Black Copper Marans discussion thread

[heirloomorps]

The BC Marans are no different than any other chicken egg. I have hatched several thousand of them . This week had 11 out of 13 hatch . Most people do not know how to set an incubator up to begin with.

I don't find that true at all. We hatch hundreds of eggs every week. Breed does make a difference. Our Wyandottes hatch no matter what conditions you put them in but our BCM don't. They also take longer to hatch.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Quote:
Don, I'm curious. What are your recommendations on how to set up an incubator? (I've had brilliant hatches with Marans and some, definitely not so brilliant. Same incubator, same settings. So I'm curious if you have some pearl of wisdom to share with us. Quite frankly, I have an even harder time with Ameraucanas!)

 

[snowbird]

Don, I'm curious. What are your recommendations on how to set up an incubator? (I've had brilliant hatches with Marans and some, definitely not so brilliant. Same incubator, same settings. So I'm curious if you have some pearl of wisdom to share with us. Quite frankly, I have an even harder time with Ameraucanas!)

Barb, I just use what has been around for years with the Gamefowl people. The first 18 days 40-45 and day 18 60-65 I look for the 65 as that is what I think is best. Most are their own worst enemy. I do not use the gravity system they sell as I get too much humidity. I use the original pan they used to give with the sportsman and the last three days just ad a second.

I run the temp. right at 100 and leave it there during the hatch. I like to use a seperate incubator the last three days. I have had better hatches using a seperate hatcher. If they are hatching a little slow turn up the temp. 1/2 degree

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Quote:
Curious. I've settled in at 42% humidity for the first 19 days. 68% to hatch. (From the gamefowl people.) Let the numbers wobble from there seems to be working brilliantly for me for the most part. If they pip, they get out. I'm interested in your comment about dragged out hatches. I've had some of those. My temp is set at 99.6 from start to finish. Thankfully, humidity is rock solid in my Brinseas so hatching can go for 3 or 4 days (which is definitely drawn out!) They make it but jeepers, it feels like forever. However, I've read it's better to lower the temp half a degree for hatching. Supposedly, that's what the commercial hatcheries do. I've never done it. Just read it. But you are saying raise the temp if they take their time?

 

[nbenevento]

Obviously I am not a pro at hatching eggs like all of you. I just had pretty good success with the last hatch and I found it interesting that with this batch, none of the 3 BCM's are developing while other breeds are or at least might be. I also admit I am not an expert at setting up incubators but I guess I did OK with my last hatch. I was told by another small farm operator that BCM's are more difficult to hatch so I thought I would put it out here to get more opinions since I intend to try to hatch more in the future. I guess the debate goes on since a couple of you seem to be pretty experienced and have differing opinions. Thanks for the input!

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Obviously I am not a pro at hatching eggs like all of you. I just had pretty good success with the last hatch and I found it interesting that with this batch, none of the 3 BCM's are developing while other breeds are or at least might be. I also admit I am not an expert at setting up incubators but I guess I did OK with my last hatch. I was told by another small farm operator that BCM's are more difficult to hatch so I thought I would put it out here to get more opinions since I intend to try to hatch more in the future. I guess the debate goes on since a couple of you seem to be pretty experienced and have differing opinions. Thanks for the input!

There are SO many reasons why your BCM eggs may not be developing. In my not so humble opinion, incubators are WAY down on the list. Failure to hatch is one can of worms, failure to develop is another.

 

[snowbird]

Curious. I've settled in at 42% humidity for the first 19 days. 68% to hatch. (From the gamefowl people.) Let the numbers wobble from there seems to be working brilliantly for me for the most part. If they pip, they get out. I'm interested in your comment about dragged out hatches. I've had some of those. My temp is set at 99.6 from start to finish. Thankfully, humidity is rock solid in my Brinseas so hatching can go for 3 or 4 days (which is definitely drawn out!) They make it but jeepers, it feels like forever. However, I've read it's better to lower the temp half a degree for hatching. Supposedly, that's what the commercial hatcheries do. I've never done it. Just read it. But you are saying raise the temp if they take their time?

I am doing mostly what you are with temp0 and humidity. I have found out by raising the temp. for the entire hatch to 100 degree it will bring them out of the egg quicker. As you know I am a beginner and we need to listen to the poster above who hatches thousands a week. My method has worked for over 50 year that I can remember.

Finally got my first wheaten chick from the BC matings.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Quote:
Ah, ok, so you are not necessarily recommending raising the temp just for hatching but rather throughout, to bring them out of the egg faster?

 

[gilavina]

Hey Don,

how's the progress on the eggs in the incubator?

 

[Turkeytruff]

There are SO many reasons why your BCM eggs may not be developing. In my not so humble opinion, incubators are WAY down on the list. Failure to hatch is one can of worms, failure to develop is another.

Would anyone care to elaborate on reasons why failure to develop can happen?

I have put 2 seperate clutches of eggs (16) under 2 devoted broodies and also had 16 in a Brinsea incubator which was perfectly on target in its humidity and temperature (I checked with other devices) and NO development of any kind. I eggtopsied all of them - I managed to find 3 bullseye's left in the yolks of 3 of the incubator eggs but no development otherwise. So I hope/think my roo is fertile but have no idea why nothing developed. I would love to hear any wisdom from experienced people here. thank you!
PS. Maybe I'm a sucker for punishment but I have another 5 BCM eggs under another broody bantam going again!