Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[gilavina]

I have had several chicks hatch with this, but my luck has been different than Gilavina's and the ones I grew out with the spots did not have good coloring when mature, they have always lacked in copper or shown none.

Cute chicks by the way!

I figured not everyone was having the same luck. I thought I should clarify too that the chicks here when I get them have a very defined spot of bright copper and not the kind of chicks with the rusty all over kind of color on the head. That kind of chick I've never had luck with.

 

[pinkchick]

Unkadan and Vicki~

Right now I only have goose eggs in there that are to hatch today. I would like the percentage to be a bit higher for the goose eggs, but would also like to find the secret to upping it. It is something I have always struggled with. *P.S. I know this is the Marans thread but with the Marans needing extra humidity for hatching........I think this discussion is relevant if it helps anyone who has humidity issues*

Unkadan~ We have the same model of Sportsman and I just shut 2 of the vents and left the others as they were....will see if it helps.
Thank you both of you!


Got 15 Marans single mated test eggs on the coffee table, along with 6 more goose eggs waiting for their turn to go into the cooker.




OHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! Roberta laid her first egg yesterday!!!!!!!!!!!! e

It's pretty small but it has good color for her first egg. Of course she scratched all of the shavings out of the nest box and it cracked when it hit bottom....but I am taking it!

 

[pinkchick]

I figured not everyone was having the same luck. I thought I should clarify too that the chicks here when I get them have a very defined spot of bright copper and not the kind of chicks with the rusty all over kind of color on the head. That kind of chick I've never had luck with.

Agreed! I'm glad you clarified the clear defined spot vs. the chicks with the rusty colored heads. I also was talking about chicks with a clear defined spot of copper. I always held out hope with the ones I have hatched out but as you know I struggle with copper and the lack of it.

One day that Luella is going to have a twin in my yard......I will get there......someday.

 

[gilavina]

Unkadan and Vicki~

Right now I only have goose eggs in there that are to hatch today. I would like the percentage to be a bit higher for the goose eggs, but would also like to find the secret to upping it. It is something I have always struggled with. *P.S. I know this is the Marans thread but with the Marans needing extra humidity for hatching........I think this discussion is relevant if it helps anyone who has humidity issues*

Unkadan~ We have the same model of Sportsman and I just shut 2 of the vents and left the others as they were....will see if it helps.

Got 15 Marans single mated test eggs on the coffee table, along with 6 more goose eggs waiting for their turn to go into the cooker.




OHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! Roberta laid her first egg yesterday!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's pretty small but it has good color for her first egg. Of course she scratched all of the shavings out of the nest box and it cracked when it hit bottom....but I am taking it!

I think closing the vents will help, I've also heard of people using wet papertowels, but don't really know how they use them other than lining the hatching tray, but wouldn't think they would stay wet for longer than a few hours.

Congrats on the egg. I hate when you see a nice egg and its busted from the hens raking away the bedding in the nests. I've started collecting eggs here and there, but will collect from the majority of the pens after the 19th when I know the rest of the pens are cleared from the pens they were in. The chicks here are growing like weeds already, so hopefully will be ready to go outside soon!

 

[gilavina]

Agreed! I'm glad you clarified the clear defined spot vs. the chicks with the rusty colored heads. I also was talking about chicks with a clear defined spot of copper. I always held out hope with the ones I have hatched out but as you know I struggle with copper and the lack of it.

One day that Luella is going to have a twin in my yard......I will get there......someday.

hahah, I have no doubts you will have a twin there one day lady. I knew you knew the difference in the color on the chicks heads, but figured for clarity's sake I should throw it out there since it is more common to get the rusty headed chicks and don't want someone thinking they have something grand. I just didn't want to mislead anyone.

 

[pinkchick]

Oh and remember the solid chicks that were sent to me..........the little blue pullet is Cuckoo.



Must get photos.

 

[pinkchick]

hahah, I have no doubts you will have a twin there one day lady. I knew you knew the difference in the color on the chicks heads, but figured for clarity's sake I should throw it out there since it is more common to get the rusty headed chicks and don't want someone thinking they have something grand. I just didn't want to mislead anyone.

 

[unkadan]

"Unkadan~ We have the same model of Sportsman and I just shut 2 of the vents and left the others as they were....will see if it helps."

this is a new (used) unit for me I got it last summer, they must have made changes along the line (# of vents) as they upgraded over the years. I do know that using the new style large water pan/tub and inserting the media they sell the fan blows over the tub and through the media, when I closed the bottom vent the humidity went up. I plan on incubating some Welsh Harlequin eggs soon my plan is to add another chunk of media to bump it higher yet. I'll be interested to see how your unit preforms today

 

[pinkchick]

I think closing the vents will help, I've also heard of people using wet papertowels, but don't really know how they use them other than lining the hatching tray, but wouldn't think they would stay wet for longer than a few hours. 

Congrats on the egg. I hate when you see a nice egg and its busted from the hens raking away the bedding in the nests. I've started collecting eggs here and there, but will collect from the majority of the pens after the 19th when I know the rest of the pens are cleared from the pens they were in. The chicks here are growing like weeds already, so hopefully will be ready to go outside soon!

Heck....after I hose down the goose eggs the humidity only ups by a point or two and within a couple minutes the eggs are completely dry and the hum. drops back down to where it previously was sitting. I could well imagine that the papertowels would dry out in no time.

 

[pinkchick]

"Unkadan~ We have the same model of Sportsman and I just shut 2 of the vents and left the others as they were....will see if it helps."

this is a new (used) unit for me I got it last summer, they must have made changes along the line (# of vents) as they upgraded over the years. I do know that using the new style large water pan/tub and inserting the media they sell the fan blows over the tub and through the media, when I closed the bottom vent the humidity went up. I plan on incubating some Welsh Harlequin eggs soon my plan is to add another chunk of media to bump it higher yet. I'll be interested to see how your unit preforms today

I got mine (new to me) but used and rebuilt a couple years ago from a Welsummer breeder friend here on BYC. I love it!

I understand that the larger the water surface area the better the humidity, so I have been using large shallow pans for more surface area with the sponges. I have 1 pan on the top shelf where it should be and 1 pan on the first tray and another pan on the second tray since they are not being used right now.

I closed the top vents......I'm going to go and change it to the bottom vents.
Will keep you posted.

Also interested to see how your duck eggs do. Hope it goes great for you.