Ok, here is where we are at. I helped the one Blue orp that pipped yesterday a little. popped off the top of the egg so all she as to do is jump out, but she hasn't done it since last night. I don't like to help, but I've found if they have a huge hole in the egg for too long, it dries out and they are a mess to get out. So this one set there all day with a huge hole, so I helped a little but I'm going to make her get out by herself. If she can't do that much she's not going to be healthly. Another blue orp zipped more than half way last night and is still sitting there. and another has pipped.
2 Cuckoo Marans are out, but one is YELLOW? that's not right. But it came out of a big dark egg, so I know it's a Maran. 3 more maran's have pipped. This is only the beginning of day 21 so everybody is still in the game.
11 total Cuckoo Marans and 4 blue Orps went into hatching and I'm doing them in an egg carton so we'll see how it works. So far I've gotten better results on the Blue Orps than any other hatch.
Deniece, those Blue Orps really make you work for them, don't they? Seems to take several hatches just to get a decent number of them. I just think they are delicate at the beginning so that shipping does a real number on them, more so than some other breeds. At least that's been my experience and others' as well.
They were the first to start yesterday and I though yippie, I've got some good hardy little fuzzy butts. But oh NO! I got excited way to far in advance. Not one is out of it's shell, even after I helped one. Still sitting in it's shell, and it's completely open! The other is 3/4 zipped and still sitting there. One is pipped.
The Maran's on the other hand started a little late, but I have 3 out.