If a bantam egg has been fertilized by a big rooster, will the egg hatch, or will the chicken be too large to fit in the egg? This sounds unbelievably stupid, but I can't get it out of my mind.
hatching bantam eggs
- Thread starter courtshep
- Start date
Quote:
It's not stupid at all, and yes, it could potentially cause problems, although not necessarily in every case. I think it would work a lot like setting pullet eggs--sometimes, the embryo needs more room to turn and cannot get out of the shell, but some pullet eggs still hatch okay. Overall, you might expect worse percentages, but how much worse depends on the size of the eggs and the incubating conditions (humidity would need to be perfect to help those big chicks turn in those small shells) among other things. But I wouldn't be surprised to have at least some of the eggs pip and die with that situation.
It's not stupid at all, and yes, it could potentially cause problems, although not necessarily in every case. I think it would work a lot like setting pullet eggs--sometimes, the embryo needs more room to turn and cannot get out of the shell, but some pullet eggs still hatch okay. Overall, you might expect worse percentages, but how much worse depends on the size of the eggs and the incubating conditions (humidity would need to be perfect to help those big chicks turn in those small shells) among other things. But I wouldn't be surprised to have at least some of the eggs pip and die with that situation.
Good question! I would think the chick would not grow any bigger than the egg could handle. The yolk is only so big and would only feed a chick of bantam size. I know in horses that a small mare bred to a huge stallion will only produce what she is capable of carrying.
I had bantam cochin chicks who ended up with a pea comb and the only way that could happen is if my standard ameraucana roo had snuck into the bantam pen. What a surprise to me. So I have to go with, yes you can hatch bantam eggs that are fertilized by a standard roo.
edited because I can't spell worth a darn this morning.
I had bantam cochin chicks who ended up with a pea comb and the only way that could happen is if my standard ameraucana roo had snuck into the bantam pen. What a surprise to me. So I have to go with, yes you can hatch bantam eggs that are fertilized by a standard roo.
edited because I can't spell worth a darn this morning.
Last edited:
I have hatched eggs with the daddy being bantam size and the hen being standard with no problems but not the other way around... yet
Yeah, I'd say best bet for hatching those would be with a broody hen.
- Thread starter
- #9
This is so interesting. It just didn't look possible, but I will give it a try! Thanks so much!!
Similar threads
New posts New threads Active threads
-
Threads with more replies in the last 15 days
-
-
-
-
Please Help! Eggbound & Possible Prolapsed Vent- Started by Elspeth Dinsmore
- Replies: 99
-
2 week old chick labored breathing, gasping, lethargy- Started by RandomAnarchy
- Replies: 89
-
