Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Christie Rhae]

I incubate in a hova bator 1588. I follow the dry incubation method. Usually my humidity is between 20 and 35 depending on how humid it is outside. I add a tsp of water if it goes below 20%. The normal humidity in my house is 50-60%. I hatch in a little giant still air.
I do try to get up to 65% humidity at lockdown. You think that is too high? Idont think I get heat spikes in the hova bator. It seems to keep perfect 100.5 all the time.

I received a box of black copper eggs yesterday from Oregon so I am excited to see if they do better than the marans eggs I got from Maryland. This box was delayed and spent an extra day in the mail and had two broken eggs but surprisingly only one egg had an air cell that moved all around in the egg. All the rest of the aircells look pretty decent. I have had a box of eggs before that had 12 out of 28 with totally scrambled up aircells. So far the west coast eggs look good.
Thank you guys for all your input!

 

[Debbi]

Quote:
It's quite funny because all the boys in the yard have started trying and man it sounds downright painful for some of them.

he actually likes the adults. He just couldnt believe they were trying to crow already when the others have only just started now after almost five months!

I know! This last one that started at 4 weeks, sounded like a hoarse cat that was being strangled! It was sooo pitiful, yet he was sooo proud!

Too cute

 

[poularde]

Been a while since I posted. My girls from Pink have started laying. Still little pullet eggs, but the color is quite nice. I love theses hens. They have beautiful shape. They will not be used for breeding since they all have the stupid comb issues. I really enjoy them and I will have them for my dark eggies. One of the girls lays little pullet eggs with double yolks!

Here is a few pics in natural light. On the scale they have been fives and sixes so far.

Someone wants some breakfast....

Aster says PLEASE!!!

Off subject... Debbi I have joined the ranks of Silkie owners also. I traded a few hens for five little BBS chicks. Too cute. Little puffballs.

 

[Debbi]

Quote:
YES! That was my problem. On day 20 of my last Marans hatch, ALL 8 eggs were rocking hard. On day 23 all had died in the shell, except for the 2 that hatched...both roos!

The high humidity seems to drown them in the shell with the excess water that builds up inside the shell membrane. Also, try setting your temp at 99.5.

 

[Debbi]

Oh Poularde, you're in trouble now! Funny how so many with Marans also have Silkies! Mine are now 5 weeks old, and they are hysterical to watch. They have the "pin head" look going on right now, too cute.

Nice eggies!! Do your girls actually have the stupid combs, or are you taking them out of the pen just in case? Neither one of my Pink girls have bad combs, in fact, both look great.

 

[poularde]

They have the stupid combs.

My girl with the twisted neck is the only one with a good comb. Just my luck.

The girls are lovely though.

 

[AyeUpChuck]

Quote:
YES! That was my problem. On day 20 of my last Marans hatch, ALL 8 eggs were rocking hard. On day 23 all had died in the shell, except for the 2 that hatched...both roos!

The high humidity seems to drown them in the shell with the excess water that builds up inside the shell membrane. Also, try setting your temp at 99.5.

I had the SAME problem in my last hatch. There were four fully formed babies that just drowned from all I can see! My humidity was at about 60% I'm going to try keeping it around 45-50% this time and see what that does. And as far as the 1588 goes, I don't think she can alter the temp. They're set to run at 100. You can't alter the temp. But it's extremely consistent.

 

[DMRippy]

Quote:
YES! That was my problem. On day 20 of my last Marans hatch, ALL 8 eggs were rocking hard. On day 23 all had died in the shell, except for the 2 that hatched...both roos!

The high humidity seems to drown them in the shell with the excess water that builds up inside the shell membrane. Also, try setting your temp at 99.5.

What humidity would you suggest for lockdown for marans?

 

[Christie Rhae]

Quote:
YES! That was my problem. On day 20 of my last Marans hatch, ALL 8 eggs were rocking hard. On day 23 all had died in the shell, except for the 2 that hatched...both roos!

The high humidity seems to drown them in the shell with the excess water that builds up inside the shell membrane. Also, try setting your temp at 99.5.

hmmm that is interesting. My last hatch (ameraucanas) I put six super wiggly eggs in to lockdown. They were rocking all over the place on day 18. On day 20 three chicks hatched. The other three died in the shell. I opened them on the end and did not see fluid in the air cell. They did not even internally pip. But in at least one I did see alot of fluid in with the chick. I thought that if your humidity was low during incubation then real high humidity during lockdown could not hurt them. But why else would those three strong chicks die in the shell? Ya know? This gives me a lead. Gonna keep it lower during my next lockdown.
About my temp: I have wondered if it is a sqeek high. But the hova bator has a very weird and confusing way to change temp. I have been scared to even consider messing with it. There are these toggle switches that make no sense to me. I will research that.

Thank you for all these great suggestions. I am so glad I finally decided to post on this thread instead of just lurk!

 

[Christie Rhae]

One more thing... What about the dreaded "shrink wrap"? Keeping humidity more moderate does not cause them to dry out after they have pipped?