August Hatch-A-Long

[Bookworm0124]

Aaand caught up again. Today is day 10 on my shipped bielefelder eggs. We started with 14, had 3 arrive broken and are down to 7. Two of them are looking strange. One has a weird looking air cell, but I do see movement. Two has very week looking veins and is almost sloshy looking. I'll check it again tomorrow for movement. Those hatching maran eggs get huge props from me. I must be spoiled from only having hatched white duck eggs previously, some of these eggs are a little darker and I'm having a difficult time candling them with my iPhone.

Depending on how this hatch goes I want to order some Delaware's, welsummers and marans from deer run. I'm hoping to add more color to my egg baskets, and try to find an alternative to CX for meat. They're sweet... But I'm just not a fan of them.

 

[jolenesdad]

I put a waterer within stretching distance of where she sits on the eggs. I have put a few ice cubes in it as well. I try not to move my broody hens too much.
I worry about all of my girls in the heat but so far I haven't lost a broody and it's equally as hot in Georgia as it is in Texas.
@Mixed flock enthusiast set up a nice little fan for hers too if I remember correctly and I think she put a frozen jug in front of it to cool the breeze.

I think I’ll try getting some water to her but she is in the second story of the box. I let her go back up there when she rejected the chicks and was running around crazy, and I gave her her eggs back in her original nest to calm it all down.

So I have to move her regardless at some point, and everyone’s moving anyway so I can get my horse wash stall back so I’m trying to decide if it’s better now or closer to the end. Also thinking is it better now to get her where the temp is 10-15 degrees cooler with the AC fan but risk stress moving during this heat, or leave her be and move her after this extra hot spurt?

It’s familiar place she is moving, the side pen for baby chicks and it shares a wall next to the big pen for all the adult birds. The layers go there and hang out anyway because it’s always open for the meat birds. Even though there’s food and water in the layer coop, when she leaves the nest, she runs to the meat bird area to dust bathe and eat and drink.

It’s easier for me to move her next weekend, so that’s probaboy what I’ll do and try and keep her comfy where she is.

 

[jolenesdad]

Aaand caught up again. Today is day 10 on my shipped bielefelder eggs. We started with 14, had 3 arrive broken and are down to 7. Two of them are looking strange. One has a weird looking air cell, but I do see movement. Two has very week looking veins and is almost sloshy looking. I'll check it again tomorrow for movement. Those hatching maran eggs get huge props from me. I must be spoiled from only having hatched white duck eggs previously, some of these eggs are a little darker and I'm having a difficult time candling them with my iPhone.

Depending on how this hatch goes I want to order some Delaware's, welsummers and marans from deer run. I'm hoping to add more color to my egg baskets, and try to find an alternative to CX for meat. They're sweet... But I'm just not a fan of them.

I agree with your entire post!

But for the eggs, that first one does look weak and like it may have failed. The other one is just a saddled cell. As the water evaporates the saddle will get super prominent. The air cell doesn’t grow right away really, it just fills all the saddled cell space. By day 15 or so, with MOST saddled cells, the air cell has grown to include the entire cell ndyoure pretty much good to go.

 

[Compost King]

I serama egg has been pipped! and my Serama hen went broody... again. She has only been laying for a month since her last Broody spell. Last time she hatched one cockerel who is the brother of all my other females so he was close to useless to me. Gave him away with the rest of his brothers I hatched out.
Her first Daughter started laying and 2 other daughters who are 3 week younger are about to start laying, so maybe I will still get in a few more hatches before they stop laying for winter.
1 chick pipping now means I need to finish cleaning the brooder. I was so exhausted from cleaning the outdoor brooders in the heat that I took a shower and napped this afternoon. After I finish cleaning the brooder I have to do nursery work all night long. Naps are fine but now I have to pay the penalty and work all night by flashlight.

 

[Bookworm0124]

I agree with your entire post!

But for the eggs, that first one does look weak and like it may have failed. The other one is just a saddled cell. As the water evaporates the saddle will get super prominent. The air cell doesn’t grow right away really, it just fills all the saddled cell space. By day 15 or so, with MOST saddled cells, the air cell has grown to include the entire cell ndyoure pretty much good to go.

Thanks. I wasn't POSITIVE on the first and I needed opinions. We'll see what happens. I was hoping for at least 3 to hatch to breed... But you guys have already convinced me to switch to Delaware's habaha

 

[Compost King]

Thanks. I wasn't POSITIVE on the first and I needed opinions. We'll see what happens. I was hoping for at least 3 to hatch to breed... But you guys have already convinced me to switch to Delaware's habaha

I want to try Delawares from a good hatchery that keeps up the meat quality and rapid meat development. I have one from ideal Poultry who isn't much meatier than a leghorn. I will likely work towards that after I move. I reached the peak for the amount of chicken breeds I can have. Although I can have a hen or 2 of any breed... no more roosters. I ran out of Rooster containment pens.

 

[jolenesdad]

I want to try Delawares from a good hatchery that keeps up the meat quality and rapid meat development. I have one from ideal Poultry who isn't much meatier than a leghorn. I will likely work towards that after I move. I reached the peak for the amount of chicken breeds I can have. Although I can have a hen or 2 of any breed... no more roosters. I ran out of Rooster containment pens.

When I called freedom ranger hatchery they said the New Hampshire line they have is the meatiest heritage breed. I think that’s the most meaty hatchery line of anything.

There’s a guy Henry Knoll that is a geneticist who used to own a hatchery specializing in meat birds. Moyers actually bought it, but he maintains a line of egg laying Delawares now and meat New Hampshire’s, and they “say” they’re so meaty if you want the hens to lay you have to regiment their feed. Those lines are available only through Freedom ranger hatchery.

