Arizona Chickens

[DesertChic]

It's hatching day. One chick is almost unzipped. No one else has even pipped, which is weird because usually my hatches run early. Had humidity issues with the incubator this time. Fingers crossed.

Ooooh....I hate it when that happens. I learned during my last hatch that for whatever reason, my Dorking eggs simply don't hatch out before day 22. I was completely convinced they were duds, but when I picked up the eggs I could hear the chicks inside. The first of them hatched out late on day 22 and the other two on day 23. If I didn't know better I'd think they do it just because they know we're watching and willing them to hatch.

Good luck! I hope your babies come out soon.

 

[SonoranChick]

Do you guys feed fresh herbs to your chickens? What kind? And does it affect egg taste? We have loads of mint, cilantro, dill, thyme and oregano that I really want to toss in the run, but I don't want mint flavored eggs

@MagicChicken good luck on that hatch, I hope all goes well!

 

[BlueBaby]

It's hatching day. One chick is almost unzipped. No one else has even pipped, which is weird because usually my hatches run early. Had humidity issues with the incubator this time. Fingers crossed.

I know what you mean with the hatching and I am thinking that the cause for it is because of the weather going up and down in temp like a yo-yo. It makes it harder to keep the incubators stabilized.

 

[igorsMistress]

Snip

Now to get a good pickled egg recipe...

Good luck, let me know if you find one, will ya?

 

[BlueBaby]

Update on the boiled egg challenge...we got some eggs out of the fridge and allowed them to get to room temperature. Using a strainer (corinder? Whatever they're called) and a low level of water, we steamed the eggs with the lid on the pot for 20 mins. Then we took the eggs out of the heat and put them into ice water for a while. We then put them back in the fridge over night. This morning I am happy to report that the egg practically slid right out of the shell! It peeled just like the store eggs. Although they were steamed, they cook and taste like a boiled egg. Thank you to everyone for all of the suggestions, I kind of took everyone's advice, plus some from the Internet, and it was a big success.
Now to get a good pickled egg recipe...

What about the pickled egg recipe here? If you like it spicier you could always add a bit of peppers to it.

https://www.artandthekitchen.com/moms-pickled-eggs/

I have also heard told before that if you poke a few holes in the eggs with like a tooth pick before you put them in the jar, that it will help the pickling juices marinate into the inside of the eggs.

 

[SonoranChick]

That recipe looks great, I will get pickling spices in town tomorrow and let you all know how it goes. Thanks @BlueBaby !

 

[BlueBaby]

I know that I haven't said much here the last couple of days, but I have been busy with selling chickens and chicks, and that other chick hatching out yesterday. Today has been in rearranging all of the chickens and grow-outs out in the coop and pen. I have also been taking the fully feathered chicks from the brooder out there too now, to make room for the new ones to hatch out and go into the brooder.

Edit: I finally got done with all of it that had to be managed outside. The chicks I moved out there are doing ok and seem to be adjusting fine, and the adults and bigger chicks stopped hanging around the pen that I just put the new ones in. Now I discovered that time has flown by and I forgot to eat something yet, so I will go grab something that's quick to tide me over until late dinner.

 

[MagicChicken]

Ooooh....I hate it when that happens. I learned during my last hatch that for whatever reason, my Dorking eggs simply don't hatch out before day 22. I was completely convinced they were duds, but when I picked up the eggs I could hear the chicks inside. The first of them hatched out late on day 22 and the other two on day 23. If I didn't know better I'd think they do it just because they know we're watching and willing them to hatch.

Good luck! I hope your babies come out soon.

The chick has stopped unzipping. I hope he's just resting and isn't stuck in his shell. He is one of the first eggs I've hatched from this cockerel. I didn't expect anything because the cockerel is in with 18 hens and I don't see him mounting them very often. I randomly picked five eggs from that pen to fill up the rest of the incubator. Surprisingly, three were fertile. And one of them is the first egg to show signs of life. Yes!

One of the other eggs has started to pip. So there's a little progress. Slowest hatch I've ever had. Sigh...

 

[igorsMistress]

Do you guys feed fresh herbs to your chickens? What kind? And does it affect egg taste? We have loads of mint, cilantro, dill, thyme and oregano that I really want to toss in the run, but I don't want mint flavored eggs

@MagicChicken good luck on that hatch, I hope all goes well!

I feed them herbs, doesn't flavor the eggs. My girls aren't big on mint but they LOVE dill. They like thyme, marjoram, cilantro, parsley and garlic. I give them mustard greens and carrot tops and kale too.

 

[cactusrota]

This blue boy from the Feb 1st hatch is getting downright snuggly!!! He's becoming one of the most friendly of this batch as of late. Such a cutie.