Wrath's Marans

[wrathsfarm]

I run the incubator dry until hatch, how about you guys? I used to worry about humidity for years but now I just add water at the end and get good hatches here in the Midwest USA. Do you guys do anything different? Do you think Marans eggs are different than other breeds or is that just nonsense? I think they lose moisture slower than leghorns, I actually incubated some side by side recently. The leghorns had bigger air cells and were more fresh than the Marans eggs. But that could have been a one time thing.

I normally shoot for 20-30 the first 18 and not over 55 at lockdown. In my Spring hatches I can keep the 20-30 with no water, then add water at lockdown. In the fall I normally need to add water first 18.
I'm in Michigan.

 

[Kung_pao]

I normally shoot for 20-30 the first 18 and not over 55 at lockdown. In my Spring hatches I can keep the 20-30 with no water, then add water at lockdown. In the fall I normally need to add water first 18.
I'm in Michigan.

Missouri here, our humidity may be a little higher. Do you think the darker eggs lose moisture slower or do you think that’s just hearsay?

 

[wrathsfarm]

Missouri here, our humidity may be a little higher. Do you think the darker eggs lose moisture slower or do you think that’s just hearsay?

To my knowledge yes. Harder shells and darker pigment retain more moisture not needing the higher humidity.

 

[Kung_pao]

I see a lot of reports that state that they are likely to take an extra day. Do you think that’s because of the egg size or some other factor? My last batch of them weren’t large and they hatched right on time.

 

[wrathsfarm]

I see a lot of reports that state that they are likely to take an extra day. Do you think that’s because of the egg size or some other factor? My last batch of them weren’t large and they hatched right on time.

I've heard this but in my experience, mine all hatch either on time or day 20. I think temp plays into this. Higher temp hatch earlier, lower than 99.5 hatch later. I normally keep my temp between 99.5 - 100.5. This also depends on how well calibrated the bator and external temp Guage is. I really don't think it's that complicated as some make it out to be. There's variations, if within the parameters....they'll hatch, just a bit sooner or a bit later.

I don't stress it, and I'm lazy and don't usually candle til day 18 and then still just leave them all in.

 

[BlueTheBrahma]

Missouri here, our humidity may be a little higher. Do you think the darker eggs lose moisture slower or do you think that’s just hearsay?

Marans have thick shells. The pigment then traps moisture further. The main thing is the bloom though. They usually have a thick bloom to give glossy shells, trapping more moisture. That’s why they lose moisture slower, at least from what I know.