Adventures in Incubating Shipped Eggs

[Zinjifrah]

The 3 gray are Lavender Marans from Papas. The Black one is also a Maran from Papas, and although it was labeled "LM" same as the rest, it was an extra egg, so I'm assuming it was put in as a bonus and mislabeled. I'm calling it a Black Maran, lol, and have become rather attached to it. The other 2 are regular buff orpingtons from a feed store in the SF Bay Area.

Now the waiting game begins to see which are hens and which are roos. I may keep a rooster if I get one with great looks and sound temperament.

So what you're really saying is that you've got three Lavender Marans, two Buff Orpingtons, and one Lucky Maran.

 

[Morrigan]

So what you're really saying is that you've got three Lavender Marans, two Buff Orpingtons, and one Lucky Maran.

Ha! Yes.

Plus the Blue/Buff Columbian orpington.

 

[Cerise1924]

I had an LM egg from Papa's that turned out like this:
(She's all light grey with dark greyspeckles... the tan is just from a dust bath.)
Maybe LM means "Leftover Marans"? I like Lucky Marans, though! Callisto has turned out to be one my my nicest hens.

Your cute black chick with the light chest looks like a French Black Copper Marans chick I had a couple of years ago.

 

[Morrigan]

What a pretty hen.

I honestly didn't care that much about the colors. I'm not breeding for shows or anything.

 

[Ursuline Chick]

I had an LM egg from Papa's that turned out like this: View attachment 1435850
(She's all light grey with dark greyspeckles... the tan is just from a dust bath.)
Maybe LM means "Leftover Marans"? I like Lucky Marans, though! Callisto has turned out to be one my my nicest hens.

Your cute black chick with the light chest looks like a French Black Copper Marans chick I had a couple of years ago.

She looks like my splash Marans chick!!

 

[Cerise1924]

Well, I have another batch shipped eggs on the way: Buff Brahmas, Speckled Sussex and Dominiques. These are coming from Alabama to Oregon.

One thing I learned from this last hatch-a-long is that distance isn't as important as I thought. My eggs from Mississippi did better than the ones that were from in-state, or just one state over. So, I am willing to try eggs from across the country, especially when the weather is reasonable. Right now, it's in the 80s here and in Alabama. The eggs may start developing en route, so I'll be ready to set them shortly after they arrive. Fingers crossed.

Another thing that I learned is that a broody is so much easier than incubators! When I went to collect eggs today, my big Brahma lady growled at me, and she's still sitting there, hours later. I made sure not to take all the eggs, with the hopes that she'll actually go broody and take care of the whole chick business for me!

 

[Cerise1924]

I just found an interesting article on encouraging broodiness in hens: https://www.fresheggsdaily.com/2014/04/five-ways-to-encourage-hen-to-go-broody.html
I am actually going to try putting lavender in the nest box. I'm not sure I buy into the aromatherapy/relaxation aspect (I don't think chickens have a great sense of smell, do they?), but there may be some science to it.
The article also mentions that a hen naturally prefers an area that she knows is free of mites, and I do know that in the Middle Ages/Renaissance, herbs such as mint and lavender were used for strewing on the floors to keep away biting insects.
I'll let you know if it works.

 

[Knighstar679]

I am getting ready to set my Second ship set of eggs in an incubator. One set is coming from Texas, the other set is coming from Maryland, to New York. I am hoping for not so scrambled of eggs.

Though I guess i lucked out with my first set having only one that was scrambled, but i wanted to have over 12 of my breed as it seems hatch rates on shipped eggs can be pretty low. I will have 18 in total of my breed, figuring that at least one is going to get scrambled in shipping that should leave 16 to set. If i am lucky because this will be my first time really trying to incubate eggs I may see between 4-8 make it to lockdown.

Does all that sound about right on dealing with shipped eggs?

 

[Rebel58]

My little guineas have grown so quick since this thread began. My little peacock, Weston and my roo, Thad have become buddies. They were all put in the temporary coop in my garage till the outside one is finished this weekend. The garage coop which can't be seen in the photo is equipped with brooder heater and nesting boxes. Growing up together as fuzzbutts has helped them get along. No one knows they are different!! In the video, twin bad boys have begun hanging around lately so the electric fence needs put up before I feel comfortable letting my little ones in the new coop.

 

[Rebel58]

Update: Today was the day the brooder doors opened to the outdoors and they got to step onto terra firma. I was surprised how quickly they took to it. Within an hour they had figured out how to dust bath. All are still alive, although I have one runt in the mix. It's hanging tough, though. @Cerise1924, the last picture is of orpington you asked about.


View attachment 1435377 View attachment 1435378

View attachment 1435390