California - Northern

[ronott1]

Quote: I am having serious hatching with drawl symptoms now.

Luckily Eggs have been shipped so I will get my fix again soon.

 

[chickee]

I am having serious hatching with drawl symptoms now.

Luckily Eggs have been shipped so I will get my fix again soon.

X 2

I almost have enough LF and bantam BLRW eggs collected to start incubating

I haven't fired up my Octagon 20 advance ex (great incubator) in 4 months. I just couldn't wait any longer

Might even throw in some EE eggs from my pure buff Ameraucana hens x pure, Pips & Peeps, wheaten Ameraucana rooster. The offspring lay the prettiest blue and turquoise eggs.

 

[Papa Brooder]

Quote: There is no bulk. I have over 20 breeds but am gradually coming to grips with parting with many where I just have a pair or a trio. I will settle in on 10-15 with a real focus on the 5 I like the best. They will get two dedicated breeding areas. The rest will only get 1 and I mostly will keep because they sell well and are generally liked by people.

The word profit has not yet entered my vocabulary. Although I am not going further into debt.... well except for my last visit to Cheryl's , generally I cover my feed costs selling chicks, chickens, hatching eggs, and will start selling eating eggs just to friends and colleauges within a few weeks as for the first time in a long time my fridge is stockpiled with eggs. I will also be processing about 25 cockerels next week which will help ease the load a bit. I did put up a Sac CL add for cockerels just in case someone is looking for some different blood. most of them are just extra.

Anyway, chickens, chickens, chickens, oh my!

 

[ronott1]

Quote: I am test hatching for Wisher. She wants to start shipping eggs this year and I volunteered to help her figure it all out! Gonna get some OE and Wellsummer eggs.

I should be able to try out the new Octagon 40 EX that I have coming too....

 

[chickee]

I am test hatching for Wisher. She wants to start shipping eggs this year and I volunteered to help her figure it all out! Gonna get some OE and Wellsummer eggs.

I should be able to try out the new Octagon 40 EX that I have coming too....

Do you plan on hatching in your Octagon 40 ex? Only complaint I have with the Octagon 20 is that it is cramped for hatching. I hatch in my Genesis 1588. The plus side is that it keeps my Octagon 20 clean. What a stinky mess hatching can be

Now that I use Oxine in the water it sure does keep the smell down. Great stuff!

I think I will get some of my friends Golden Cuckoo Marans eggs to hatch this year. I have been wanting some for quite awhile. Now to find room for them

 

[ronott1]

I am having an interesting post exchange on the Hatch-a-long thread about feeding layer to chicks, Roos and molting hens. It seems that some do not know that too much calcium can cause kidney damage.

Watch out for Parakeet and other grits from the pet store too.

Also, DE has a lot of calcium in it so watch it for roos.

Ron

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Quote:
Chickee, the wheaten Am started laying 2 weeks ago! The egg looks turquoise. Pretty and deeply pigmented.


Bottom, left to right, WL (white egg), hatchery EE (grayish-green), Buff Am X (bright green), Wheaten Am (turquoise).
Egg colors don't show up very well on the computer!


She's so pretty. Her eyes are almost red.


Eating kale in the remains of the garden. (the Buff X is on right, back)


Have to include the Buff X laying first egg.


Where did it go?

 

[ronott1]

Quote: I plan on hatching in one of the Genesis 1588s. I could even use still air for hatching. I currently incubate in one and hatch in the other one. I had a big old months long staggered hatch going that way.

Fun Times! and yes it gets hard figuring out where to put them all. Right now I have 4 week olds in a hutch, Two 12 week old OEs in a dog crate both in the Garage. I have a pen with Dorking Crosses, A PP and an EO Basque. The other pen has EO Basque and a Dorking EE. Then there is the layer pen.

Luckily, my larger Brooder and the two storage brooders are empty now. I am keeping my back up battery charged too...You never know! The 4 week olds still use the eco glow some what.

 

[ChickNmamma]

How many ppl have their chickens as fun/hobby? And how many ppl are in the "chicken business" ? And if you're profitable, how do you do it? Sell eggs? Chicks?

Just curious, I have about 50 and feed is getting expensive and I have about 6 breeds. Waititing for some to hatch to sell

I also sell eggs and that helps but I would really like to make a little $ on the side too.

My chickens are my pets, and because I can't stand store bought eggs. I recently bought a bunch of different breeds (bantams and large fowl) to find broody hens, but I am loving some of the breeds characteristics so I may want to start raising them separately (Silkies are one that comes to mind immediately). I do sell my eating eggs to friends for 3.00 a dozen, I have EE blue/green egg layers and a few Wyandotes for pretty colored eggs. If I find a good cheap cabinet incubator I might start hatching eggs and selling chicks - once I get the roosters I want for bluer EE chickens. I don't know if I can make $$ on the side, I am just happy if they can pay for their feed. I consider the eggs I get to eat from them my profits.

 

[liz9910]

Chickee, the wheaten Am started laying 2 weeks ago! The egg looks turquoise. Pretty and deeply pigmented. Bottom, left to right, WL (white egg), hatchery EE (grayish-green), Buff Am X (bright green), Wheaten Am (turquoise). Egg colors don't show up very well on the computer! She's so pretty. Her eyes are almost red. Eating kale in the remains of the garden. (the Buff X is on right, back) Have to include the Buff X laying first egg. Where did it go?

Oh man I want blue eggs so bad!!! what a great selection of colors you have.