Euskal Oiloa ( Basque Thread)

[buckabucka]

Thanks for your reply, Ron. I didn't know that OE/EEs are easier to hatch, so I've learned something new. Perhaps it was the incubator, although that would have only had an effect in the last 3 days.

I have kind of a weird system. Two Brinsea incubators, one with a turner, and one without. Since I am not here to hand turn much of the day, I swap the trays of eggs each morning and each evening. Some are turned all day, and some are turned all night, and they each get time in each incubator. One of the Brinsea's is the Eco model, so the thermometer is not digital. A little harder to be exact.

I'm glad I was able to save the 3 Basque that were stuck. Hopefully, they will thrive.

 

[mzstre]

I tried hatching some of my own Basque eggs for the first time with mixed results.

I have two hens and set 5 eggs from each. The eggs were treated the same throughout the incubation period. All 10 were fertile and developing. At lockdown, I put the 5 from hen #1 in one incubator with some Ameraucana eggs. The 5 from hen #2 went into a different incubator (although same brand) with some olive eggers.

All of hen #1's eggs hatched, as did all the Ameraucanas they were with.

Hen #2, three chicks made it, but that was only because I helped them out. The other two were very late deaths. One never pipped and it is still in the incubator "just in case". I float tested it and it did not move. One pipped, zipped for about an inch and died. I peeled off much of the shell afterward, and it is fully formed. The other three zipped further, but could not get out of the egg. I helped them out after waiting a day and they look good so far. All other eggs in that same incubator hatched without issue.

I'm wondering why this might have happened. Do you think it could have anything to do with the hen, or is it likely some other issue or even some coincidence? This hen lays a bigger egg than the other hen, and the stuck chicks were really packed in there, although I'm not sure that has anything to do with it. Can malpositioned chicks be an inherited trait? I'm not even sure they were malpositioned, but they certainly couldn't kick their way out, and the membrane was not stuck to them (although it was drying out from sitting half-zipped for a day.

I would love to hear some insight from more experienced hatchers!

I am consistently receiving the same results with the largest of my eggs (laid by a specific hen). The chicks are growing too large to be able to turn and zip, and they are dying in the shell. It's bizarre. If I catch them in time, I assist and the chicks thrive.

My mom and stepdad raise cattle. They sometimes end up with a cow or a bull that throws very large calves. They immediately cull that animal from the breeding program because calves that are too large often result in a dead calf or cow during birthing. I know there is no similarity between cattle and chickens, but it is possible that the hen I have that lays the enormous egg also passes on genetics that create a very large chick. I'm thinking I should pull her from my breeding pen. Those eggs would make great omelets though!

 

[buckabucka]

I tried hatching some of my own Basque eggs for the first time with mixed results.

I have two hens and set 5 eggs from each. The eggs were treated the same throughout the incubation period. All 10 were fertile and developing. At lockdown, I put the 5 from hen #1 in one incubator with some Ameraucana eggs. The 5 from hen #2 went into a different incubator (although same brand) with some olive eggers.

All of hen #1's eggs hatched, as did all the Ameraucanas they were with.

Hen #2, three chicks made it, but that was only because I helped them out. The other two were very late deaths. One never pipped and it is still in the incubator "just in case". I float tested it and it did not move. One pipped, zipped for about an inch and died. I peeled off much of the shell afterward, and it is fully formed. The other three zipped further, but could not get out of the egg. I helped them out after waiting a day and they look good so far. All other eggs in that same incubator hatched without issue.

I'm wondering why this might have happened. Do you think it could have anything to do with the hen, or is it likely some other issue or even some coincidence? This hen lays a bigger egg than the other hen, and the stuck chicks were really packed in there, although I'm not sure that has anything to do with it. Can malpositioned chicks be an inherited trait? I'm not even sure they were malpositioned, but they certainly couldn't kick their way out, and the membrane was not stuck to them (although it was drying out from sitting half-zipped for a day.

I would love to hear some insight from more experienced hatchers!

I am consistently receiving the same results with the largest of my eggs (laid by a specific hen). The chicks are growing too large to be able to turn and zip, and they are dying in the shell. It's bizarre. If I catch them in time, I assist and the chicks thrive.

My mom and stepdad raise cattle. They sometimes end up with a cow or a bull that throws very large calves. They immediately cull that animal from the breeding program because calves that are too large often result in a dead calf or cow during birthing. I know there is no similarity between cattle and chickens, but it is possible that the hen I have that lays the enormous egg also passes on genetics that create a very large chick. I'm thinking I should pull her from my breeding pen. Those eggs would make great omelets though!

This is very interesting, and raises more questions. I don't think the cattle analogy is that far-fetched. My paternal grandmother's side of the family throws big babies!
I am saving hatching eggs for someone, so I will have to find out if their experience is similar (if you are lurking here, ash, I hope you still want the eggs!).

