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

[BoereMeisie]

Yes!

Do not melt your Incubator!

 

[brahmabreeder]

I'm wondering; Are Orpingtons more difficult to breed than say, Rhode Island Reds? I got a trio of "Blue-tiful" Orpingtons last week. The two hens have been laying and the rooster has been trying to do his thing, but the hens won't let him? He's had one successful mount that I've seen, but the eggs I've checked do not have bulls eyes on them yet, and I don't want to crack open any more of their eggs before the hatch-along. The trio also comes out of an environment where there were one rooster for every two hens, so I don't think the hens just don't like their rooster, it looks more like they just don't like "the deed"

They may have too much butt fluff. Try trimming some of it with a pair of scissors. I do this with my Brahmas and I get 100% fertility.

 

[ronott1]

Originally Posted by Esti

I'm wondering; Are Orpingtons more difficult to breed than say, Rhode Island Reds? I got a trio of "Blue-tiful" Orpingtons last week. The two hens have been laying and the rooster has been trying to do his thing, but the hens won't let him? He's had one successful mount that I've seen, but the eggs I've checked do not have bulls eyes on them yet, and I don't want to crack open any more of their eggs before the hatch-along. The trio also comes out of an environment where there were one rooster for every two hens, so I don't think the hens just don't like their rooster, it looks more like they just don't like "the deed"

They may have too much butt fluff. Try trimming some of it with a pair of scissors. I do this with my Brahmas and I get 100% fertility.

This is a common problem with Orpingtons.

 

[SunnySkies]

Gas will light with an old fashioned thing known as a match.  Just hold it where the gas comes in.  However, if you can't get gas in the tank, that is another issue altogether.  I just wanted to remind you about matches.  They work great when the power is out.  I use them on my stove.

The gas logs have a fail safe that prevents that, according to the instruction manual the previous owners left. But moot anyway since the propane company won't fill the tank! I used to light our old gas stove, at our old house that way. I don't use matches though...I use a lighter so I don't have matches around the house my kids might find and mess with. I have learned the hard way to discuss, educate, but don't trust.

I have 7 interesting eggs of various breeds collected for SoManyHats and 5 for myself and will be collecting until Tuesday! Hopefully the crummy weather headed our way doesn't throw the girls off their schedule.

 

[Aphrael]

I'm wondering; Are Orpingtons more difficult to breed than say, Rhode Island Reds? I got a trio of "Blue-tiful" Orpingtons last week. The two hens have been laying and the rooster has been trying to do his thing, but the hens won't let him? He's had one successful mount that I've seen, but the eggs I've checked do not have bulls eyes on them yet, and I don't want to crack open any more of their eggs before the hatch-along. The trio also comes out of an environment where there were one rooster for every two hens, so I don't think the hens just don't like their rooster, it looks more like they just don't like "the deed"

Was this the same rooster they were with before you got them? If not maybe they don't respect him yet so don't want him messing with them.

This is a common problem with Orpingtons.

This is very good to know! I will have to try to remember that when my (as yet unhatched) orps get to egg time.

Speaking of, I have arranged to go and pick up the lav orp eggs (a dozen) on Tuesday. Now if my SFH just make it safely. The seller thinks that they'll be just fine.

 

[Blarneyeggs]

Setting up the bator tomorrow. But....EEK.....we are supposed to get a winter storm in my area on Sunday. That would be fine except I live in the area where heavy ice is predicted with widespread power outages expected from the ice. I have a car battery with a power inverter to run an incubator if necessary..I hope we don't get a power outage. We haven't been able to scrape together the money for a whole house generator yet (previous owners took it with them when the bank foreclosed). Plus the people who lived here before us installed gas logs in the fireplace...but you can't light them when the power is off, and the propane company said the line from the tank to the fireplace is no longer code and wouldn't fill the tank.


I can donate a dozen Swedish Flower Hen eggs (parents are direct from GFF) as a prize if anyone can come up with a suitable contest.

BOO YAH! I'm in!!

 

[chicken pickin]

BOO YAH! I'm in!!

Me Too! I hope they add this prize to a picture type contest. Most of us would have a fair chance to win entering pics we have taken, because we all know that ALL of us sit and take pics of our feathered pals ALL day long lol.

 

[SunnySkies]

BOO YAH! I'm in!!

We gotta come up with a contest! Random post is good, photo contests, most eggs set, fewest eggs set, first chick to hatch, last chick to hatch, (or duck, or whatever), hatch average closest to average (lol), best hatch average, worst hatch average (oh, wait, I might win that one), most money spent on hatching eggs, oddest place to keep your incubator....LOL....

I will say that it will take me a little time to collect a full dozen, but I could do it in a week, depending on the ladies, and then ship. Of course, who knows how USPS will treat the eggs....eggs coming here get scrambled...

 

[bantambury]

Me Too! I hope they add this prize to a picture type contest. Most of us would have a fair chance to win entering pics we have taken, because we all know that ALL of us sit and take pics of our feathered pals ALL day long lol.

That last sentence made me laugh. Its true though!!! Out of the 2000 pics on my phone prob only 500 are of normal things for normal peeps (people)!! Haha get it???

 

[ronott1]

We gotta come up with a contest! Random post is good, photo contests, most eggs set, fewest eggs set, first chick to hatch, last chick to hatch, (or duck, or whatever), hatch average closest to average (lol), best hatch average, worst hatch average (oh, wait, I might win that one), most money spent on hatching eggs, oddest place to keep your incubator....LOL....

I will say that it will take me a little time to collect a full dozen, but I could do it in a week, depending on the ladies, and then ship. Of course, who knows how USPS will treat the eggs....eggs coming here get scrambled...

We have a cutest chick contest for a Photo contest.

I am the only one running this Hatch a Long though. I can only do so much.