hi guys, I was just wondering if bantam eggs are usually 21 days? i assume that they are, I just wondered if they were slightly quicker due to the smaller size (or is that just stupid of me ) I've got silkie eggs in the incubator, I'm assuming I follow the same routine that i did for my buff orps, right? Stop turning around day 18 and up humidity, look for hatch on day 20-21? Thanks!
Yeah! I would be thrilled if my bantams hatch a couple of days early! Thanks for asking bangor777, I wouldn't have thought to.
Eggs of bantam & even large fowl will often hatch in less than the proscribed 21 days. A fertile egg starts to develop inside the hen before it is laid and depending on conditions ie: does the hen stay on the nest after laying, does another hen get on the nest, is the weather very warm, etc. some development may continue. As a result when you set an egg it may have a significant "head start" on it's 21 day journey. I often have eggs set under hens pipping late on day 19 or early on day 20.
My friend incubates OEGBs. She gets hatches a few days early. And if she incubates some type of large fowl(such as WLs) she gets them on day 23-24.
My first hatch of bantam eggs beaks started popping out of eggs on 21 days exactly. Within an hour of when I set them. I'm hoping this hatch at least waits 21 days cause I'm leaving on what will be day 17 and getting back on day 20. Temperatures will impact the hatch. Higher temps may lead to slightly earlier pipping and lower temps a day later. Otherwise all chickens irregardless of size hatch on an average of 21 days.
Thank you all for the replies. my buff orps were a day late, had a power outage on about the 12th day that I think impacted them. We'll see with these little guys, they were part of the same outage but were at day 4.