International Black Copper Marans Thread - Breeding to the SOP

[KF0002]

Thank you!

They really are beautiful! I am a sucker for all that copper and that perfect comb on the one in the back!

 

[Red Banks]

They really are beautiful! I am a sucker for all that copper and that perfect comb on the one in the back!

Just a little copper on his chest. Both the cockerels I kept had the least copper on their chests. 4 more days until the eggs hatch. I tried a dry hatch..... maybe there won't be any chicks. More roosters to choose from.

 

[Red Banks]

@Old Man Tom ..... what do you do the last 3 days when you dry hatch. Do you bring the humidity to 65 and never open the lid again?

 

[KF0002]

@Old Man Tom ..... what do you do the last 3 days when you dry hatch. Do you bring the humidity to 65 and never open the lid again?

You have to bring the humidity up to around 65% during lockdown or it will be a disaster. If the eggs are dry when they hatch the chicks will get shrink wrapped and stuck.

 

[Red Banks]

You have to bring the humidity up to around 65% during lockdown or it will be a disaster. If the eggs are dry when they hatch the chicks will get shrink wrapped and stuck.

Yes.... I know but.... do you remember the last hatch was too wet. This one I can't get the humidity up. I put more water in and I am not going to touch it. I hope I don't lose them all.

 

[Red Banks]

The beat up cockerel is not doing well. He looked better yesterday after I rescued him. Still not opening his eye. Seems a little shaky. I guess he is still in shock. I feel so bad for him. They usually recover much quicker than this after a fight. I have seen them all bloody, to tired to lift their wings and hours later be fine. I think I will give the beat up cockerel a day out with the girls. That should perk him up.

 

[Red Banks]

You have to bring the humidity up to around 65% during lockdown or it will be a disaster. If the eggs are dry when they hatch the chicks will get shrink wrapped and stuck.

I set up a second foam incubator, the humidity went up quickly. When I get the temp right I will put half of the eggs in there. Less crowding and I know I can't open the lid and help them like the last time. 16 eggs in each incubator. Then I won't open lids again. Ahhhhh chickens! @kfelton0002 Did you tell me you put paper towels in to give them some traction?

 

[marchick]

I set up a second foam incubator, the humidity went up quickly. When I get the temp right I will put half of the eggs in there. Less crowding and I know I can't open the lid and help them like the last time. 16 eggs in each incubator. Then I won't open lids again. Ahhhhh chickens! @kfelton0002 Did you tell me you put paper towels in to give them some traction?

I hope you have a good hatch.

 

[KF0002]

I set up a second foam incubator, the humidity went up quickly. When I get the temp right I will put half of the eggs in there. Less crowding and I know I can't open the lid and help them like the last time. 16 eggs in each incubator. Then I won't open lids again. Ahhhhh chickens! @kfelton0002 Did you tell me you put paper towels in to give them some traction?

You can use shelf liner or paper towels to give them traction if you are hatching in baskets. They can hatch on the wire bottom of the incubator because the wire bottom gives them traction. Baskets with paper towels make for easy cleanup. You dont want to cover all the wire though because it needs to be open in areas so the water has enough surface area to bring the humidity up. I've been using mesh bags to separate chicks in this year and they work great. You can separate eggs from different hens/lines/breeds and the bags are breathable. Good luck! Hope they all hatch!!

 

[KF0002]

Yes.... I know but.... do you remember the last hatch was too wet. This one I can't get the humidity up. I put more water in and I am not going to touch it. I hope I don't lose them all.

Wasnt it too wet because the chicks were wet? You can expect the humidity to jump up a bit if a bunch of chicks hatch at the same time and are all wet. Pull the plugs out of the incubators so there is plenty ventilation and the humidity shouldnt jump up too bad. If it goes up into the 70's briefly while the chicks are drying thats no big deal and is nornal. The moisture evaporating from the newly hatched chicks causes a spike so dont worry. Dont meddle, walk away. If you need to add water, squirt it through the plug hole with a syringe or turkey baster. I used old tubing I had in my clinical bag from nursing school to run into my incubator to the humidity pan so I can use a syringe or turkey baster to squirt water in when I need to. Fish tank tubing works good too.