5th Annual BYC New Year's Day 2014 Hatch-A-Long

[ChickenCanoe]

I agree with your first sentence, but to avoid misinformation - Egyptians first figured out artificial incubation sometime between 750 & 500 BC, so we've been working it for a couple thousand years. The hens, however, have no need to research, and the egg and incubation process evolved to match their bodies and natural behaviors, so it's literally a no-brainer for them!. The fact that we fit it in around our 'real lives' while they unplug and dedicate their entire being to the process probably doesn't hurt their success rate, either, LOL

I'm so excited to know that about the Egyptians. I had no idea.
I now wonder what they did for thermometers.

Only 1 egg was fertile and it died in the shell after lockdown.

My poor roo just isn't interested right now and my hens don't seem to be either. I also probably need another roo so I have ordered a few Salmon Faverolles, which is the same breed as my roo. He is a nice roo and I like their temperaments. I only have 1 Faverolles hen and I call her Miss Busybody. I don't name most of my egglayers and don't show them a lot of attention. I will give one a stroke if it happens to be near...they don't really want to be touched but she tolerates more. My "playtime" I spend with the bantams...love them. Miss Busybody is always poking her "nose" in to whatever I am doing. When I clean nest boxes as soon as I am finished one she gets in it and rearranges the bedding. After I finish the 2nd box she gets into it and does the same thing and so on until the "beds" are all made up! Doesn't matter what I am doing in the pen,...she is right there and I even have to make her get out of the way so I can actually do it!

This is a bad time of year for rooster fertility. I wouldn't give up on him yet. Once days are getting longer, perhaps in March, start checking your eggs for fertility.
Roosters that are underweight or overweight can be a problem as well. Make sure your hens vent feathers aren't providing a restriction.
Nutrition is a biggie for roo fertility too.

That is sad! You may need to try AI. We worked on this a bit last year. One thing that worked was to separate the boy from the girls for several days. Keep them close enough to see each other and then put him in for a day. Keep doing this for a couple of weeks and see if the eggs are fertile.

Conjugal visits.
I was reading a report that said 92 of the 100 largest cities in the US allow chickens. None allow roosters but one in California allow conjugal visits.

Now I'm really confused...someone else said (only between days 1-3), that if there are two rows of feathers of different lengths, it's a pullet.
If the rapid feather growth is the only factor, then Chick 4 and Miracle are my only pullets. The rest are roos.

Edit to add: I wonder how hard vent sexing is???

Very.

 

[ronott1]

I know! I just have to find some eggs....

Turkey Eggs? I bet someone on here can get some for you by then.

 

[Penny Hen]

Well I conducted my eggopsy on the OE and quail that failed to hatch. Out of 13 OE eggs 6 were clears, 3 were bloody brown goo, and 3 had baby chicks old enough to have pinfeathers and an egg tooth. Out of the 13 quail I had 3 with bloody goo and the rest were clears.

Well that was better than last spring when I didn't even have baby chicks form.

 

[chicken pickin]

I know! I just have to find some eggs....

Have you decided yet on the variety youd like. I saw you were looking for a small variety. I will have Bourbon Red eggs.

 

[GerbilsOnToast]

Tail feathers will grow slower on cockerels too. That lasts longer than 1-3 days.

In my own system, I raise roos separately from hatch (you may have noticed even the brooders are divided) and they never meet a hen unless they're assigned to breed her. My hens free-range daily as a group, my roos never leave their own pen. This enables me to offer kosher eggs, I always know the lineage of each chick, plus I already have more than my preferred number of breeds on site & don't want to add mutts. My first flock taught me that sexual maturity can happen before you expect it, and i prefer to avoid that surprise!

 

[GerbilsOnToast]

Turkey Eggs? I bet someone on here can get some for you by then.

Keeping my fingers crossed & playing Mozart to the turkey myself!

 

[ronott1]

Well I conducted my eggopsy on the OE and quail that failed to hatch. Out of 13 OE eggs 6 were clears, 3 were bloody brown goo, and 3 had baby chicks old enough to have pinfeathers and an egg tooth. Out of the 13 quail I had 3 with bloody goo and the rest were clears.

Well that was better than last spring when I didn't even have baby chicks form.

How many hatched?

You are doing great!

 

[abmaddox1981]

Have you decided yet on the variety youd like. I saw you were looking for a small variety. I will have Bourbon Red eggs.

Husband wants Bourbon Reds, I want Royal Palms (because hardly anyone here raises them). So we will probably get both. I may be hitting you up for eggs....

 

[coopsbyty]

Spitzhauben appenzeller and black silkie.

Just so tired!!

 

[Gardeningmama]

Quote:
Thanks....My boy is a Brabanter cross...with what I don't know. He is my love...Seriously, I would trade my whole flock to keep this one boy. He is so sweet, the perfect size for the girls, BEAUTIFUL, curious, and did I mention sweet?? I am trying to duplicate him as closely as I can, and have only had 1 come close, but instead of hearts on the chest he ended up with teardrops. He is my other roo. So, I want a brabanter hen to breed with him, for myself, not to sell or anything. I just want to continue...him...he has so many wonderful qualities. I will certainly let you know when I find a source!!