Hatching Black Copper Marans the islander's eggs

[Titantherooster]

With my Marans, I try to keep 20-30% also for the first 18 days, basically a 'dry hatch' and then increase to not over 50% at lock down. A lot of research I've dug into with other breeders say because the Marans eggs are so much harder, denser and darker pigment this retains more moisture in the eggs not needing the added humidity.
I have a video of one breeder that lightly spritzes their eggs before setting with a hydrogen peroxide I wanna say 3%.
I've never washed my eggs or spritzed them so I can't make a judgement on it.

And using that method you feel you have generally had adequate hatch rates? Have you been able to candle or have you used the weigh in method to see how it’s progressing?

 

[wrathsfarm]

Here's that video of spritzing with hydrogen peroxide....

 

[wrathsfarm]

And using that method you feel you have generally had adequate hatch rates? Have you been able to candle or have you used the weigh in method to see how it’s progressing?

I had a pretty rough Bator last year where the temp was way off but got that dialed in and my last hatch of the year was 7/13, 3 not fertile, 2 early quitters, 1 died at hatch. I'm ordering the maticoopx30 next week that @Island Coppers and some others here recommended to me. I haven't tried going by weight loss yet, but would like to try it.

 

[wrathsfarm]

Also @Island Coppers has a pretty nifty diy candler I'm planning to build.

 

[Island Coppers]

I am mid hatch with some of my own stock of BCM and just candled and the air cells don’t look like they have lost much. I didn’t weigh at the start. Humidity has been in the 20% range most of the time. I had considered “washing” or wiping the eggs down with a warm damp cloth to take the brown pigment off and help expedite the evaporation process…have any experience with that? You seem to have had a good hatch all things considered .

I was aiming at 30% to 40% humidity but it certainly wasn't stable at that. 20% humidity should be low enough so the the sacs will be large by hatching time. I think you'll find the rate at which the sac shrinks increases toward the end of incubation. I'd leave the bloom intact, getting the shell moist may allow organisms into the the egg. And, I have tried to wash off the coloring, after it's dry it does not come off easily.

There is an element of luck here because, you could do your best and have a low hatching rate and do exactly the same thing next time and have it turn out great. Stay the course, have faith in mother nature and best of luck.

 

[Island Coppers]

They are a little fuzzy and so are the pictures. Fortunately being a crusty old bird myself I am immune to what otherwise would be a lethal dose of cuteness.

 

[Island Coppers]

2ndTink, ​

Thank you​

 

[wrathsfarm]

They are a little fuzzy and so are the pictures. Fortunately being a crusty old bird myself I am immune to what otherwise would be a lethal dose of cuteness.


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I need these in my life...just saying.