Australia - Six states..and that funny little island.

[satay]

Hi Trish, Cute babies Kat and Satay, I've got one baby so far from this hatch... She looks really good so far, hatch day is officially after 9pm, only a few pipping, lots shaking. I'm hoping all the power outs haven't done too much damage... I'm on mains powers here, the generator is just because the power goes out so much but I need to get one that works, this old one I have has had it... 
It was a new cheap incubator luke, it has a warranty but the guy says that if I return it and they test it to be functional they will charge me for testing it. Who knows what they deem functional. He also said that he will only give me a partial refund if it has been used but told me that they would not take me seriously until I have had an unsuccessful hatch. Thus having to use it so I won't get all my money back.... DODGY! DODGY! DODGY! I got a bellsouth glass thermometer with my new rcom and used that inside the crap bator which is more accurate than the digital ones that I calibrated.. I might just use it as a hatcher for my cross breeds, dunno....  

Sounds like he is trying to pull the wool over your eyes chook. I would stand my ground and tell him you want a refund for the dodgy bator or you will go to department of fair trades and see if that gets his attention. Was it an aussie site you bought it from?

 

[satay]

Hi all, Im on the South East Coast of NSW and have just recently located from the city and have fallen head over heels for chickens.  I have 3 clucky hens and have reached 21 days with still none hatched.  Is it too cold this time of the year for my chickens to be sitting?  Appreciate all comments, I love my chickens.  oh and Yes we have roosters

Welcome Sunnylee. I hope you get lots of babies soon

 

[satay]

Oh, Also, I'm wanting to start looking into getting a rooster so we can breed our chickens (not for sale but hopefully some for meat purposes?), Could I put one straight into the same coop as our ladies and what would I do once we started getting suspected fertile eggs? All our girls lay in the same coop so would I keep roo separate and then just add a broody chookie in with him and go from there?

Trish you would need to keep your new rooster separate from your flock for a few weeks to make sure it does not have any illnesses that could effect the rest of your flock. After this time you could add it straight with the ones you have or separate a few in another pen and add him there it is really up to you.

 

[cluckcluckluke]

Trish, as Satay said you will need to quarantine him first just to make sure he is all healthy. You can also treat him for worms and lice just to make sure ( even if non are present ).
Then after that he is fine to go in with the hens. You will assume that all your hens will be fertile ( not a large ration you have there ) and can hatch any eggs when ever.
If you wanted to breed Pure, you could get a RIR rooster then separate your RIR hens into a another cage and add him, then you will know which eggs are pure bred.

 

[K Spot]

Got 6 eggs yesterday

One of the older Light Sussex hens is finally laying, so that makes it 7 out of the 9 laying right now.

Both my Wellies are laying. I'm hoping their shell colour will improve a bit with age (is that possible?).

 

[Trish28]

Wonderful. Thanks

So once you do get the roo in with everyone else how do I check if the eggs are ok to eat and not fertile? Sorry, I'm only new to chickens and have a lot to learn and there is probably an area of the forum to learn but I've not found the correct area yet

 

[K Spot]

Trish, you can eat fertile eggs. If you collect them everyday, they won't start to develop.

Once you crack an egg open, look for a little white dot on the yolk. That's how you'll know the egg is fertilised.

 

[Trish28]

Oh! Right o then. Awesome! Looks like I might be getting myself a mighty purty little boy then

 

[K Spot]

Good for you

I really want a Salmon Faverolles rooster so I can breed them, but my husband isn't too keen on the idea at all.
I don't want to push the issue on him either, since he reluctantly agreed I could get another Dalmatian puppy next year

 

[cluckcluckluke]

Good for you

I really want a Salmon Faverolles rooster so I can breed them, but my husband isn't too keen on the idea at all.
I don't want to push the issue on him either, since he reluctantly agreed I could get another Dalmatian puppy next year

A Dalmatian Puppy!!! I am to envious!