I wonder if the large chick becomes a larger chicken? Maybe I'll get a rooster with a nice broad body. The last one I helped out today has huge legs. The hen that lays the larger eggs is actually not any larger than the other hen, though.

The chicks that I assisted are going to spend the night in the incubator. They are exhausted, and no match for the stampede going on in the brooder. I'll be interested to see how they do. I'm going to band them so I know who they are. They came from my pretty speckled hen. The other one is plain brown, but has nice yellow legs.

 

[OR4-hmom]

I'm about ready to plug in the turner, they have been sitting in the incubator for 3 days. Took a quick peek and some air cells are still moving.

There are BIG eggs and good sized eggs in there. I'll be watching the big ones to see if they have difficulties compared to the others.

Grow babies grow!

 

[FROMWHITEDOGHILL]

bucka.........I'm wondering the same thing. I have some hens that are just larger than the others. I'm wondering if these are the best 'eaters' thus being the biggest egg layers. I have measured my hens according to COTH numbers and they were all about the same.....my larger chicks seem to be the most vigrious ones. This is kinda of a catch 22 deal because I love the Monster eggs but it does create issues shipping eggs. When you add a few grams to each egg...and the physical size..........I am thinking about buying some 'Goose egg" shipping cartons!!????........Mike

 

[ronott1]

bucka.........I'm wondering the same thing. I have some hens that are just larger than the others. I'm wondering if these are the best 'eaters' thus being the biggest egg layers. I have measured my hens according to COTH numbers and they were all about the same.....my larger chicks seem to be the most vigrious ones. This is kinda of a catch 22 deal because I love the Monster eggs but it does create issues shipping eggs. When you add a few grams to each egg...and the physical size..........I am thinking about buying some 'Goose egg" shipping cartons!!????........Mike

I read a guide to hatching eggs--The best hatch rates come from large to extra large eggs. Jumbos do not hatch as well and neither do medium eggs.

Stick with middle sized large eggs for shipping. I read a post today that said bigger eggs will have more air cell damage when shipped.

Chicks getting stuck in eggs has more to do with not developing correctly. For the big ones you might consider weighing and using weight loss for them instead of air cell size. That is a more precise method of managing humidity.

 

[ashandvine]

Chicks getting stuck in eggs has more to do with not developing correctly. For the big ones you might consider weighing and using weight loss for them instead of air cell size. That is a more precise method of managing humidity.

This is very helpful! I could use more information on how to weigh vs air cells though. Still new enough at the hatching manually to want details. (I say again, broodies are great)

Yes, still lurking

Bucka and yes I will try the eggs for sure if for no other reason than interest. FWIW I hatch the largest eggs out of a duo I have here that I cross with a Delaware for meat mutts. The eggs are very heavy and nearly every one hatches without issue. The small Am egg that hatched recently did have issues. It zipped and then sat in the egg forever so I helped it out but now it seems exhausted and isn't opening its eyes much. Now, of course hybrid vigor does play a part, as mentioned before, but the egg size intrigues me as a contender for effect.

 

[Sapphirea]

I've been thinking about adding Basque to my flock of Opringtons and Australorps. Are Basques a loud breed? (When laying eggs and when not laying). I tried looking for videos on Youtube of what they sound like but they all have music playing in the background. Thanks!

 

[buckabucka]

I would say my Basque hen with the problem hatch lays large, possibly x-large eggs. It seems like it wasn't the size of her egg so much, but the way the chick developed. Too big to really turn in the egg. Sometime, I would like to try another hatch with this hen along with some other pure breeds, just to compare and see if it happens again.

Normally, I weigh the eggs every few days and graph the weight loss, but usually I have shipped eggs and have spent a bunch of money. I was so much more relaxed with my own eggs, since they were basically free. The only eggs I fretted over were the Ameraucanas, since the rooster had dropped dead, but all of them hatched. Everything in the incubator hatched, except the 5 Basques, 3 of which I helped out. I haven't taken apart the egg that never pipped. I thought I might have seen movement when I candled, but really I think my eyes were playing tricks. I'm going to take it out and look at it tomorrow.

 

[zekii]

We are noticing some issues so far with two of our 4 week old Marraduna basque chicks.
We hatched these from egg bought from a well known breeder of this breed.
So far two of the chicks have developed a slipped hock joint on one leg..the leg kicks out to the side twists around and goes back. We have tried splinting these, but don't know if we'll have much luck ever getting them to walk properly especially when they get heavier. We are not sure if this is a inherited trait that is being expressed especially since the gene pool for this breed is so limited? Has anyone else here noticed any leg joint issues with their birds?