I have searched & searched: Bantam/Small leghorn cross eggs, will chick grow to size?

[ChickensAndYoga]

I have searched for 2 days now with no similar question anywhere. I have a gold duckwing rooster and a smaller than standard white leghorn hen in my nursery pen (theyre adults, they just are amazing with my hatched chicks and nanny all of them). They breed successfully and often so I put some of their eggs in with a few "normal" eggs I wanted to hatch.

Here is my question:

Marilyn egg size is equal to a grocery store "large egg". The eggs are on days 11 and 8 (small staggar to my hatch).

The eggs are developing beautifully except that the mass is smaller than what I see in my usual standard hatches. Veins are good, all looks on point except the size of the mass.

Will the chicks develope to fit the egg OR will they be smaller inside a bigger egg. And, if they are smaller... Will it hinder them hatching? ALSO would I expect a bantam day 19 hatch?

I am hatching dry in a homemade incubator that is made of a plastic cooler. Still air. And has hatched well for me many times.

Thank you!

 

[SueT]

I am interested in following your outcome...I would be more concerned about a standard rooster over bantam hen, having room in the tiny egg. I have bantams and standard hens, and a Spitzhauben rooster who is a medium sized breed so I should have some interesting crosses.
Let us know how it goes, Be sure to post pics.
Sue

 

[ChickensAndYoga]

I am interested in following your outcome...I would be more concerned about a standard rooster over bantam hen, having room in the tiny egg. I have bantams and standard hens, and a Spitzhauben rooster who is a medium sized breed so I should have some interesting crosses.
Let us know how it goes, Be sure to post pics.
Sue

I sure can keep a log here!! I also have a beautiful Sebright who is doing a decent job in my other hen house with some big girls So maybe if this works I'll try those out next!

I just took two pics. I just feel like they look behind. But the other eggs in there all look on time. So not sure if its due to small chick/big egg or if I'm just seeing what I want because Im second guessing myself lol

 

[OhZark Biddies]

1) Will the chicks develope to fit the egg OR will they be smaller inside a bigger egg.

2) And, if they are smaller... Will it hinder them hatching?

3) ALSO would I expect a bantam day 19 hatch?

1) my understanding is that the chicks will indeed develop to fit the egg, but it could be a bit of a tight fit, as described here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/bantam-hen-standard-cross-result.1216411/

2) hmmm, I'm not sure on this, maybe someone else has had experience with undersized chicks/orversized eggs hatching, but I would guess that the vigorness of the chick might have more to do with it than the size

3) I would guesss somewhere between 19 and 21... which is 20 ... I think ...didn't take my shoes off to check my math, so you'll have to double check

 

[ChickensAndYoga]

1) my understanding is that the chicks will indeed develop to fit the egg, but it could be a bit of a tight fit, as described here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/bantam-hen-standard-cross-result.1216411/

2) hmmm, I'm not sure on this, maybe someone else has had experience with undersized chicks/orversized eggs hatching, but I would guess that the vigorness of the chick might have more to do with it than the size

3) I would guesss somewhere between 19 and 21... which is 20 ... I think ...didn't take my shoes off to check my math, so you'll have to double check

Thank you for your time! I wonder now if the reason I can't find any info on small chick/large egg is that the usual scenario is big rooster/bantam hen. I actually was surprised when I started getting fertilized eggs from her. Those two are the only adult birds in the nursery coops. And my chicks are always sold before 8 weeks of age so no scenario of an affair When I realized that ALL of her eggs are bullseye eggs, naturally I had to try to hatch them Lol

My concern is/was if the chick was too small maybe they'll drown trying to pip due to not filling the egg enough and leaving liquid space between them and the air cell? But if the chick does grow to the size of the egg, I guess that won't be an issue. I considered lowering humidity in my already dry hatch to increase the air cell for them. But that may risk the others?

 

[redranger209]

Subbing!

 

[KikiLeigh02]

I hatched some Bantam Barnevelder rooster x Standard Barnevelder hen eggs recently, they did fill the eggs they were in. I weighed them before I set them and they were all larger medium almost large eggs. They did hatch on Day 19, but I blame my OEGB eggs! They started hatching on Day 18 and I think they talked everyone into hatching early. Good luck with your hatch!

 

[ChickensAndYoga]

I hatched some Bantam Barnevelder rooster x Standard Barnevelder hen eggs recently, they did fill the eggs they were in. I weighed them before I set them and they were all larger medium almost large eggs. They did hatch on Day 19, but I blame my OEGB eggs! They started hatching on Day 18 and I think they talked everyone into hatching early. Good luck with your hatch!

Thank you so much! That makes me feel better. I love hatching but started to second guess this decision lol I was mostly worried I'd get fully formed chicks who couldn't hatch .Ive had that happen to one hatch... The great humidity hatch of April 2018 Anyway, how did the chicks turn out? Banty sized or on between? My leghorn hen is actually tiny. Only about 4 lbs and not much taller than Dan.

 

[WVduckchick]

Thank you for your time! I wonder now if the reason I can't find any info on small chick/large egg is that the usual scenario is big rooster/bantam hen. I actually was surprised when I started getting fertilized eggs from her. Those two are the only adult birds in the nursery coops. And my chicks are always sold before 8 weeks of age so no scenario of an affair When I realized that ALL of her eggs are bullseye eggs, naturally I had to try to hatch them Lol

My concern is/was if the chick was too small maybe they'll drown trying to pip due to not filling the egg enough and leaving liquid space between them and the air cell? But if the chick does grow to the size of the egg, I guess that won't be an issue. I considered lowering humidity in my already dry hatch to increase the air cell for them. But that may risk the others?

I'll be interested to see how this turns out.

I don't suspect they will hatch early, unless your temperature is on the high side. I think day 15-18ish will give you more answers when you candle. If you see lots of clear fluid still in the pointy end of the egg, if the chick doesn't populate the entire egg, it could hatch very gooey. Usually that goo will dry super hard and brittle, so that would be my biggest concern. Watch the eyes, beak, and head especially, and get it cleaned off pronto. Your concern of possibly drowning is also valid, I think you'll know more when it gets close to hatch time.
If that time comes, and the chick still looks very small, you could consider hatching it in the upright position. Those seem to survive without drowning a little more, I believe (I've never personally hatched any upright)

Congrats to the little roo for hitting the mark! That's why its usually the other way around... bantam roosters have a harder time with their...um...um.... positioning.

 

[KikiLeigh02]

They are definitely mid-sized. Smaller than my full size chicks, but larger than the bantams. These weren't my eggs, but we do have a bantam rooster in with large fowl pullet/hens, so far he does pretty well. I only have one hen whose eggs aren't fertile when I crack them!

Thank you so much! That makes me feel better. I love hatching but started to second guess this decision lol I was mostly worried I'd get fully formed chicks who couldn't hatch .Ive had that happen to one hatch... The great humidity hatch of April 2018 Anyway, how did the chicks turn out? Banty sized or on between? My leghorn hen is actually tiny. Only about 4 lbs and not much taller than Dan.