Why Do All My Copper Marans Abort?

[JennyPatty84]

I need some advice! I have a 95% hatch rate on everything I put into the incubator except Copper Marans. All my Marans will seem to do great up until they are supposed to hatch, and they all die. It’s so sad to see the eggs hopping around and hear them chirping and then eveything goes silent and nothing. Last year I hatched only 3 out of 12 eggs (and they were roosters of course) and it was the same thing. All the other chicks were developed, ready to hatch and just didn’t pip and died. I got eggs from a different person this year (I drove 4 hours each way for them) and I’m really concerned the same thing is happeneing. Yesterday (Day 20) there were a bunch bopping around and chirping and this morning, complete silence and no one pipped overnight. It doesn’t make sense because I don’t do anything different with the Marans eggs, so should still have the same success. I just had a 100% successful hatch right before this one with my dark brahmas. Help! Maybe I’m just not meant to have the Marans!

 

[oregonkat]

Of the previous hatches, were the eggs from the same parents? If so, I suppose it might be a genetic failure or old parent stock but I have no other explanation for you. Sorry, this is obviously very frustrating. I hatch BCM's a lot and often in a mixed breed hatch and they behave exactly like everyone else. Marans eggs are thicker than others due to the color, I am sure you know this already. There are folks on BYC who lightly sand the upper (fat end) of the egg to 'ease' pipping and zipping but I worry about the possibility of bacterial introduction but people swear by the process.
You might hop on over to the Marans thread and post on there and see if those folks have any further advice for you. Good Luck, don't give up, these birds are worth the effort!!

 

[AlleysChicks]

Darker eggs and humidity don’t do well together. Dark eggs lose less compared to lighter eggs. So humidity needs to be super low or they will drown. Did you crack the eggs open that didn’t hatch?

 

[oregonkat]

Excellent point! I guess if you are lucky enough to be dealing with some 7's and 8's, even 6's maybe, (mine average around a 6) then your humidity is going to need to be lower.

 

[Morrigan]

I'm planning on getting some maran eggs so I'm following this closely as well as trying to do some research. I've read such conflicting information! Some say maran eggs need higher humidity, others say lower humidity, or even to dry hatch. Very confusing. I guess I'll set more eggs than I planned to leave some margin for error.

 

[JennyPatty84]

I just don't know what it is, its so strange. All I want is one Marans hen, who knew it would be so hard to get one! Right now they are on day 20. Two are moving the eggs and one has pipped, but I have a feeling none will hatch. They just don't seem as lively as all the other breeds of chicks I hatch. I try to keep humidity at 70% for lockdown. This always drops after a couple days in lockdown to high 50's low 60's. What does everyone else do? Open and put more water in, or let it drop? Normally my eggs are mostly pipped by now and a couple have hatched causing the humidity to go up naturally.

 

[Morrigan]

What have you hatched before? I've never had pips before day 20, but I've never had maran eggs either. I've always hatched backyard "mutts" that are ameracuna-orpington or ameracuna-sussex crosses. Using a brinsea 20 on factory settings and following the humidity temperature instruction (40-45% RH, raised to 65% at lockdown) exactly, mine have always hatched on the 21-22 day time frame. I never had "lively" eggs either. I would have thought them dead until they pipped.

My fingers are crossed that the hatch goes better than you anticipate. I hope you end up with a good hatch. However it turns out, I would be interested in know what you are using what what your settings were.

 

[aggiemae]

I have problems hatching dark, thick shelled eggs as well. Even my broody hen only hatch one live chick out of three eggs. It hatched last night, early on day 24.

I suspect they need completely different conditions. Might try to incubate a small batch separately.

 

[JennyPatty84]

What have you hatched before? I've never had pips before day 20, but I've never had maran eggs either. I've always hatched backyard "mutts" that are ameracuna-orpington or ameracuna-sussex crosses. Using a brinsea 20 on factory settings and following the humidity temperature instruction (40-45% RH, raised to 65% at lockdown) exactly, mine have always hatched on the 21-22 day time frame. I never had "lively" eggs either. I would have thought them dead until they pipped.

My fingers are crossed that the hatch goes better than you anticipate. I hope you end up with a good hatch. However it turns out, I would be interested in know what you are using what what your settings were.

I have a hovabator with a fan and digital temperature control. I do turn the eggs manually. I keep the humidity around 45% until day 18 when they go into lock down and I increase to 70%. Temp stays around 38.5 celcious. I have hatched Ameracaunas, Olive Eggers, barn yard mixes and lots of dark brahamas, all with very successful hatches. My brahmas are VERY lively and chirp up a storm in the eggs. The last hatch was completely finished and everyone was out by day 20. I do remember the 3 marans that I was able to hatch last year being much more quiet, so maybe it's just them?

 

[JennyPatty84]

I have problems hatching dark, thick shelled eggs as well. Even my broody hen only hatch one live chick out of three eggs. It hatched last night, early on day 24.

I suspect they need completely different conditions. Might try to incubate a small batch separately.

So it's not just me! This does make me feel better. I am starting to get a little discouraged though because it's hard to find dark marans eggs close by. I don't want to risk shipping with having the current hard time I am having without shipping. Everyone keep your fingers crossed I get even just one hen!!