Help, first time incubating...THANKS!

Their wee fluffy butts are cute. Your rooster and hens are stunning (Barred Rock?). I just bought a North Holland Blue to breed with a Barred Rock rooster, hoping it makes for some cute chickes!

Yup! Those are my Barred Rocks! Nothing fancy, but the hens are great layers and the cockerels get to be a decent size.

That rooster came as a "packing peanut" with a bunch of ducks I ordered. Kept that one because I liked his shape and attitude. He isn't too tough (to challenge me), but he's not a wimp (well, not that I've noticed..) He's pretty good about rounding up the hens if there's trouble. And he gets real concerned if I pick up one of the other birds....even if it's one of the ducks (he isn't fond of them usually), and he'll start fussing till I put down whatever bird I have. It's kinda funny, actually.

The hen is my top hen. She isn't very social, but she lays a big brown egg just about every day!

Had to Google, North Holland Blue chickens. They are nice!! I like the blue legs. Also, they look big. I love really big chickens! I bet they'll make some very nice birds with your BR!

The rooster breeding with my North Holland Blue is an enormous creature! (Out at my in-laws farm, can't keep a rooster here as we live in town. Just hens and chicks!) He is really cocky though, I've been kicked by him and my Father in Law often has to use a rake to keep him from challenging him.

Wonderful pics, especially the first one of the rooster and the momma hen. Thanks for sharing! Those chicks are so beautiful.

You know I was thinking I see a hatching addiction your future, after this wonderful start...

Here's my crop:

sumi said:

Wonderful pics, especially the first one of the rooster and the momma hen. Thanks for sharing! Those chicks are so beautiful. You know I was thinking I see a hatching addiction your future, after this wonderful start... Here's my crop:

Click to expand...

They are so beautiful! I love that golden red color! They look warm, too!! Ours are going to need that warm red light for several months still....it is officially COLD here in the north. And our hens have no interest in sitting on nests. They just want to be out...all the time. I figured; we already have one light going for some started pullets in the barn, why not add just a few more dollars to the electric bill....? Lol... We have some blue Swedish ducks and a khaki campbell pair that I want to try hatching out eggs from. I hear that ducks eggs can be trickier...needing much more moisture. I will definitely be getting a fancier temp gauge as well as a hydrometer(?) for that hatch! And I am SURE I will be on here freaking out while it's going on, too!

Lalegid said:

The rooster breeding with my North Holland Blue is an enormous creature! (Out at my in-laws farm, can't keep a rooster here as we live in town. Just hens and chicks!) He is really cocky though, I've been kicked by him and my Father in Law often has to use a rake to keep him from challenging him.

Click to expand...

That's great!

I won't lie...I had several moments with this roo before we came to terms. He tried to talon me a few times when he was younger, but we had it out with the rake-waving (actually, I think I had a shovel..).. and now we have an understanding.

Still, I won't turn my back on him. Not unless I happen to be wearing several layers of Carhartt hoodies with the hood up...which I am! Lucky me! Ha!

IdasChickens said:

They are so beautiful! I love that golden red color!

They look warm, too!!


Ours are going to need that warm red light for several months still....it is officially COLD here in the north. And our hens have no interest in sitting on nests. They just want to be out...all the time.

I figured; we already have one light going for some started pullets in the barn, why not add just a few more dollars to the electric bill....? Lol...

We have some blue Swedish ducks and a khaki campbell pair that I want to try hatching out eggs from. I hear that ducks eggs can be trickier...needing much more moisture. I will definitely be getting a fancier temp gauge as well as a hydrometer(?) for that hatch! And I am SURE I will be on here freaking out while it's going on, too!

Click to expand...

It's hot here now, going into full summer. Ugh, I'm already looking forward to fall...

Ducks, I've hatched some for a friend and read so many contradicting things regarding humidity I decided to try 45% until day 25 and then 65% after that. (Their expected incubation period was 28 days). I got a 100% hatch. So, it's up to you what you want to try, but those figures worked well for me.

sumi said:

It's hot here now, going into full summer. Ugh, I'm already looking forward to fall...

Ducks, I've hatched some for a friend and read so many contradicting things regarding humidity I decided to try 45% until day 25 and then 65% after that. (Their expected incubation period was 28 days). I got a 100% hatch. So, it's up to you what you want to try, but those figures worked well for me.

Click to expand...

9 degrees [Fahrenheit] here last night! Ugh!! Oh well, at least the coop is nice and warm. No more brooder lamps, hooray!

Well....except for the baby chickies (which are doing great and made it through a snow storm without power for two days...with only hot water bottles...); and they are all going to their new home today!