➡I accidentally bought Balut eggs: 2 live ducks! Now a Chat Thread!

[Conan]

Thanks!! This is really helpful. I’ll keep this in mind if I ever do decide to get Brabanters. I don’t think we have a Wilco around here but I may have to order direct from Ideal at some point. Although I also would like to try an OEGB but they’re not sexed from there so idk.

I was thinking of adding more layers this year so I could potentially sell eggs or even adding quail but now you guys have me wanting brabanters and bantams and going for looks instead.

We’re actually already getting more than enough eggs and it’s not even peak production time so I don’t really need more.

Those brabanters really are gorgeous.

Do you think they’d get picked on in a mixed flock because of the beard, muffs, and crest??? Maybe they should be in their own dedicated flock??

Maybe I could still do all 3 ideas.

My Brabanters are awesome layers, btw. They took a little longer to start, but they are currently cranking out the eggs. They are outlaying all my other first year birds.

 

[ShrekDawg]

@CSAchook, here are a couple pics of the mutts, and OEGB pullets. They're just the cutest little things. View attachment 1995015 View attachment 1995017 View attachment 1995018 View attachment 1995020 View attachment 1995021 View attachment 1995022 View attachment 1995024 View attachment 1995026

They are gorgeous.

 

[FortCluck]

I'm going to pick up eggs at another local organic farm right now and I'll get some tomorrow too from the other guy

 

[ShrekDawg]

My Brabanters are awesome layers, btw. They took a little longer to start, but they are currently cranking out the eggs. They are outlaying all my other first year birds.

Oooohhhh this is awesome to know!! And making me want them more. Seems they check all the boxes then.

My Leghorn has been a fantastic layer and I like her smaller size and efficiency and I’m assuming the brabanters are similar in stature and/or efficiency? How big are their eggs?

I don’t expect leghorn production but was hoping to add a bit more efficient layers such as sex links and more leghorns. May have to consider brabanters too.

My Delaware has been a great layer so far but she’s a bit of a fat ass and eats soooo much and she’s HUGE. Even as a chick she was almost as big as the adults at only a few months old. So not the most efficient bird. but she lays quite big eggs so that’s a plus.

My other slackers only just recently started while I was in FL so only a couple weeks ago. And I still have some not yet laying. They’re almost 9 months old.

But this is the first time I’ve had birds maturing in winter. My first batch were maturing in spring so maybe started sooner.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I'm going to pick up eggs at another local organic farm right now and I'll get some tomorrow too from the other guy

are you gonna have room in your incubator for all these!?

 

[CSAchook]

Ha, you can always give it a try. I wouldn't do it if I were trying to stack the deck in favour of getting a really spectacularly behaved rooster, but you sure wouldn't be the first person, or the last; it simply makes more work on the human's part and IME increases the time it takes for the bird to mature fully. It's just one factor among dozens.

Ah there is that Canadian pragmatism. I knew I could count on you.
It does occur to me that if I waited a year I could maybe gets some nice OEGB eggs from a breeder like Mr. Sam suggested. I am sure I will have no shortage of willing broodies And having a hen do the work of raising them is very tempting. That is how I got my last cockerel.

 

[CSAchook]

@CSAchook, here are a couple pics of the mutts, and OEGB pullets. They're just the cutest little things. View attachment 1995015 View attachment 1995017 View attachment 1995018 View attachment 1995020 View attachment 1995021 View attachment 1995022 View attachment 1995024 View attachment 1995026

I love them ALL

 

[ShrekDawg]

@KDOGG331 I'm getting 36 eggs from him on Monday and I'll be putting 6 of mine in. My incubator holds 42. We have to set up the brooder in the shed and get a longer extension cord. We also have to get an outdoor heat bulb even though I might try to get a different type of heat source.

Mine only holds 27 but that’s probably for the best.

Without the turner it could hold way more.

And I have used Mama Heating Pad (MHP) for two batches and absolutely loved it. For this batch I used a heat plate I bought and I liked it alright but the height really wasn’t adjustable enough for my tastes. I think I’d splurge and buy the Premier if I did it again.

You can make a heat plate too though. Also with a heating pad but plate instead of a cave. Which may be better for a lot of birds anyway. All my batches have been small. Like under 10. First batch was 9, last one was 5, current is 9.

 

[CSAchook]

@KDOGG331 I'm getting 36 eggs from him on Monday and I'll be putting 6 of mine in. My incubator holds 42. We have to set up the brooder in the shed and get a longer extension cord. We also have to get an outdoor heat bulb even though I might try to get a different type of heat source.

I would suggest a ceramic heat emitter (for reptiles) over an actual bulb.

 

[BantyChooks]

Ah there is that Canadian pragmatism. I knew I could count on you.
It does occur to me that if I waited a year I could maybe gets some nice OEGB eggs from a breeder like Mr. Sam suggested. I am sure I will have no shortage of willing broodies And having a hen do the work of raising them is very tempting. That is how I got my last cockerel.

That's also a good idea.