Hatch-Along - Setting eggs this weekend (Jan5/6) WHOS WITH ME!

[SilkieSensation]

I candled my eggs, there was no freezing! All my air sacks seemed to be intact as well! maybe i will get luckier than i thought

. My barnyard mixes are from my EE roo and either RIR, BO, Barred rock, or Isa Brown. Should be a very interesting hatch for sure! I hope everyone has a wonderful hatch!

This combination will give you Easter Eggers & maybe some light Olive Eggers depending on how dark your brown eggs are. All should end up being some shade of blue, green or pinkish/purple/tan.

 

[TheSpeckledRoo]

I've read somewhere that if it takes longer to hatch then usually you have to increase the temp... Has anyone else read that?

 

[SilkieSensation]

I was wondering... would free ranged chicken eggs hatch better than confined chicken eggs? With the free range they would have more nutrients than the confined chickens. Does anyone know anything on this?

Free range or caged does not make a difference in hatch rate. However, nutrition does. Some birds who free range have an excellent variety of foods available to provide excellent nutrition, while others are going to need supplemental feed, vitamins, minerals, etc. Caged birds are much easier to monitor exactly what they are eating so can be easier to control the nutritional value of their diets. They can even be fed bugs just like free range birds if you desire. SO, it's not where the birds find their food that matters, but the quality of the food.

 

[Peggy-Sue]

I read they take longer to hatch if they are kept at a lower temp... I was also told that as the chicks develop you might need to lower the temp to compensate the heat given off from the rapidly growing chick...

 

[SilkieSensation]

I've read somewhere that if it takes longer to hatch then usually you have to increase the temp... Has anyone else read that?

I try to keep my temps right at 100F, however, I do not panic if I notice them dropping slightly. Temps as low as 98F will still progress development adequately to hatch an egg pretty close to 21 days. Higher temps (over 102F) can damage the developing embryo however. If I have to choose between temps running high or temps running low I always choose low. I would rather have late babies than no babies.

 

[FeyRaine]

!?! up to 25 DAYs!!! I really hope our marans hatch!

yes, exactly, this all came up after the fact on the NYDH, and IF only I'd know , half my disasters would have been avoided if I had not been so totally upset with zero activity, zero peeping eggs by late the night of day 22. It is just one of those "little" things you learn here on BYC, it isn't like the Marans lay eggs stamped "will not open til day 23 +/- 2" . But now I know, I'm glad to pass it on here on this hatchalong, b/c if I can help one person avoid the upset I had then the world will be a better place, for us & the Marans

Also - huge Thanks to the several ppl who have responded to my posts about Ducks/staggered hatches/ humidity etc. Every single opinion & comment is helpful, we do all have different locations, equipment etc. so getting a broad view of the different things that work for others helps me pick and choose what my best shot at a high hatch rate is here in my own little corner of the world.

 

[SilkieSensation]

I read they take longer to hatch if they are kept at a lower temp... I was also told that as the chicks develop you might need to lower the temp to compensate the heat given off from the rapidly growing chick...

I've never had to lower my bator temps to accommodate for "chick heat." However, I have been told ducks tend to hatch better when you lower the temp to about 98F for hatch. Since I'm often running staggered hatches I typically do not lower my temps & the ducks do fine as well.

 

[BroosterSpringsteen]

Yep, I was just going to say what SilkieSensation said. You're always better off with lower temps versus higher. On the other hand, they will develop at a lower temp, but I think that can put them at a greater risk of certain problems like splayed leg.

I've often heard Marans hatch later, but last year my Maran eggs were the first to hatch out of 5 breeds. I only have Maran eggs this time, so we'll see. At least I won't have other breeds hatching earlier, dying to get out of the hatcher while the Marans are pipping. Long drawn out hatches are so stressful.

 

[SilkieSensation]

yes, exactly, this all came up after the fact on the NYDH, and IF only I'd know , half my disasters would have been avoided if I had not been so totally upset with zero activity, zero peeping eggs by late the night of day 22. It is just one of those "little" things you learn here on BYC, it isn't like the Marans lay eggs stamped "will not open til day 23 +/- 2" . But now I know, I'm glad to pass it on here on this hatchalong, b/c if I can help one person avoid the upset I had then the world will be a better place, for us & the Marans

Also - huge Thanks to the several ppl who have responded to my posts about Ducks/staggered hatches/ humidity etc. Every single opinion & comment is helpful, we do all have different locations, equipment etc. so getting a broad view of the different things that work for others helps me pick and choose what my best shot at a high hatch rate is here in my own little corner of the world.

Marans are not the only late hatchers. Some of the heavy breeds like Orpingtons & Jersey Giants can take an extra day or 2 on average as well & be considered quite normal.

 

[TheSpeckledRoo]

Wouldn't having more nutrients make the hatching chicks healthier though? Having less disease and less deformities and what not?