A Cornish Cross (Breeding?) Journey

[DemeterAD9]

I forgot to ask, what were the two chicks you bought to go along with your two impulse incubation chicks?

A splash Isbar and a royal Sussex. If I didn’t find something I liked it would have been a couple Cornish crosses for a pre-planned chicken fry.

 

[ABQ chicken keeper]

A splash Isbar and a royal Sussex. If I didn’t find something I liked it would have been a couple Cornish crosses for a pre-planned chicken fry.

So they are colored egg layers. The Royal Sussex looks interesting, kind of like a Cream Legbar.

 

[DemeterAD9]

So they are colored egg layers. The Royal Sussex looks interesting, kind of like a Cream Legbar.

I like my colored layers but it's hard to get some with decent body size. Hopefully these will get bigger than the tiny cream legbar I bought last spring, she was so petite at maybe 3lbs. But really I have plenty of colored layers to work with as it is and a lot of them are fairly sizable. Maybe next year I will incorporate colored layers into the meat bird plan.

Now for an update, I ended up ordering a dozen of those eBay eggs so fingers crossed they arrive in good shape next week and I will be able to hatch something useful from them. I'll be collecting eggs from the breeding pens tomorrow too. Luckily the barred/laced girl has gone back to laying as of 2 days ago.

 

[ABQ chicken keeper]

I like my colored layers but it's hard to get some with decent body size. Hopefully these will get bigger than the tiny cream legbar I bought last spring, she was so petite at maybe 3lbs. But really I have plenty of colored layers to work with as it is and a lot of them are fairly sizable. Maybe next year I will incorporate colored layers into the meat bird plan.

Now for an update, I ended up ordering a dozen of those eBay eggs so fingered crossed they arrive in good shape next week and I will be able to hatch something useful from them. I'll be collecting eggs from the breeding pens tomorrow too. Luckily the barred/laced girl has gone back to laying as of 2 days ago.

, We will stay tuned for updates. I can't wait to see what Jr. produces. emojis can be fun.

 

[Molpet]

Now for an update, I ended up ordering a dozen of those eBay eggs so fingers crossed they arrive in good shape next week and I will be able to hatch something useful from them.

Yes I am looking forward to how the eggs are packed and hatch. I had bad luck with shipped eggs

 

[DemeterAD9]

Yes I am looking forward to how the eggs are packed and hatch. I had bad luck with shipped eggs

I’ve hatched from shipped eggs 5 times and only one was a complete dud as 4/7 were cracked and the couple that started to develop quit early on. I’d be happy if 3 hatch, pleasantly surprised if I get a 50% hatch rate. I contemplated getting 2 dozen to up my chances of a pure dark Cornish but I’m trying to hold back.

 

[DemeterAD9]

So far 2 eggs from each hen. Also grabbed Jr yesterday for a quick inspection and he’s got the mighty mites again so dusted everyone in the pen. Didn’t see all that many on the hens though. I’ll likely have to treat the main flock as well when I get a day to do it. It’s rainy and gross out, terrible timing but can’t be helped. If the mites persist into the warmer months I’ll probably cave and do that expensive liquid dip stuff to really knock them out.

 

[DemeterAD9]

30 eggs are in the incubator now, got them started last night.

4 barred rock
4 barred/laced (may add another)
4 GLW
4 SLW
4 light brahma mix
5 BBSW
5 large fowl mix

The eggs I ordered are late, surprise surprise. I’ll add them whenever they get here. If some are broken I’ll probably replace them with more of my mixes.

 

[ABQ chicken keeper]

30 eggs are in the incubator now, got them started last night.

4 barred rock
4 barred/laced (may add another)
4 GLW
4 SLW
4 light brahma mix
5 BBSW
5 large fowl mix

The eggs I ordered are late, surprise surprise. I’ll add them whenever they get here. If some are broken I’ll probably replace them with more of my mixes.

Tell us again what eggs you are waiting for and how many total eggs your incubator holds?

 

[DemeterAD9]

Tell us again what eggs you are waiting for and how many total eggs your incubator holds?

Waiting for dark Cornish x white rock (crosses or purebreds of either possible). I expect to have them on Monday though they should have been here today . Not expecting a great hatch rate even if they all arrive intact. Incubator can hold 42 if set vertically in egg cartons which is what I’m doing. May very well set a couple eggs on top of the 42 as I’m sure I’ll be removing at least a few duds from mine and likely several from the eBay eggs.

I let the breeding group out to roam and mingle with the main flock and poor Junior was chased around by my EE cockerel. Oddly it seems the main roo is okay with Jr so long as he isn’t caught chasing hens. I think I’ll cull the EE boy on my next day off, been debating on it for a while now so I think it’s time. Hopefully if I let hens hatch some eggs in the future they will either be Junior’s or the blue copper maran, both of which have their own merits genetically.