Adventures in Incubating Shipped Eggs

[Morrigan]

Rats. I didn't wash them. I have never washed my backyard eggs, but I know my flock.

The eggs looked pretty clean, so I guess I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed at this point.

 

[Anndie]

The 10 are Dorkings, but the hatch before were from my own flock. I put 14 in and got 12 out. This year we have to replace 25 hens to keep up with our egg orders. So we are kinda scrambling right now, all broodys are being put to use, I didn't know if the RIR hen could handle all 10 Dorkings , but she has and they are 4 weeks old. She runs a tight ship, all must keep up or a peck on the head is coming

 

[Morrigan]

I want Dorkings. Maybe next year.

 

[Anndie]

Another thing we do that is a little different is we bust out our chicks in distress while hatching. I started doing this when my husband and I about 3 or 4 years ago watched one of our broodys hens unceremoniously pull a egg out from under her , the chick was chirping frantically, she broke open the egg with her beak, pulled the chick out and stuffed it back under her. Nature at work !

 

[Kiki]

My Spaniel is obsessed with the incubator. I typically set the incubator up downstairs, in the basement/wine cellar/man cave room, an area of the house where the dogs generally don't go. Last year Spaniel followed me down during hatch and learned that the strange yellow noisy thing on the counter can contain small, peeping birds. After we removed the incubator last year he spent a couple of mournful days sniffing around the room wondering where they went. Yesterday, he saw me carry the incubator down the stairs, followed me down, and is laser locked on that thing. I had to shoo him out this morning as I began to worry he knock it over.

This is what obsession looks like.
View attachment 1383438 View attachment 1383439

What's his name?

 

[Ursuline Chick]

What's his name?

Whatever his name is he is beautiful!!! Bet he's a good bird dog!

 

[Morrigan]

What's his name?

DH got him to be a bird dog, so his official name is Tracker. The bird dog thing never happened and we generally just call him the Spaniel, although he prefers Lord Spaniel.

 

[cppeace]

6 of my shipped ones are white dorking. Hoping for 3 to hatch.

 

[Ursuline Chick]

6 of my shipped ones are white dorking. Hoping for 3 to hatch.

St. Brigid, We need your help again!! Please @cppeace needs a good hatch rate for her white dorkings .

 

[cppeace]

lol