Marans Thread for Posting Pics of Your Eggs, Chicks and Chickens

[Mrs MIA]

I have 3 girls, and the one that is the closest to being "correct" lays the biggest darkest eggs I have... not as dark as Geebs' (

) but dark enough...

I put them in a pure white carton next to an almost pure white egg.

My problem is, I can't get anything to hatch from them. The girls started laying late last summer, and they're fertile, but the chicks go to full term and never hatch. Is the shell too thick? I have chicks from Feb in the brooder, but they all hatched from the other girl that lays lighter, smaller eggs. What good is having nice dark eggs if they don't hatch?

I've had to bench the team until I can figure it out..... any thoughts, suggestions? Someone told me to lower the humidity to 25-30% during incubation... anyone else with this problem?

 

[Tala]

Here is a new picture of my "Puffy Cheeks" - she is definitely not feathered like the Marans, too fluffy, but I can't get over the comb. It's itty bitty small like a girl, but pinkish like a boy. Compared to the Black Copper Marans men she looks girly, but compared to the Cuckoo Marans pullet she looks boyish.

ETA:

Get a load of this guy isn't he so cute!

He loves the camera, that's for sure!

ETA: in this bottom picture, Puffy Cheeks is standing in the background looking direcly at the camera

 

[marquisella]

How old is he/she? It looks like there is some copper on the back & wings? If you can find copper anywhere else on its body, then its probably a boy that is slow to grow.
How are the wattles compared to the other cockerels? Sometimes I use bigger wattles to judge them if the combs are iffy.

Sue

 

[Tala]

Quote:
No wattle development at all, that I can see. Nothing compared to her big bubba (all the same age, probably related)

They were hatched around March 11th -- (I've had them since the 13th) so they are close to 5 weeks old.

 

[berkeleysprings]

i get around 70 percent hatch rate at 42 /65 lock down . and people who got eggs from me get closer to 90 percennt and they do 35 and 65 lock down i thought .... but in backwoods poultry(great people ) there web site they have a link to dry incubation.... hear is the link http://paraguinparadise.netfirms.com/Dry%20Incubation.htm
i will try that dry thing once i figure the numbers but i read it twice and couldent tell the humidity just the amount of water in the GQ bator ...i could of missed the part about what the huimidity is and il read it again

Mrs. AK-Bird-Brain :

I have 3 girls, and the one that is the closest to being "correct" lays the biggest darkest eggs I have... not as dark as Geebs' (

) but dark enough...
https://www.backyardchickens.com/fo..._color_w-dorking_egg_4-17-2010_5-16-46_pm.jpg
I put them in a pure white carton next to an almost pure white egg.

My problem is, I can't get anything to hatch from them. The girls started laying late last summer, and they're fertile, but the chicks go to full term and never hatch. Is the shell too thick? I have chicks from Feb in the brooder, but they all hatched from the other girl that lays lighter, smaller eggs. What good is having nice dark eggs if they don't hatch?

I've had to bench the team until I can figure it out..... any thoughts, suggestions? Someone told me to lower the humidity to 25-30% during incubation... anyone else with this problem?​

 

[Mrs MIA]

Quote:

Thank you...

I have a Hovabator set with just the BCMs in it, and only one trough has water. With Spring just around the corner, our ambient humidity is pretty high, so maybe that's the trick... just dry and not worry about it. I'm waiting for one or two silkies to go broody... I'm dying to see if she can do better.

The shells on these eggs are very hard. I tried to blow one out to use as a decoration, and had to use a drill on it... a needle wouldn't break through!

 

[marquisella]

I do a completely dry hatch. I was drowing my Marans when I added water to my Sportsman. I only add water when I move the eggs the last 3 days to a styro incubater to hatch. Then I get it up to 70-80%.

Do you crack open your eggs when they don't hatch? Is there excess water in them? If so, they are drowning when they start to pip. Are the chicks that do hatch sticky?

I also have Wyandottes and AMeraucanas, and they literally pop out of their shells with dry hatching. I can't recommend it enough.

I think that the darkcoating on the Marans eggs, act as a kinda sealant, and keep the moisture from evaporating like normal eggs.

I tell people, why not try it? If your hatch is bad adding water, what do you have to lose?

I use the thermometer/hygrometer from Walmart, Acurite, I think. It is grey,and has a probe. To get the humidity, you have to put the whole thing inside the incubator.
Mine always reads "low" for the humidity. I don't even give it a thought anymore. When I first tried it, I would add just a little water, and got bad hatches, I gradually stopped adding water, even though it just didn't seem right, and finally I let it go from start to day 19 without any water, and it was a success.

Sue

 

[Mrs MIA]

Quote:
Thanks Sue... I think that's a-what I'm gonna do.

I have a 1502, and I keep water in the pan throughout, then put the wick in for the last 3 days. All the other chicks hatch just fine, but the Marans don't. I guess I will continue to hatch them in the Hova... I'm still learning... this is heartbreaking, but good lessons.

 

[cottagegarden]

"Well, hello there..."

 

[geebs]

Well folks.. I am home!!! OMGoodness that was a loong drive for me... Ack... The birdies made it... It was sooo hot today I had to keep putting bottles of cold water under them... Cree ROCKS>>> They gave me 2 dozen eggies that the girls had laid... Yep they are nice folks!!! They were on time... Birds were packaged... They were exactly as represented... 10 stars for Gary and Lisa!!! I will post pix when I get em later.. I am tired and hungry... I will catch ya later...