Awright guys, I need ideas.
I have been incubating eggs since the middle of December. In that time, I have incubated 152 eggs to the age of going into the hatcher. In that time, I have actually *hatched* TEN. An additional 13 made it into the hatcher but did not hatch, and 3 are in the hatcher right now.
Nearly all of the eggs are simply not developing.
These are not all from a single breeding group. Here's the breakdown:
my bantam araucanas = 80 incubated, 0 hatched, 4 developed
my bantam cochins = 59 incubated, 4 hatched, 6 developed
wheaten Marans = 13 incubated, 6 hatched successfully, 11 developed
bantam araucanas from another source = 4 incubated, 3 developed (in hatcher now)
The araucana eggs that developed came from 4 different clutches. The cochin eggs that developed all came from 1 clutch.
Obviously, I can hatch eggs from other people -- but not my own! I am getting EXTREMELY frustrated here.
Here's a few details:
The araucanas and the cochins are in entirely different areas. The araucanas are outside, while the cochins are inside. While the araucanas have a high hen/roo ratio, the cochins have only 2 hens for the 1 roo. The araucanas are quite mixed so far as bloodlines go, while the cochins were probably clutch mates. The araucana roo is probably relatively old, but the cochin roo is quite young. Both are frequently seen to be mounting their hens. Eggs from the araucana pen have shown good bullseyes -- I haven't cracked any of the cochin eggs. I have switched brands of food several times over that period, as well as switching % of protein. I have always stayed at 20% protein or above. In addition to crumbles I feed a hot mash almost every day, which includes a mix of corn based mash plus alfalfa pellets or Calf Manna, plus oats, plus whatever I might feel like throwing in (this might be eggs, or beans, or peanut butter, or veggies, or oil, or other stuff).
I can't figure out what's going on here. The cochins have never even been in contact with the araucanas. Anybody got ideas?
I have been incubating eggs since the middle of December. In that time, I have incubated 152 eggs to the age of going into the hatcher. In that time, I have actually *hatched* TEN. An additional 13 made it into the hatcher but did not hatch, and 3 are in the hatcher right now.
Nearly all of the eggs are simply not developing.
These are not all from a single breeding group. Here's the breakdown:
my bantam araucanas = 80 incubated, 0 hatched, 4 developed
my bantam cochins = 59 incubated, 4 hatched, 6 developed
wheaten Marans = 13 incubated, 6 hatched successfully, 11 developed
bantam araucanas from another source = 4 incubated, 3 developed (in hatcher now)
The araucana eggs that developed came from 4 different clutches. The cochin eggs that developed all came from 1 clutch.
Obviously, I can hatch eggs from other people -- but not my own! I am getting EXTREMELY frustrated here.
Here's a few details:
The araucanas and the cochins are in entirely different areas. The araucanas are outside, while the cochins are inside. While the araucanas have a high hen/roo ratio, the cochins have only 2 hens for the 1 roo. The araucanas are quite mixed so far as bloodlines go, while the cochins were probably clutch mates. The araucana roo is probably relatively old, but the cochin roo is quite young. Both are frequently seen to be mounting their hens. Eggs from the araucana pen have shown good bullseyes -- I haven't cracked any of the cochin eggs. I have switched brands of food several times over that period, as well as switching % of protein. I have always stayed at 20% protein or above. In addition to crumbles I feed a hot mash almost every day, which includes a mix of corn based mash plus alfalfa pellets or Calf Manna, plus oats, plus whatever I might feel like throwing in (this might be eggs, or beans, or peanut butter, or veggies, or oil, or other stuff).
I can't figure out what's going on here. The cochins have never even been in contact with the araucanas. Anybody got ideas?
