APRIL Hatch a long ......Anyone?

[Drache]

I will join you!

I just set 9 dozen eggs for a friend of mine who can't get her chickens to go broody. This is my second hatch and my first one went very well.

The eggs are from a variety of hens, everything from black copper marans to buff orpingtons, to ameraucanas, to sussex, to some mixed brown and olive eggers. I also have 6 eggs I set last week from a friend with modern game hens (only one seems to be developing, but the eggs were 16 days old so I am not surprised).

I also have 7 eggs from another friend with ducks who keep smashing their eggs. I am not sure what kind of ducks they are. I do have a question about duck eggs. I read in a few places that it's best to remove the duck eggs and cool them slightly and mist them daily. When do I start doing that, and do I stop at lockdown?

We'll see how everything goes!

Edit: Just to add, I am using a redwood cabinet-style incubator with an 18-dozen egg capacity.

 

[carcar80]

Glad to see so many on board! Sorry, I'll be more active again once I get this Feb "Hatch-Tastrophe" out of the way. :/ My April hatch isn't even in my own bator right now! lol

 

[linzross31890]

People underestimate roos, some at least. 4 of my twenty were roos. Two silkie and two meat birds. I wish they were all still alive because they did such a great job of protecting their ladies and letting out warnings. Id love more roos right now.

Id like to get my hands on some polish eggs and he wants saipan jungle fowl. I just wish i could find someone local to get eggs from instead of having to order

 

[Gen9]

Good to see you again Gen.What are tou setting?

Trying to hatch olive eggers, or pretty close! I have a couple that lay a light olive green, from crossing my Ameraucana with a marans roo. I'd like to get a real bright olive or dark olive egg one day. I'll have to get a bluer egg layer. Idk, it's just neat seeing what you get when you mix breeds. I also set one x with NH red, & black sex link. I've had some pretty interesting results

Can i join in, even as a newbie?

I had 20 birds last year and unfortunately free range has not been kind to them. I currently have 7 birds left. A pair of Cornish x rocks 5 red sex links and a tsc mystery tetra tint. Im getting eggs from our neighbor as well. He has a big mix of chickens so they're surprise eggs.

Im planning on setting them on the 24th.

I'm still a newbie, this is only my 3rd hatch.
Welcome!

 

[McCaskill]

setting some barrocks for 4/11 hope it works out

 

[Gen9]

setting some barrocks for 4/11 hope it works out

Good luck!

 

[Gen9]

People underestimate roos, some at least. 4 of my twenty were roos. Two silkie and two meat birds. I wish they were all still alive because they did such a great job of protecting their ladies and letting out warnings. Id love more roos right now.

Id like to get my hands on some polish eggs and he wants saipan jungle fowl. I just wish i could find someone local to get eggs from instead of having to order

I hear ya! I had a polish crested pair. Wish I kept them. I live in city limits so I wasn't sure how my neighbors would react to a roo. Turns out they don't mind, they actually like hearing him. 2 of my other neighbors have Roos now. Lol! They get in a crow off sometimes - of course mine has to out crow them all (not bragging here, it can get annoying when I hear him go off 10 min straight - right by the window). We're rehoming him to a friend, not from the crowing, he's just unpredictable around the kids. I would like a Cochin or brahma roo - I've heard they're more docile - but you never know, each bird has they're own personality. I love having a roo around. They're so smart & love watching them take care of, & try to impress the ladies. Here's mine doing his dramatic slow motion head shake he does

The ones I'm incubating are his offspring I love how they all turn out looking like him

 

[linzross31890]

I hear ya! I had a polish crested pair. Wish I kept them. I live in city limits so I wasn't sure how my neighbors would react to a roo. Turns out they don't mind, they actually like hearing him. 2 of my other neighbors have Roos now. Lol! They get in a crow off sometimes - of course mine has to out crow them all (not bragging here, it can get annoying when I hear him go off 10 min straight - right by the window). We're rehoming him to a friend, not from the crowing, he's just unpredictable around the kids. I would like a Cochin or brahma roo - I've heard they're more docile - but you never know, each bird has they're own personality. I love having a roo around. They're so smart & love watching them take care of, & try to impress the ladies. Here's mine doing his dramatic slow motion head shake he does

The ones I'm incubating are his offspring I love how they all turn out looking like him

Im incredibly jealous that you had polish. Im trying to find someone local with them but im coming up short.

 

[Gen9]

Im incredibly jealous that you had polish. Im trying to find someone local with them but im coming up short.

I lucked out, I got them from a local feed store. I was able to reserve 2. Straight run, ended up with one boy, one girl. You can't order with a friend & split shipping costs?

Edit: I agree, they are hard to find. I would like to raise them again someday. The pullet made the tiniest, squeakiest egg song

 

[linzross31890]

The neighbor across the road has a small hobby farm which is gorgeous and beautifully cared for. He ordered birds this year, maybe next year ill see about a joint order. I have a feeling that ill end up torchering dh to get eggs or chicks next year. Idk why iwant them so badly. He claims its because i am polish.