Turning eggs

[Amanda16]

may i ask some suggestions on how to do so please? i believe that would be very helpful =^-^=

 

[Amanda16]

also, what would cause the egg to die in the middle of incubation? does it have something to do with it being an Americauna egg, or maybe something that just happens to all eggs? i have seen mentioned before that Americauna eggs tend to be harder to hatch, would it be something to do with that or something entirely different?

 

[MerleMice]

This thread looks like it has a picture example in it.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...for-hatching-different-breeds-in-an-incubator

I'm assuming that you're using a Styrofoam incubator, which the most likely culprit would be temperature. Either too high or too low will kill embryos.

True Auraucana eggs are harder to hatch because you are dealing with lethal genes, which reduces the number of chicks that hatch.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

The explanation of hatching times was dead on and I agree with the possibility of a quitter in there. Eggs quit for different reasons. Bacteria, damage to the egg, unforeseen reasons, and yes temps can be the culprit, but if it's not a big number of eggs quitting at once, then it's probably something specific to the egg. True Araucanas are not harder to hatch. The issue is with the tufted gene that gives them the cheek tufts. If you breed a tuft bird to a tuft bird you have the chance (25%) of the offspring receiving two copies of the gene. 2 copies are lethal and the chick will be DIS at hatch time.

 

[MerleMice]

I would consider a 25% reduction rate as "harder". But hey, your explanation was more thorough and you spelled the breed right (Oops!) so hats off to you.

And I can definitly agree with all the other possible reasons you listed as to why an egg might fail.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I would consider a 25% reduction rate as "harder". But hey, your explanation was more thorough and you spelled the breed right (Oops!) so hats off to you.

And I can definitly agree with all the other possible reasons you listed as to why an egg might fail.

To me when when someone talks about a certain breed being harder, it means it takes more work to be successful, and with lethal genes there is no being more successful, if they have both copies of the tuft gene, there is nothing you can do. Like people say Marans are harder to hatch because they often need lower humidity or conditions other than what the hatcher is used to, so it may be harder to get better results but it's doable. That's why I say they aren't harder.

 

[Amanda16]

i knew Aracaunas had the lethal gene with the tufts but Americaunas too?, also we are using an older metal incubator, im not sure how to describe it but i can take pictures if it would help =^-^=

 

[AmyLynn2374]

i knew Aracaunas had the lethal gene with the tufts but Americaunas too?, also we are using an older metal incubator, im not sure how to describe it but i can take pictures if it would help =^-^=

Araucanas do, Ameraucanas do not, they have muffs and beards not tufts like the Araucanas do.
Japanese bantams also have a lethal gene known as a creeper gene, it's the gene for shortened legs. If they receive 2 copies it is lethal.

 

[Amanda16]

ok thats good to know because the eggs Americauna

 

[Amanda16]

I took some pictures of the incubator im using just in case it might help =^-^=