April 2023 Hatch-A-Long

[Canadian Wind]

That’s where chicken genetics gets tricky… you don’t need either parent to be black to get black chicks

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solid_black_(chicken_plumage)

Yup! It's why genetics fascinate me! And frustrate me!

 

[Dinoroar]

Yup! It's why genetics fascinate me! And frustrate me!

I feel the same. It would be so convenient if it was simple but it’s decidedly not I haven’t studied it enough to really grasp much beyond that it’s always more complex than I’d expect.

 

[Canadian Wind]

I feel the same. It would be so convenient if it was simple but it’s decidedly not I haven’t studied it enough to really grasp much beyond that it’s always more complex than I’d expect.

Very much so. I understand Muscovy genetics perfectly, and am starting to get better with rabbits. Chickens have so many modifiers, though!

 

[BuckeyeFoodie]

Well, 11 of of 12 Silkie eggs hatched! And even more exciting, 11 out of 16 shipped Cuckoo Silkie eggs are viable for a 4.28 hatch, which is the best result I've ever had with shipped eggs.

Picture for tax, lol.

 

[LTAY1946]

That’s where chicken genetics gets tricky… you don’t need either parent to be black to get black chicks

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solid_black_(chicken_plumage)

That is a truck load of information that I can not begin to totally fathom. There were two blacks from the first hatch and now another. Whatever they are they should lay well and eat well.

 

[LTAY1946]

I think the mystery of the black chicks is solved. My wife put in 7 of the pet eggs, eggs from free range RIR hens that free range with a black sex link rooster. He has proven himself potent. There are at least 4 black chicks this morning but it's hard to count through the little windows when they are trying out for the bowling league with their siblings still in their shells.

 

[Canadian Wind]

I'm not keeping my hopes up, but I only have a few eggs left now, due around the 20th. All the eggs in my new incubator got cooked, then frozen. All are dead.

I am currently very discouraged and depressed. Out of 69 eggs, I got three live chicks.

I'm returning the new incubator that killed all my babies. I also wrote a strongly worded letter to Little Giant.

 

[LTAY1946]

21 of 41 out of the shell with many more pipped. Looking like a good hatch in box #1. Box #2 is an accidental experiment. At some point after setting the temp control in box 2 malfunctioned and instead of a 99.5° temp that is was showing the real temp was around 94. I may have drowned them all with a 75% humidity during lock down. When there were no pips this morning I checked the temp again with a manual thermometer and took the actions I did. Not only raising the temp but lowering the humidity back down to 32%. It's a wait and see. I'm glad none of those may have been chicks were promised.

 

[LTAY1946]

Oh "It's Been a Hard Day's Night". With that doo he's got to be a future Rock Star.

 

[Kikilu]

Welllll since only 2 eggs look viable I went and got some last minute local bbs marans. Which means I will have 2 (if they even make it) on day 9 I think and the rest just starting lol. Sounds like a mess but if either of those two even make it I’ll be surprised.