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

[cwrite]

Did you know that at day 2 there is a beating heart. Chuck them.

Yup - I was just checking out candling & found some great info on the development, but these are the infertile eggs she had before getting the fertile ones. They were kept toasty warm for several days before we got the fertile ones so I'm not sure if that makes them closer to being off.

 

[satay]

It's great that you got an incubator, but I was kinda hoping that the crab tank would work out as a backup plan as we have one too. I can't give you any advice though as I've never used an incubator. We just did a 2 hour trip to pick up some fertile Araucana eggs for Snowy. They look so pretty! Then I had to delve under her to get my eggs. I thought that she had maybe 9/10, but she had managed to squirrel away 12. I replaced them with the blue eggs, but couldn't get them all under her so I hope she rearranges herself & sorts that out. How long before I can tell if she has accepted the new eggs? If she is still on the tomorrow & I can't see any poking out, then I'm hoping it will be safe to assume that she is happy with them. The other 4 hens have had an anxious time adjusting to using a different nest. The fence is in place so they can't disturb Snowy & they finally gave in & laid in the other nest box today. The result was one whopper of an egg that Steve tried to hold in for as long as possible. 75g's! I think this may be our first double yolker.

Congrats on your eggs for snowy. Aras are so cute. Hope they all hatch for you.

 

[satay]

Where would I take him as I cant keep him ???

Welcome. There is a facebook group where you can advertise roosters

https://www.facebook.com/groups/279010312235422/

 

[satay]

Success on the egg swop.  Snowy has all the eggs under her.    I'm just doing this for the kids, I swear.     All the eggs I took out from under her last night were warm so I think she will be ok.  I just need to catch her off the nest to make sure I got them all because I had to feel around under her to get them.  Now for the wait. 

 

[satay]

Wow, does the excitement of a hatch ever diminish?  I sure hope not!

Gave Tina eggs on the 1st; they were shipped as a dozen, got held up in the post office over the weekend, some were cracked, some were borderline on age (9 days) and others over but seen as this was her first try, I took a chance on the ones under 10 days and not cracked (5).

Just as I mentioned to hubby that the suspense was killing me, Tina announced that she was off the nest, having a stretch and a bite to eat.  I do believe I broke my PB getting from the house to the coop!

Against all odds WE HAVE A PIP!!!   

e Nope the excitement does not diminish.

 

[satay]

I have babies hatching everywhere. So far quite a few quails, a pekin, a Belgian and 1 black marans. So excited about the black marans. Will get some pics when I take them to the brooder after. @IamSamSam I found a bantam down the back yesterday when I was down checking on the sheep. Looks like more bush babies may be on the way.

 

[cwrite]

Thanks Satay & I'm looking forward to the pics. : ) Congrats on all the babies, sounds lovely. Did you buy black marans eggs or do you have a few you are breeding already? I was looking at the rare breeds list the other day & was surprised to see just how many breeds were on it.

 

[satay]

Thanks Satay & I'm looking forward to the pics.  : )  Congrats on all the babies, sounds lovely.  Did you buy black marans eggs or do you have a few you are breeding already?  I was looking at the rare breeds list the other day & was surprised to see just how many breeds were on it.

When I got my original fw marans the lady had 1 blue marans and 1 black in the pen. I hatched 12 out of 12 eggs and 1 was blue and 2 were black. I sold one of the orginal blacks. I have since hatched another blue girl but this is the first black. I have another one half out and it looks black too .

 

[Fancychooklady]

You guys are making me get ' the urge ' . I had surgery last week, maybe once I'm ' out of the woods ' ill let silkie momma do her stuff.

 

[Outpost JWB]

When I got my original fw marans the lady had 1 blue marans and 1 black in the pen. I hatched 12 out of 12 eggs and 1 was blue and 2 were black. I sold one of the orginal blacks. I have since hatched another blue girl but this is the first black. I have another one half out and it looks black too .

Sorry,

I know I am not from Australia, and hope you don't mind me joining you now & then

. But I have a question about Marans. This past spring I bought a dozen fertilized eggs of Olive Eggers & French Marans. They hatched out 2 olive eggers & 2 French Marans. (Bad odds, I know. Most of my "mixed breed" eggs hatched out fine.

Anyway, I ended up buying a Black Copper French Marans rooster. He was shy and got beat up a lot. I ended up isolating him. He walked very off balance. Almost like something was wrong with his legs or hips. He also had vent gleet very badly where I had to thoroughly clean his vent twice daily. There was one day that I did not get to clean him before I had to leave for work. When I came home from work that day, he was covered in flies and maggots! It was horrific! I made the decision to cull him because they were literally eating him alive.

So, weeks later I purchased a Blue Copper French Maran rooster from a different breeder. My concern is that he seems to also walk funny. It is like he is high stepping or something. Is this normal for the breed? I REALLY am hoping he is Ok. He is beautiful but if he is not ok, I will not breed him.

Thanks for any info. I am super excited to get dark brown & green eggs soon!