California - Northern

[tls_ranch]

Quote: I don't know anything about Dorkings etc and late hatching. But if the eggs are cold at first or the bator is just a tad cool...they may take longer. Shipped eggs can take longer too. Lot of things can effect hatch time and rates.. temp high or low, nutrition, size of egg, breed, stress of shipping, and more. I have read that if you select for early or late hatchers it will pass on. But selecting over time for either early or late hatchers could cause chicks to become weaker.

My last few hatches have had some early hatchers...I think my bator is starting to run a little hot. Either that or the fact that i had broody hens giving the egg a little "head start" by sitting on the eggs in the nest box. I collect more than 3 times per day when selling hatching eggs. But most of the eggs I sometimes sit in the nest box for a whole day.

Trisha

 

[ronott1]

I don't know anything about Dorkings etc and late hatching. But if the eggs are cold at first or the bator is just a tad cool...they may take longer. Shipped eggs can take longer too. Lot of things can effect hatch time and rates.. temp high or low, nutrition, size of egg, breed, stress of shipping, and more. I have read that if you select for early or late hatchers it will pass on. But selecting over time for either early or late hatchers could cause chicks to become weaker.

My last few hatches have had some early hatchers...I think my bator is starting to run a little hot. Either that or the fact that i had broody hens giving the egg a little "head start" by sitting on the eggs in the nest box. I collect more than 3 times per day when selling hatching eggs. But most of the eggs I sometimes sit in the nest box for a whole day.

Trisha

Yes, especially with Dorkings--they are extremely rare. Someone did make the point that selecting for hatching at 21 days could hurt the Gene pool. I say hatch as many as you can and cull them for faults when you know them and after the first molt for non Faults....20 years later you will have improved them! Hatching on day 21 is not in the SOP right?

It takes a lot of dedication!

 

[lizanne]

These pics are a little better. I have one more penedesenca running around the incubator, and one pipped.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Any suggestions of sweet docile don't care if they are confined kind of girls? I mean they would have the run and the coop which totals about 110 square feet but I need girls that won't be sad if they can't range in case Curly can't hack it. Also thinking smaller LF because I am pretty sure he isn't going to get very big.

I think mossyoaklane was looking for a home for her BO pullet that is getting picked on. She sounds like a docile girl.

 

[ronott1]

These pics are a little better. I have one more penedesenca running around the incubator, and one pipped.

They look Wonderful!

 

[lizanne]

Can I put the new chicks in the brooder with my week old chicks, or should I keep them separate for now? Most of them have been in the inside brooder (tub) for over 24 hours, and have recovered from hatching.

 

[ronott1]

Can I put the new chicks in the brooder with my week old chicks, or should I keep them separate for now? Most of them have been in the inside brooder (tub) for over 24 hours, and have recovered from hatching.

I put them together when they are a week apart. Right now I have Penedesencas in with a Partridge Rock and HRIRs.

 

[ChickNmamma]

Quote: I love her the shape of her head too. She passes it on too. I try to select roos that have really wide heads and short beaks. I hate to see "crow heads" or weak heads.

Here is a pic of one of my young roos. He's not perfect yet, but he has a lot of traits I like. He is really wide when you look down at his back and top of his head. Great dark grey under fluff color too, which has been an issue with my original males. The bright sun in this pic kind of washes out his leg color.


edited to add another picture:

This pic shows his color better. His wings aren't too low...some of my barnie roos (the ones from the Johan line the most) have low wing carrage.



Trisha

I think I have seen this picture a time or two elsewhere, and each time I think.. wow, what a handsome bird!

 

[tls_ranch]

Had to share some broody pics. "

Awesome, not just for the broodiness of that hen- but for the width and size of her head! I want all that in my birds! You have it all! How long have you been breeding?

I love her the shape of her head too. She passes it on too. I try to select roos that have really wide heads and short beaks. I hate to see "crow heads" or weak heads. Here is a pic of one of my young roos. He's not perfect yet, but he has a lot of traits I like. He is really wide when you look down at his back and top of his head. Great dark grey under fluff color too, which has been an issue with my original males. The bright sun in this pic kind of washes out his leg color. edited to add another picture: This pic shows his color better. His wings aren't too low...some of my barnie roos (the ones from the Johan line the most) have low wing carrage. Trisha

I think I have seen this picture a time or two elsewhere, and each time I think.. wow, what a handsome bird!

Thanks He is a pretty good roo and I like how he treats the hens. I just took those pics yesterday, so maybe was another pic you saw? Trisha

 

[MossyoakLane]

I do have a sweet 16 week (we think) hatchery BO. She has been picked on by my other birds, and for her sake we are trying to find her a more gentle flock/companions. She is kind of fearful of other birds because she has been chased.....I think if she can be shown some love by other chickens she will make a really great bird.

We bring her in the house at night she gets extra treats and will jump in our laps for pets....and just sit there forever.