April 2020 Hatch-A-Long! All are welcome!

[BluebirdHomestead]

@BluebirdHomestead How are your Marans looking today? Any pips?

5 pips! I’m so happy.

And I’m happy to report that little Ranger is up and about this morning. Ate and drank. I have high hopes.

 

[CindyinSD]

I ended up with 12 of 12 Light Brahma chicks and 4 of 12 Silkies (which were only shipped across the state and very well-packed ).

Two of the little Brahmas are having leg issues, but everyone else looks great. I'm just leaving the semi-lame chicks to manage as best they can. DH says give them a chance so I will. These are livestock-not-pets though, so I'll let Darwin have his way. As long as they don't seem to be suffering I'll let them be, but I'm not fussing over them. If they make it and I can still tell which ones they are, I'll caponize or poulardize. I don't want misprints in the flock gene pool that only cause more suffering.

 

[KateGoad]

Day three candling (a couple of days ago) showed 9 of 11 for sure fertile, and 2 questionable. With 9 roos we're pretty sure they get enough action to have all fertile.

We were planning on selling the roos at auction last week, but with that whole social distancing, we didn't go to the auction. We're waiting to see what happens for this month's auction before dispatching most of the roos.

 

[CindyinSD]

Day three candling (a couple of days ago) showed 9 of 11 for sure fertile, and 2 questionable. With 9 roos we're pretty sure they get enough action to have all fertile.

We were planning on selling the roos at auction last week, but with that whole social distancing, we didn't go to the auction. We're waiting to see what happens for this month's auction before dispatching most of the roos.

Be careful not to kill too many of them. You may want them before the new batch gets old enough. I processed three, leaving three. My evil hens killed one yesterday (they were bored being locked in the huge greenhouse because the snow was deeper than they are tall) They were getting along fine, all in the greenhouse together. Wretched little s. And another got hurt pretty bad in a fight day before yesterday with the other rooster. He's in the hospital coop. So functionally I'm now down to one.

 

[beth1004]

Welcome! Your broody hen has beautiful coloration!

She is beautiful. I’d love to find a coordinating Ameraucana rooster for her and her sisters. She’s a good mom. Hatched and raised babies a year ago.

 

[MelissaRose]

Is it too late to join?

I'm setting 8 Coturnix quail eggs later today...

 

[CindyinSD]

Is it too late to join?

I'm setting 8 Coturnix quail eggs later today...

It's only the 3rd. Cots hatch in 19 days if I remember right, so no... definitely not too late. Even if it were, everyone is welcome to come along for the ride!

 

[MelissaRose]

It's only the 3rd. Cots hatch in 19 days if I remember right, so no... definitely not too late. Even if it were, everyone is welcome to come along for the ride!

Great! then I'll join!

 

[KateGoad]

Thanks for the tip @CindyinSD - Cuckoo Chanel* may thank you (he was on the bubble for keeping).

We had planned on going to two, but one more won't make that much of a difference.


*We bought him as a day-old, he was supposed to be a girl... oops.

 

[Fatimetta]

I'm sorry your little belly button chick passed away.

And yay for the marans pips!

I go get my eggs today and will set them tonight. Eeeek!!! So excited!

The hygrometer shows 50% and temp is stable at 99.5. Are these all okay?