Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[gilavina]

Quote:
To me 62% sounds like it is not out of reason at all. I have never used a Hovabator...so in my ignorance I'm not sure if it is a still air or forced air? In my forced air (sportsman) I keep my humidity at lock down between 65 and 70% and it works pretty well for me. On the Marans it is not uncommon to take longer than 21 days to hatch...so I wouldn't give up too soon...or open the incubator unless you absolutely have to. I am doing more of that this year and have having dramatically better results than last year.

I will be keeping my fingers crossed for your hatch to continue going well

What variety of Marans do you have hatching in the bator?

 

[gilavina]

Quote:
Hope this isn't a weird suggestion...but whenever I've had weak chicks...or big ones like that, that are struggling with their own size...I cook a hard boiled egg then take the yoke smash it up with a fork and let it cool a bit so its not too hot and offer it to the chicks. If they don't respond to it right away I keep a little dry oatmeal handy and will sprinkle it over the top of the egg and then watch out...they go crazy for it. The protein from the egg seems to work really well to strengthen them up.

 

[seabreeze]

Thanks Gilavina for all the wonderful suggestions (and to others as well!!) My friend is starting to build me a regular incubator from a wooden cabinet we found at ReStore (Habitat for Humanity store) that is solid wood, perfect size and on wheels! Old style wood, not wood veneer which could potentially have toxic glues in it. So we are using a Hovabator 1620? at the moment, 2 of them. The LG was a waste. Both are still air bators, the LG was not. One of our problems was in the beginning, we tended to open the bator to take out any hatched chicks and shells because some of them were so messy. Now that we are NOT opening that bator after lockdown NO MATTER WHAT, it appears we are having a bit of success so far.

 

[poularde]

Quote:
Hope this isn't a weird suggestion...but whenever I've had weak chicks...or big ones like that, that are struggling with their own size...I cook a hard boiled egg then take the yoke smash it up with a fork and let it cool a bit so its not too hot and offer it to the chicks. If they don't respond to it right away I keep a little dry oatmeal handy and will sprinkle it over the top of the egg and then watch out...they go crazy for it. The protein from the egg seems to work really well to strengthen them up.

I have given them egg in the past. I will give it a try. Thanks.

I want them to get the best start possible.

 

[gilavina]

Quote:
Waaahoooo! Sounds like the perfect solution...a bigger incubator of course! haha
I am planning on shutting my incubator off at some point...just not sure when...and putting in a bigger viewing window on the door since I can't see a thing in the hatching tray. I listen for sounds of distress more than anything and then let it go for a bit longer...and it seems to be doing alright.

I gotta start getting myself ready for work, but later when I get home I'll try to get a few snapshots of my oldest chicks..the majority of that hatch is males, but I have 4 pullets so far....there is one that is just baffling me...so I'm leaving it undecided for the moment...but anyways...out of the 6 blues I hatched...three are pullets. I am so happy...! and they are nice and dark blue and showing signs of the darker blue lacing already..even better

 

[gilavina]

Quote:
Hope this isn't a weird suggestion...but whenever I've had weak chicks...or big ones like that, that are struggling with their own size...I cook a hard boiled egg then take the yoke smash it up with a fork and let it cool a bit so its not too hot and offer it to the chicks. If they don't respond to it right away I keep a little dry oatmeal handy and will sprinkle it over the top of the egg and then watch out...they go crazy for it. The protein from the egg seems to work really well to strengthen them up.

I have given them egg in the past. I will give it a try. Thanks.

I want them to get the best start possible.

electrolytes might help too if you have any on hand. Looks like you have a pretty fantastic little bunch there

 

[seabreeze]

Gilavina, how are you telling the sexes apart so early on? Are they new hatches or a few months' of life?

Hope you have a FAST work day and a slow upcoming weekend!!

PS....PHOTOS PLEASE!!

 

[Wynette]

Quote:
Can you send your friend over my way? I've been trying to get THIS thing going since fall of 2009! SHEESH!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=339386

I think we're getting closer....I should hope so, eh?

 

[seabreeze]

Wynette, I pulled up the page and will email it to him, maybe he has a few suggestions? He's pretty good with electrical, superb at construction/building and not just rough work, more like ultra fine finish work....

 

[BevDavis]