BANTAM "less" than a 21 day hatch?

Poultryprincess · Post by **Poultryprincess** » Fri Apr 01, 2016 10:03 pm

I have the Gail Damerow book on " Incubating & Hatching."
Been pouring over it for info...but I had never heard of this.
The suggested "Lock Down" is day 17 instead of 19
Apparently Bantam is likely to hatch a few days earlier than standard birds.
I wasn't sure but decided to leave my standard bird's eggs until a different hatch.

Have you heard of this?

Do you find that Bantam ( Silkie & Show Girl ) hatch a few days earlier?
Want to make sure I stop the egg turner on day 17 IF this is the case.
I must live under a rock....never heard of this before (*o*)

Post by **Home Grown Poultry** » Fri Apr 01, 2016 10:18 pm

my very first birds were rir and barred rock bantams that hatched the very first time I incubated chicken eggs 4 years ago when I still lived in the city. it was also the only time I incubated bantam eggs. they hatched on like day 19 and I wasnt expecting that at all. so in my experience yes but I think it depends on the breed. i still have a few of those hens and they are great broodies.

kenya · Post by **kenya** » Fri Apr 01, 2016 10:31 pm

Bantams do have a tendency to hatch a little earlier but it makes no difference whether you stop the turning earlier for them or not. I have at times forgot to stop the turner and there they were hatching with the turner still on.

kenya · Post by **kenya** » Fri Apr 01, 2016 10:35 pm

I hatch all the time with both standard and bantam eggs in the incubator at the same time, I never stop the turner earlier for the bantam eggs. Been doing it for years never had a problem. I will however not use the egg carton method had too many problems with chicks pipping at the wrong end.

Poultryprincess · Post by **Poultryprincess** » Fri Apr 01, 2016 11:21 pm

What she suggested is IF you are hatching Standards with Bantams, to load the Standards 2 days prior to loading the bantams.
That way they hatch together & you don't have to be opening the lid of the incubator.
Since I only had about 10 standard & 38 bantam, I decided to play it safe.
Loaded the bator with 50 bantams & plan to hatch the Standards in a separate hatch.

I thought chicks needed the turner stopped so they can position them selves towards the air sac?
hmmmm I am really learning alot of Exceptions to the Rule this time around.
Great info ~ THANX!!!!

Ontario Chick · Post by **Ontario Chick** » Sat Apr 02, 2016 9:23 am

You can safely stop the turner after day 14, good idea if you aren't sure of the hatch day, you don't want to have chicks hatching in to the moving turner and get injured.
******
I don't ever want the chicks hatching in to the turner even when stopped, and have to clean up the mess

madison174 · Post by **madison174** » Sat Apr 02, 2016 9:36 am

I've 'missed' an egg in the incubator before moving it to the hatcher....they did just fine...hatched out and had a ride. Oops. Usually I check them at day 17 just to make sure. I've noticed silkies tend towards hatching a day early, at least a few per batch.