The first of my Birchen Maran eggs have hatched early on day 18 I wasn't expecting it for a day or two yet, and they were to go into lock down tonight, It's one big healthy active chick. I've another one who's talking but still has to pip and a 3rd who's very active inside its egg. The 4th egg is still not making much noise etc. Anyhow eggs 2, 3 n 4 are now in lock down in the bator n the chicks drying off in the 2nd bator and running around peeping a lot. I'll put this one in the brooder in a while. I've only x4 eggs that have proved viable out of the original 20 due to them being imported eggs. Fingers crossed the 3 remaining eggs hatch well as these are the first Birchen Marans over here.