I actually spoke to Deer Run Farm and they took over one of the only known lines of Delawares, the Whitmore line. They flock breed and have APA certified flocks. I talked to them this week and they said that they are breeding “with the standard in mind” but really pushing for a more utility bird. The sweet girl that runs their chicken operation says the Delawares are her favorite breed.

The deer run farm is getting 6 pound (live weight) cockerels at 18 weeks. Those Delawares I’m trying 25 of in September from DawnRidge Farm are supposed to be around 5 pounds at 12/13 weeks.

As far as I can tell those are the utility lines that exist and I just found our Dawn Ridge farm came from the whitmore line.

There was a line called ChickCharney but the entire line was sold and they are not selling yet. They’re more standard bred but still pretty utility.

There is a line called the Bonham line that was recreated by a woman on ByC from heritage barred rock and New Hampshire’s and there’s a several thousand page thread on it. Ill get a link if anyone is interested. Those are supposed to be the closest to APA standard however they take 30 weeks to reach maturity. I have two of them and they are finally growing at 14 weeks but they’re the most resourceful free ranging birds I’ve ever had.

 

[Compost King]

When I called freedom ranger hatchery they said the New Hampshire line they have is the meatiest heritage breed. I think that’s the most meaty hatchery line of anything.

There’s a guy Henry Knoll that is a geneticist who used to own a hatchery specializing in meat birds. Moyers actually bought it, but he maintains a line of egg laying Delawares now and meat New Hampshire’s, and they “say” they’re so meaty if you want the hens to lay you have to regiment their feed. Those lines are available only through Freedom ranger hatchery.

I actually spoke to Deer Run Farm and they took over one of the only known lines of Delawares, the Whitmore line. They flock breed and have APA certified flocks. I talked to them this week and they said that they are breeding “with the standard in mind” but really pushing for a more utility bird. The sweet girl that runs their chicken operation says the Delawares are her favorite breed.

The deer run farm is getting 6 pound (live weight) cockerels at 18 weeks. Those Delawares I’m trying 25 of in September from DawnRidge Farm are supposed to be around 5 pounds at 12/13 weeks.

As far as I can tell those are the utility lines that exist and I just found our Dawn Ridge farm came from the whitmore line.

There was a line called ChickCharney but the entire line was sold and they are not selling yet. They’re more standard bred but still pretty utility.

There is a line called the Bonham line that was recreated by a woman on ByC from heritage barred rock and New Hampshire’s and there’s a several thousand page thread on it. Ill get a link if anyone is interested. Those are supposed to be the closest to APA standard however they take 30 weeks to reach maturity. I have two of them and they are finally growing at 14 weeks but they’re the most resourceful free ranging birds I’ve ever had.

I wish I could like this post twice

 

[aliciaplus3]

When I called freedom ranger hatchery they said the New Hampshire line they have is the meatiest heritage breed. I think that’s the most meaty hatchery line of anything.

There’s a guy Henry Knoll that is a geneticist who used to own a hatchery specializing in meat birds. Moyers actually bought it, but he maintains a line of egg laying Delawares now and meat New Hampshire’s, and they “say” they’re so meaty if you want the hens to lay you have to regiment their feed. Those lines are available only through Freedom ranger hatchery.

I actually spoke to Deer Run Farm and they took over one of the only known lines of Delawares, the Whitmore line. They flock breed and have APA certified flocks. I talked to them this week and they said that they are breeding “with the standard in mind” but really pushing for a more utility bird. The sweet girl that runs their chicken operation says the Delawares are her favorite breed.

The deer run farm is getting 6 pound (live weight) cockerels at 18 weeks. Those Delawares I’m trying 25 of in September from DawnRidge Farm are supposed to be around 5 pounds at 12/13 weeks.

As far as I can tell those are the utility lines that exist and I just found our Dawn Ridge farm came from the whitmore line.

There was a line called ChickCharney but the entire line was sold and they are not selling yet. They’re more standard bred but still pretty utility.

There is a line called the Bonham line that was recreated by a woman on ByC from heritage barred rock and New Hampshire’s and there’s a several thousand page thread on it. Ill get a link if anyone is interested. Those are supposed to be the closest to APA standard however they take 30 weeks to reach maturity. I have two of them and they are finally growing at 14 weeks but they’re the most resourceful free ranging birds I’ve ever had.

My Delaware hens originated with privet hatchery, but I didnt end up with a rooster. I crossed them with a Big white rooster that was given to me and thsts where my Big Boy rooster came from. The hens were hatched 2016 so getting older. This next batch I will put in tonight is only out of that pen, oh I have a half sister to Big Boy in with them(I think she is the regular layer everyone else is older) as well as a light brahma and a Columbia wyandotte? Size and sticking close to the Delaware color was my plan, we shall see

 

[Rockporters]

End of the Silkie hatch stats:

18 b/s and buff Silkie eggs
9 eggs made it to lock down

5 blue/splash
4 buff​

5 chicks hatched-1 later died.

4 b/s
1 buff (r.i.p.) ​

Ironically, after the recent talk about hatching upright and people’s worries about missing a malpositioned chick’s pip... This set of eggs was laid down as normal, and I had 2 that pipped wrong. Sadly, on the underside of the egg. One died, the other I helped hatch and eventually died. I think, had the eggs been upright, the chick might have had a chance at hatching with access to air.

Nothing from the Seramas yet.

The hatch gave us 4 pretty blues. One is still gooey, but doing okay, I think. A couple of pics of the first two..

And...I ran into this big guy moseying along on our driveway when I left to do errands earlier.