Hatching Bantam Eggs

[Happy Helper]

I just discovered that Bantam eggs can hatch earlier than chicken eggs. I am in the process of incubating Bantam (13) with (9) chicken eggs. What will happen if I stop the turner at 16 days?

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

Mine hatch at 21 days.

 

[Fur-N-Fowl]

The only ones that I know of hatching early occasionally are Seramas (that have been bred pure) all others hatch on the normal 21 days!

I’ve had multiple bantam breeds and true bantams all which hatched on day 21

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I just discovered that Bantam eggs can hatch earlier than chicken eggs. I am in the process of incubating Bantam (13) with (9) chicken eggs. What will happen if I stop the turner at 16 days?

Hi there.

I'm gonna start by saying... "bantam" eggs are chicken eggs... they are the exact same species.

I hatched hundreds of chicks. My Silkies and Marans along with many other bantam/large fowl combinations... and had zero issue with staggered hatches... all were set and hatched the same day 21, within hours of each other... once my incubator was dialed in. A calibrated thermometer is a MUST. for best possible hatch. If your incubator is adjusted correctly your birds should likely hatch on day 21. Earlier or later... would indicate incorrect temperature and would likely effect all hatching about the same... I move my eggs around each day to make up for any warm or cool locations EVEN in my circulated air bators to keep my hatch frame TIGHT... With my own birds and things dialed in...very easy to make calls about any more hatching. It is not generally recommended to incubate different size or color eggs due to different evaporation surface, blah, blah.. many of us mess around, humidity is not AS important as temp.

However, there are exceptions and usually related to the specific line. My bantam Ameraucana... DID hatch on day 20 last season was my first year breeding them.. two batches in a row. I have not yet calibrated my incubator, tried another line, or been able to set any under a broody to further test what considerations should be made or if it's something genetic. Most breeders just like hatcheries... need chicks to hatch on a known day in order to ship... most likely hatch day 21... or at least I don't know of any claiming anything different... as it seems like it *COULD* be a selling point.. shorter incubation essentially means faster development... which should also translate to other things in life... but really is not so much the case. They DON'T lay any sooner or anything like that.

It is okay to stop the turner at day 16 (at the earliest) without any harm to the embryo... I personally would NOT do that but go with the standard day 18. Here is a link to one of my favorite hatching resources... book mark it and enjoy...
Incubation guide

What day are you on now, what color are your eggs, which breeds? From your own flock, local, or shipped? What incubator you using and what temp/humidity?

In some regards... bantams can get knocked around by standard chicks and hatching them a couple days ahead MIGHT benefit them. They've always done fine together here.

Happy hatching!

 

[Happy Helper]

Good to know that I don't have to stop the turner early. I am incubating 13 bantam eggs from Meyer Hatchery and 9 of my own. The hens are Buff Polish and Buttercups with either Cochran or Maran Rooster.
I am using a new Nuture Right 360 incubator which I had running for a day with a reptile thermometer and hydrometer in it. The temps matched perfectly. I did not leave the thermometer inside it since I was afraid that the wires would interfere with the turning of the eggs. I am on day 6 and don't plan to candle the eggs until 10 days. Temp 99.5 and Humidity stays at 40 to 42 %.