Hatching Marans Eggs

[khpadventures]

So, I know BCM eggs are a pain to candle, but I was reading somewhere a few things that I wanted to check in with you all about. I read that they need a lower humidity due to the dark pigment coating being less permeable, and that they often take more than 21 days to hatch (more like 22). Has anyone here experienced this?

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

Yes lower humidity. Mine hatch right on day 21 though.

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

I raise and hatch (very dark) BCM with some frequency and am a proponent of low humidity for dark-shelled eggs.

The group I have in my Brinseas right now have had no water added at all since I set them a week ago, and the humidity is sitting at right around 30%. Mine do seem to hatch around day 22.

 

[khpadventures]

Yes lower humidity. Mine hatch right on day 21 though.

Do you have any tips on candling? I'm on day 7, I marked air cells but no clue whats going on in there...im sortof planning on just leaving them in and hoping no one explodes...

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/helping-candle-dark-eggs.1362626/

Also: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/egg-candling-tips-tricks-and-best-practices.1462841/

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

@khpadventures, I find candling, even with a very bright candler, is a matter of shades - a fertile very dark egg at a week usually looks darker at the top 1/2+ of the egg. Be sure to candle in a completely dark room...and don't look into the candler or your night vision will be hosed.

Also, if in doubt, I leave the egg in until the next candling, when it should be obvious if the egg is developing or not. Unless the egg is very dirty and/or damaged, the risk of an exploder should be low. Be sure to watch for seeping and odors as clues to eggs going bad. It gets easier with practice.

 

[khpadventures]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/helping-candle-dark-eggs.1362626/

Also: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/egg-candling-tips-tricks-and-best-practices.1462841/

Thank you for those videos!! Extremely helpful.

 

[khpadventures]

@khpadventures, I find candling, even with a very bright candler, is a matter of shades - a fertile very dark egg at a week usually looks darker at the top 1/2+ of the egg. Be sure to candle in a completely dark room...and don't look into the candler or your night vision will be hosed.

Also, if in doubt, I leave the egg in until the next candling, when it should be obvious if the egg is developing or not. Unless the egg is very dirty and/or damaged, the risk of an exploder should be low. Be sure to watch for seeping and odors as clues to eggs going bad. It gets easier with practice.

Thank you! And is it just me, or is it REALLY hard to not accidentally get blinded by the candler! I'm glad you mentioned that so I know it is a thing, and that im not just completely inept!