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

[rexy]

Operation build new coop is in full swing, Saw our first goanna for the season yesterday so I've been getting as much done as I can in between raising four children under 6 and running the household while hubby cuts cane. So far I have constructed 4 panels, One of which has the main door (human size) to the run. Still have roughly 8 or so panels to go

Getting quite a few eggs a day now - 5 on Friday and Saturday, 7 yesterday and another 5 today. I'm not sure if they're fertile or not but I've been taking them away anyway. I'm assuming they're not fertile as none of the chickens are nesting on them

Sounds like you have your work cut out for you Trish.

If there is a rooster in with your hens, and he is working, then the eggs are most likely fertile. Hens will go broody and set on some eggs now and then depending on your breeds. Fertility and a hen sitting on eggs are not related. Hope that makes sense.

 

[Trish28]

Sounds like you have your work cut out for you Trish.

If there is a rooster in with your hens, and he is working, then the eggs are most likely fertile. Hens will go broody and set on some eggs now and then depending on your breeds. Fertility and a hen sitting on eggs are not related. Hope that makes sense.

We've got a rooster in with the girls yes, He's only 4 months old but I've seen him having a go at some of the girls, Do they fire blanks for a short period before they become fertile? Do I need to keep the eggs in the fridge or the pantry would still be ok?

Pinky, Sorry to hear you lost a feather baby

 

[rexy]

We've got a rooster in with the girls yes, He's only 4 months old but I've seen him having a go at some of the girls, Do they fire blanks for a short period before they become fertile? Do I need to keep the eggs in the fridge or the pantry would still be ok?

Pinky, Sorry to hear you lost a feather baby

if he is mating the hens, then he is probably fertile, but would give hi probably some more time before assuming he was mating everyone. Are you keeping the eggs to later incubate them, or just for eating. Depends on your weather and the purpose of the eggs. What is your weather like?

 

[Trish28]

if he is mating the hens, then he is probably fertile, but would give hi probably some more time before assuming he was mating everyone. Are you keeping the eggs to later incubate them, or just for eating. Depends on your weather and the purpose of the eggs. What is your weather like?

For the time being we're keeping the eggs purely for eating purposes. Oce I've finished the coop there will be two separate sections, Breeding side and laying side so eventually we will keep the fertile eggs with the hens and let them do the work

Weather at the moment is warm ish during the day and cool at night, Still blanket weather. We're in Mackay of QLD so it'll get hotter soon. Maybe the fridge for now wouldn't be a bad idea?

 

[satay]

For the time being we're keeping the eggs purely for eating purposes. Oce I've finished the coop there will be two separate sections, Breeding side and laying side so eventually we will keep the fertile eggs with the hens and let them do the work

Weather at the moment is warm ish during the day and cool at night, Still blanket weather. We're in Mackay of QLD so it'll get hotter soon. Maybe the fridge for now wouldn't be a bad idea?

Sounds like you are doing a great job Trish. Mackay nights at this time of year sounds tempting warm to me lol. I know it is different when you live there though.
I keep my eggs in the fridge all year round.

Pinky i am so sorry for the loss of your little chick it is never easy to loose one.

 

[satay]

Pinky, there is that much red tape with selling eating eggs it is just ridiculous.

Turns out that the guy who rang originally was from food safe and they basically ring around to see if you are advertising and selling eating eggs. When i rang the number that was on the letter it was the same guy who answered the phone. Guess he didn't think i would remember his voice. It is illegal in qld to advertise eggs for eating but not for hatching so there was nothing they can do except to advise me if someone asks can they eat them i have to say no..

 

[IamSamSam]

My hens have only gone broody 3 times but no chicks.

What breeds have you young chook ? How old is your rooster?

hi all,

had 67 hatch from 100 on sunday , not bad being winter eggs, just a thought, with your hatched egg shell what do you do with them???

i put them in a container and crushed them up into fine small pieces ( quail egg shells) and feed them back to the adult quails. 

anyone do this?

Wow Sam good hatch would love some photos ! I microwave the shells them crush them (chicken egg shell only) I don't have quails ATM but I'm sure it would be the same. Easy source of calcium.

Do we ever wonder what people would do if they ever had a life... Grrrr. Ok I am having a bad day. Just got a letter from food safe qld saying they were going to be prosecuted if I kept selling duck eggs (for eating) on gumtree. I sell hatching eggs. I had a guy the other day ring and ask if he could eat the duck eggs. I said sure if you want to spend $30 on eating eggs and laughed. Seems he though I was serious and reported me to food safe qld. Some days I really do wonder what people are thinking...

Oh Satay. He probly was from the food safe mob. Testing you. People in the feathered world wouldn't do that I would hope! We care to much and know the life ..... ...... Hope you have a carefree 3 months of spring !

 

[satay]

I gave him a talking to about how many cases of salmonella come from battery farms and have you seen the conditions they live in etc... He could not get off the phone quick enough.

 

[rexy]

I gave him a talking to about how many cases of salmonella come from battery farms and have you seen the conditions they live in etc... He could not get off the phone quick enough.

Good on you Satay.

 

[rexy]

For the time being we're keeping the eggs purely for eating purposes. Oce I've finished the coop there will be two separate sections, Breeding side and laying side so eventually we will keep the fertile eggs with the hens and let them do the work

Weather at the moment is warm ish during the day and cool at night, Still blanket weather. We're in Mackay of QLD so it'll get hotter soon. Maybe the fridge for now wouldn't be a bad idea?

I agree with Satay. The only reason to not put the eggs in the fridge is if you are going to set them. Although I actually get a good hatch rate from refrigerated eggs.