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With our White Leghorn batch we started at 13 and by lock down were at 7 confirmed good eggs - 1 died during hatch due to roughhousing of others and 1 died within a few days of hatch leaving us with 5 chicks. That's about 50% hatch rate, they were shipped from Ohio in mid June. This batch was shipped from Arkansas in mid July and we're down to 4 eggs out of 14 - that's closer to 30% if they all live. This time the weather was so ridiculously hot for Virginia that I think it made a difference in this hatch. After these last 4 chicks hatch I'll be waiting to try again in the fall.
The heat has been awful for everyone east of California. About the only thing California can brag about is the weather. Even when its hot, its dry. Not sure I could take the humidity you all get.
Sorry I'm late for the dance. I just found this post.
Can I join along?
I have 23 eggs set in my homemade bator due between the 8 and 11 of August. This is my second attempt at hatching.
I candled my BPW at 8 days and had to pitch 11.
They were mostly clear most likely with detached air sacks. I also had a couple with blood rings. The dark Marans eggs I tried to candle, but really didn't see too much. Just gonna have to use the ole sniffer on those I guess.
These all are shipped eggs I'm hoping for the best.
Here they are tucked snug in the turner. I also have a egg cam set up so I can view them from work. You can see them here. It might take a few seconds for it to show up in your browser, just give it a minute. Kinda slow. Best of luck to everyone!
My first try at hatching Marans eggs failed. I had 2 out of 20 hatch and they both died. Not very good odds. I learned a great deal from my first hatch. The biggest being an accurate thermometer. I think my first hatch ran too hot although the stinking thermometer was reading 99.5. I've since acquired a Brinsea Spot Check digital thermometer with the water wiggler mode attachment. I can now adjust to tenths of a degree.
I really, really, really want my Marans eggs to hatch.
Time on this second hatch seems to be moving along quicker than my first. Maybe I'm just a bit busier.