Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[ruth]

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More exciting news coming from Bethel Farms!!!! Can't wait to see more Blue Coppers from your birds Monique! Nice job on the leg feathering of the little blue that Jeremy posted.

Bring on the Blues!!!!!!! Bring on the Blues I say!

Yes! Bring on the blues, and throw that nice hackle color on your hens up to the north of you!!

Thanks Pink and Debbi - y'all are just too kind. I sure can use the enouragement. I am hoping the new lines of blues do have lots of copper hackle color because the hen I got from Whitmore had none, nor feathered legs - so I'm not using her. I'm having to start from "scratch" with my BCM hens, the ones with the most copper, and the Blue Copper roo from Whitmore. It'll be interesting to see what I end up with.

 

[Debbi]

Well, Ruth, your BCM girls are exceptional! I wouldn't expect any less from your blues.

 

[math ace]

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Temperature 99.5*
Humidity for the first 18 days between 45 - 50* Increase to 70* for the last three days.

Eggs are very forgiving so don't worry too much.

The incubator should be pre set so you should be alright with the temperature but humidity might be a problem because it's very hard to find an accurate hygrometer. Check the air space at day eight and take out any eggs that look clear. Keep an eye on the air space, if it looks small reduce the water, if it's too big increase the humidity.

Some people can't help themselves at the end of the hatch to see if there is a live chick there or not. If there is a live chick that is a bit late hatching put the egg back in the incubator and cover the egg with a wet face cloth. The chick will hatch out and be alright with the extra humidity.

Bev

So, I know some of you run your humidity lower than this for several reasons - --
Too hard to get it this high OR
Your chicks have drowned during hatching.

HERE IS THE QUESTION - - - HOW do you tell if a chick drowned because of high humidity ?

 

[ruth]

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Wow - thanks.

 

[Ivywoods]

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Wow - thanks.

I agree totally with this. Your hens are the nicest I have seen. I am envious. I wish mine looked as nice. Mine are a work in progess, and I am learning as I go.

 

[Debbi]

Good morning Marans land!

Mother Nature is not being so nice here this morning! SNOW!!

Letting the chickens out this morning, I know I heard the ladies muttering, "weee are NOT amused!"

At least it was just a dusting...c'mon spring, we deserve it!

 

[flgardengirl]

Quote:
Temperature 99.5*
Humidity for the first 18 days between 45 - 50* Increase to 70* for the last three days.

Eggs are very forgiving so don't worry too much.

The incubator should be pre set so you should be alright with the temperature but humidity might be a problem because it's very hard to find an accurate hygrometer. Check the air space at day eight and take out any eggs that look clear. Keep an eye on the air space, if it looks small reduce the water, if it's too big increase the humidity.

Some people can't help themselves at the end of the hatch to see if there is a live chick there or not. If there is a live chick that is a bit late hatching put the egg back in the incubator and cover the egg with a wet face cloth. The chick will hatch out and be alright with the extra humidity.

Bev

So, I know some of you run your humidity lower than this for several reasons - --
Too hard to get it this high OR
Your chicks have drowned during hatching.

HERE IS THE QUESTION - - - HOW do you tell if a chick drowned because of high humidity ?

I was wondering that same thing? I mean you would have to do an autopsy right?

 

[Debbi]

Quote:
So, I know some of you run your humidity lower than this for several reasons - --
Too hard to get it this high OR
Your chicks have drowned during hatching.

HERE IS THE QUESTION - - - HOW do you tell if a chick drowned because of high humidity ?

I was wondering that same thing? I mean you would have to do an autopsy right?

Unless you have a great candler that can see the size of the air cell developing, then yes, an eggtopsy would tell you in the end. I have now tried Bev's humidity levels, then tried the dry method using about 35% for the first 18 days with about 50% the last three days. Neither one seemed to make any difference, so I'm thinking either my hygrometer is way off, or I just stink at incubation! Heck, Pink's eggs was the best hatch I've had yet! I'm going to re-calibrate the hygrometer, put in new batteries, and try some of my own eggs for a test hatch. Now..if the power will just stay on!

 

[sewandgrow]

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I haven't thought of those (Mexican jumping beans) in years. We used to get them all the time & I haven't the slightest ides from where.....What a blast from the past.!!!!! LOL

 

[sewandgrow]

Quote:
So, I know some of you run your humidity lower than this for several reasons - --
Too hard to get it this high OR
Your chicks have drowned during hatching.

HERE IS THE QUESTION - - - HOW do you tell if a chick drowned because of high humidity ?

I was wondering that same thing? I mean you would have to do an autopsy right?

That's exactly what I did........an egg-topsy & the unhatched chick was swimming in too much liquid. Other than that it was fully formed & looked ready to go. That was at 70 % humity at lockdown. I lowered it 5% for the next hatch & had a good hatch but still some fully formed chicks that didn't make it out that were wet. Now I am trying 60%. We'll see, but to be fair this one is only 6 eggs & I have never hatched this breed Ykohamas before. They are a birthday present for my grown son.