Arkansas Blue egg layers

[1muttsfan]

First group of eggs went into lockdown today

 

[ronott1]

First group of eggs went into lockdown today

I hope you have a great hatch!

 

[Metella]

Crossing fingers !!! Share any baby pics !!!!

Mine go into lockdown on Thursday - all are developing so far ... but I have an old LG and have heard not so great things about the last 3 days .... I finally have signs of a broody - so will let her hatch out the next batch ! (not an AB broody - anyone have experience with that?)

 

[1muttsfan]

I have not heard of one, and since they are bred for production characteristics I would expect broodiness to have been strongly selected against.

 

[Metella]

That's what I figured - and what I see in my hens - no interest in the next after the egg pops out

Which suits me just fine - just wondering as some of my others are starting in their yearly broody mode.

 

[ronott1]

That's what I figured - and what I see in my hens - no interest in the next after the egg pops out

Which suits me just fine - just wondering as some of my others are starting in their yearly broody mode.

Thanks for sending the hatching eggs!

Here is a group picture of the chicks that hatched:



This is a closeup of the UofA Blue that hatched:



The chicks are doing great!

 

[Metella]

So the Marans came out ok ? ! Well I hope the little AB does really well for you !!! Remember- any that are Marans hens should lay even darker eggs than what they hatched out of except for that darkest one - that will stay the same - because their daddy came from a really dark egg.

As to anyone here breeding the AB's ... if you get someone who is driving my way - NY or VT - I will be glad to GIVE eggs away during breeder pen season to keep the breed growing and strong and mixed genetically. But no more shipping for me. I also would take any grey or black roo anyone wants to rehome.

 

[1muttsfan]

Nice chick!

Don't let shipping failures discourage you. I have received many, many shipped eggs, and despite some epic fails have hatched some really fine birds. I am convinced that it is possibly the only way some uncommon breeds will survive, and definitely the only way people like me who live in remote areas will ever get good stock. And after all, they are only eggs - I break then all the time just getting them to the house

The incredible prices some people charge for eggs is ridiculous, with the exception of breeders who have worked with great effort to produce exceptional stock. My eggs are worth just what I charge for eating eggs - $2.50 a dozen.

 

[caychris]

So the Marans came out ok ? ! Well I hope the little AB does really well for you !!! Remember- any that are Marans hens should lay even darker eggs than what they hatched out of except for that darkest one - that will stay the same - because their daddy came from a really dark egg.

As to anyone here breeding the AB's ... if you get someone who is driving my way - NY or VT - I will be glad to GIVE eggs away during breeder pen season to keep the breed growing and strong and mixed genetically. But no more shipping for me. I also would take any grey or black roo anyone wants to rehome.

Nice chick!

Don't let shipping failures discourage you. I have received many, many shipped eggs, and despite some epic fails have hatched some really fine birds. I am convinced that it is possibly the only way some uncommon breeds will survive, and definitely the only way people like me who live in remote areas will ever get good stock. And after all, they are only eggs - I break then all the time just getting them to the house

The incredible prices some people charge for eggs is ridiculous, with the exception of breeders who have worked with great effort to produce exceptional stock. My eggs are worth just what I charge for eating eggs - $2.50 a dozen.

Id be willing to pay for shipping in about another month for AB eggs from either or both of you if you want.

 

[Metella]

But first off - I am terrible spacially - so wrapping the eggs sets me into fits of cursing ... THEN add that to we have a distribution center here which just got all the regional mail diverted to it - in addition to its already full load ... so it all screams disaster for me - personally.

My breeders are going back into the main flock in about 2 weeks .... it is very hard to keep them all going, clean, fed, watered Plus the horses and the fruit trees plus a normal job. ha ha

If you want to try the very last of the eggs I collect - let me know - but just realize it seems about 1/2 the eggs get scrambled/broke. So just look at the shipping as a lost fee ....

Thanks for the words - muttsfan We seem to have a good core of people working with this breed now, now we need more.