NHs and Catalanas in the brooder boxes. Eggs in the incubator, and collecting eggs for another couple batches. I may end up hatching 120 Catalanas this spring, and hope to set more this fall. I may keep setting eggs off of an individual hen, but I will probably give her eggs to broody hens. Time will tell how many it will be for the year. It could end up around 200. Maybe not. Things happen, and some things do not happen as we would like them to have.
I had a scare. I cut the power off to my incubator and forgot to cut it back doing some remodeling. The power was off approximately 17 hours. There was two batches in the incubator. The first hatch was a little late, and drug out. Still 33 of 37 hatched. I have lost power, and accidently left it off before with decent hatches. Never for that long. There is another larger batch in there that may be affected differently. I will know come Sunday/Monday.
I use a Dicky's cabinet incubator that has proved very reliable. It is easy to keep the humidity between 45-50% for incubating. I was using a separate hatcher, but now I am using the hatching tray. I lightly mist the eggs in the hatcher a few times before the hatch. I will set two batches at a time, doing a thorough clean between settings. Separating four batches in two settings allows me to have the space of time needed for my little system to work.
They tray has dividers and a cover, but I also like to use some pedigree baskets for the smaller matings (pair or trios).
I have five "families" put together with the Catalanas, each emphasizing something different. I intend to combine some, and continue with two, and another that is a modified grading project.
I am essentially re creating them (in the project line), using Catalanas as a control. The intent is to build an outcross, and improve body color, size, and fleshing. Given the size of the gene pool, if I did a full grading project, I would have ended up back where I started. Therefore, I used and am using a third breed, rather than two. I will go back to the Catalanas next, and maybe this fall. One batch is 3/4 Catalana, and another 1/3. Going back to the Catalana will make one 7/8 and the other 1/2. The fractions are just illustration. Selection can move you closer or farther away, and there are things we cannot identify or quantify. Without selection and a control it is like rolling dice. A control and selection is weighting the dice. Regardless, they will be 7/8 or 3/4 (respectively)before I even consider using them.
The NHs are on the backburner until I make another step or two with the Catalanas. I see promise, and I have some concerns. I am better off than I was when I started. My confidence has grown, but I can still have a big set back or two.
These projects are a lot about the numbers. It means hatching a huge amount of chicks, and keeping very few.
Regardless of how we mate them, breeding poultry is about moving a population in a particular direction.
We are warm here. 80 today. My blueberries are blooming and leafing out. The warm season grasses are greening up. Azaleas blooming etc. We are vulnerable to getting one more frost.
I had a scare. I cut the power off to my incubator and forgot to cut it back doing some remodeling. The power was off approximately 17 hours. There was two batches in the incubator. The first hatch was a little late, and drug out. Still 33 of 37 hatched. I have lost power, and accidently left it off before with decent hatches. Never for that long. There is another larger batch in there that may be affected differently. I will know come Sunday/Monday.
I use a Dicky's cabinet incubator that has proved very reliable. It is easy to keep the humidity between 45-50% for incubating. I was using a separate hatcher, but now I am using the hatching tray. I lightly mist the eggs in the hatcher a few times before the hatch. I will set two batches at a time, doing a thorough clean between settings. Separating four batches in two settings allows me to have the space of time needed for my little system to work.
They tray has dividers and a cover, but I also like to use some pedigree baskets for the smaller matings (pair or trios).
I have five "families" put together with the Catalanas, each emphasizing something different. I intend to combine some, and continue with two, and another that is a modified grading project.
I am essentially re creating them (in the project line), using Catalanas as a control. The intent is to build an outcross, and improve body color, size, and fleshing. Given the size of the gene pool, if I did a full grading project, I would have ended up back where I started. Therefore, I used and am using a third breed, rather than two. I will go back to the Catalanas next, and maybe this fall. One batch is 3/4 Catalana, and another 1/3. Going back to the Catalana will make one 7/8 and the other 1/2. The fractions are just illustration. Selection can move you closer or farther away, and there are things we cannot identify or quantify. Without selection and a control it is like rolling dice. A control and selection is weighting the dice. Regardless, they will be 7/8 or 3/4 (respectively)before I even consider using them.
The NHs are on the backburner until I make another step or two with the Catalanas. I see promise, and I have some concerns. I am better off than I was when I started. My confidence has grown, but I can still have a big set back or two.
These projects are a lot about the numbers. It means hatching a huge amount of chicks, and keeping very few.
Regardless of how we mate them, breeding poultry is about moving a population in a particular direction.
We are warm here. 80 today. My blueberries are blooming and leafing out. The warm season grasses are greening up. Azaleas blooming etc. We are vulnerable to getting one more frost.
