% with my Marans eggs. My last hatch in September went well with that.
Do you have a scale you can weigh the eggs to follow weight loss? Then you could adjust accordingly as you go.