Hatching copper maran eggs, some help and advice please

[quackerslorna]

Hi All,

I have 12 copper maran hen eggs now at day 19 (Fri 27th), stopped turning and set in the Brinsea hatchmaker, hatcher incubator. My concern is that some of the air cells are small, some look bigger and more normal for this stage of incubation. They had been set in brinsea octagon eco for the first 18 days. The eggs are quite thick shelled and am wondering if they have not been able to lose enough water. Three out of 15 eggs were infertile, as far as I know the rest are still moving. There is no external pips as yet.

Incubator has been run at about 37.5c and the hatcher is 39c. Humidity in hatcher is about 60% now.

I'm just wondering if I should have ran incubator drier, I just topped water up every 2 days. the average humidity was about 37% during first 18 days. These eggs are being done for someone else, so I want to get it right. Any advice or help would be great.

Thanks
Lorna.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Hi All,

I have 12 copper maran hen eggs now at day 19 (Fri 27th), stopped turning and set in the Brinsea hatchmaker, hatcher incubator. My concern is that some of the air cells are small, some look bigger and more normal for this stage of incubation. They had been set in brinsea octagon eco for the first 18 days. The eggs are quite thick shelled and am wondering if they have not been able to lose enough water. Three out of 15 eggs were infertile, as far as I know the rest are still moving. There is no external pips as yet.

Incubator has been run at about 37.5c and the hatcher is 39c. Humidity in hatcher is about 60% now.

I'm just wondering if I should have ran incubator drier, I just topped water up every 2 days. the average humidity was about 37% during first 18 days. These eggs are being done for someone else, so I want to get it right. Any advice or help would be great.

Thanks
Lorna.

You are correct in the assumption that the darker, thicker shelled eggs loose moisture slower. I am assuming you went from forced air during incubation to still air for hatching and that is why the increase of temp? 101-102 is recommended for still air, though many people do drop a degree at hatch time.

I can say this. I have seen many people hatching BCMs especially for the first time have trouble with moisture loss of these eggs. Most successful BCM hatchers that I have seen run dry (providing dry gives them somewhere around 25%), many around 30%ish for the first 17 days.

If you are concerned about the air cell size you can hatch them upright in cutdown cartons. Theroretically this gives them the best chance because any excess liquid stays to the bottom and upright prevents any excess fluid from entering the internal pip hole once they pip.

 

[quackerslorna]

Thank you for help. Would i just use cut down egg boxes/cartons? Like you buy eating eggs in? I guess that would be better to keep them from drowning in fluid. Here is photo of plastic egg tray would that be ok to set them in? I think it would fit in hatcher. Sorry im not sure how to add photo. The tray holds up to 30 eggs.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Thank you for help. Would i just use cut down egg boxes/cartons? Like you buy eating eggs in? I guess that would be better to keep them from drowning in fluid.

Yes. Most people that hatch upright just cut down the sides a bit and cut a hole in the bottom of the cup for circulation.

 

[quackerslorna]

Put up some photos

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Thank you for help. Would i just use cut down egg boxes/cartons? Like you buy eating eggs in? I guess that would be better to keep them from drowning in fluid. Here is photo of plastic egg tray would that be ok to set them in? I think it would fit in hatcher. Sorry im not sure how to add photo. The tray holds up to 30 eggs.

The only thing I'd be skeptical with that is after they hatch the plastic and the holes may be a hazard to little legs. One of the biggest reasons auto turners are removed is they make a more slippery foundation for chicks and run a risk of causing them to end up with a splayed legs/leg injuries by getting legs caught. Just throwing that out there.

 

[quackerslorna]

Yes thats right. I have removed it now. I have reduced humidity a bit by removing some water. I always lay eggs in non slip matting in hatcher on their sides, i think for now that is what i will do and just see how things go. Im worrired as i am doing it for someone else and the eggs are theirs. I have started an incubator hatching service. Hopefully some will hatch in next few days. I can see some rocking, just hoping they roll soon out of egg.