Adventures in Incubating Shipped Eggs

[Morrigan]

This year, because of the heatwave, I put my chicks out in an unheated coop at 2 1/2 weeks, and they've been healthy and happy out there ever since. Made the brooding period much easier! Is is warm where you are?

It is quite warm (too warm actually), and they have been in the outside brooder since day 10, so it is not quite as bad as having them in the house. But their outside access is not automated, so I need to make sure they are rounded up each night and secured inside their section of the coop, plus the work of cleaning, putting out food and cold water etc. in a second space. I don't feel comfortable having my normal animal sitter look after them, so we have delayed our summer camping trip. I was a lot more relaxed when broody hen was showing the chicks the ropes, make sure they got food and went to bed on time. I'm about ready to turn them loose with the main flock, so after a couple of stressful days to make sure they all get along, life will be easier again.

All I had was glitter glue, so this is one glittery little egg.

We need pictures!

My eggs are here!

Wow, 18 extra eggs is amazing. Hope you get a good hatch.

 

[Cerise1924]

Well, I have to figure out what to do! Just went to put my two surviving eggs on lockdown (Isabella Leghorn and Mystery Egg). The Leghorn chick is dancing wildly, but the Mystery Egg looks still and sad. I'm feeling the chick died in shell.

So, I'm looking at a lone chick. That was fine when I was home all day. I just carried my baby Sebright around, and we have a special bond. I'm working now, though, and can't coddle a lone hatchling. The feed store has no chicks.

I'd love to stick this egg under a broody, but I don't have a broody.
Q: If I put this egg under Firefly on Night 20 (my Sebright who hatched the Orpington 7 weeks ago) is there any chance she'd actually finish the incubation and look after it? Or would I just lose my one chick by that stunt?

I'm trying Craiglist for a companion chick, but there doesn't seem to be anything in my area.

Any advice?

 

[Zinjifrah]

Well, I have to figure out what to do! Just went to put my two surviving eggs on lockdown (Isabella Leghorn and Mystery Egg). The Leghorn chick is dancing wildly, but the Mystery Egg looks still and sad. I'm feeling the chick died in shell.

So, I'm looking at a lone chick. That was fine when I was home all day. I just carried my baby Sebright around, and we have a special bond. I'm working now, though, and can't coddle a lone hatchling. The feed store has no chicks.

I'd love to stick this egg under a broody, but I don't have a broody.
Q: If I put this egg under Firefly on Night 20 (my Sebright who hatched the Orpington 7 weeks ago) is there any chance she'd actually finish the incubation and look after it? Or would I just lose my one chick by that stunt?

I'm trying Craiglist for a companion chick, but there doesn't seem to be anything in my area.

Any advice?

The best I can suggest is maybe one of the hatcheries that doesn't require you to buy fifteen to twenty five chicks in a batch...

It looks like MPC would let you just order 4 LF chicks. Or 6 bantams. 5 for a mixed order.

 

[Cerise1924]

The best I can suggest is maybe one of the hatcheries that doesn't require you to buy fifteen to twenty five chicks in a batch...

Thanks! I see that My Pet Chicken will allow an order of three. I'm sure the shipping costs will be high, but I might go that route. I would probably buy sexed female chicks and then sell them locally when they are bigger, if I did that.

 

[Zinjifrah]

Thanks! I see that My Pet Chicken will allow an order of three. I'm sure the shipping costs will be high, but I might go that route. I would probably buy sexed female chicks and then sell them locally when they are bigger, if I did that.

It all depends on where you live - I checked the zip-code for Willamette Valley, and a minimum LF order there would be 4 chicks, bantam would be 6 chicks, mixed would be 5. Just be sure you make sure they're available - if you're going to do that, best to do it right away, since the closest ship date is the 9th, day after tomorrow. If you're not going to keep them, you might want to go this route;

https://www.mypetchicken.com/catalo...ay-Old-Chicks-Rare-Breed-Assortment-p582.aspx

You can order them sexed, what you get would be a surprise, which can be fun, and you save a little money from buying specific breeds. They also have a 'sort by availability' at the top of the pages, where you can pick which ship date you need them sent on, so you make sure you don't order something that isn't available right away.

 

[Morrigan]

Well, I have to figure out what to do! Just went to put my two surviving eggs on lockdown (Isabella Leghorn and Mystery Egg). The Leghorn chick is dancing wildly, but the Mystery Egg looks still and sad. I'm feeling the chick died in shell.

So, I'm looking at a lone chick. That was fine when I was home all day. I just carried my baby Sebright around, and we have a special bond. I'm working now, though, and can't coddle a lone hatchling. The feed store has no chicks.

I'd love to stick this egg under a broody, but I don't have a broody.
Q: If I put this egg under Firefly on Night 20 (my Sebright who hatched the Orpington 7 weeks ago) is there any chance she'd actually finish the incubation and look after it? Or would I just lose my one chick by that stunt?

I'm trying Craiglist for a companion chick, but there doesn't seem to be anything in my area.

Any advice?

I wouldn't put her under a non-broody hen, even if she has been a good mother before. It's not impossible she'd accept the chick, but I'd say odds are pretty low.

How close are you to Tangent, Oregon? I know Jenx hatchery is there and they allow people to stop by and pick up orders at their hatchery. I have only used them for shipped meat chickens (cornish cross), but have always been pleased with the quality and service. I wouldn't buy a cornish cross for a companion bird, but I believe they sell laying chickens as well. I think they have a minimum of 5 for in-hathery pickups, but even if you paid for 5, but only took home 2, it would probably be cheaper and safer than mail ordering birds in the summer heat. Or maybe you know a neighbor or someone who would split the order with you. They sell ducks and turkeys too.

 

[Morrigan]

Link to web-site:

http://www.jenkshatchery.com/chicks.htm

 

[Zinjifrah]

Link to web-site:

http://www.jenkshatchery.com/chicks.htm

Bother... had me all excited for a hatchery I hadn't heard of, but nothing they carry looks like something I'd want!

However, that's only... fifteen miles or so? From Willamette Valley. Might be a great option!

 

[Morrigan]

We do meat chickens every Fall, and their particular strain of Cornish X is a good one. The birds are lively and good foragers for meat birds. I don't like the production layer breeds for my laying flock however, which IIRC, is what they sell.

 

[Zinjifrah]

We do meat chickens every Fall, and their particular strain of Cornish X is a good one. The birds are lively and good foragers for meat birds. I don't like the production layer breeds for my laying flock however, which IIRC, is what they sell.

Yeah. I'm a bit curious about the 'Colorpack Layer', but eggs aren't why I have mine... and I'd rather have a long-living, healthy chicken than one that lays all year. If I decide to raise some meat birds, I'll keep them in mind as a source, but I'd probably go for a heritage turkey instead. Had someone offering me a breeding pair of turkeys a while back, but I declined.