California - Northern

[UrbanviewFarm]

Congratulations on the new babies!!! Do you do a fertility test on all your chickens? Didn't even know you could do that!

I've done fertility testing on most of my hens and I do make it a point to see how well the roos perform too.

There is a facility here in town where you can bring your eggs for fertility testing, not sure about how the test is performed exactly. I just know somebody who's had it done is all. I usually do what Ron said and throw some in the incubator. I have such a varied flock I can usually tell who's laying what egg, or in the case of the sexlinks and FBCM's either one of the two laid an egg.

 

[HighNDryFarm]

Quote: I know of two ways. The first way is to crack open the egg and look for the white spot on the egg with a magnifying glass. It is supposed to be 1/8 of an inch in size and have upraised edges. It looks like a Bullseye or a doughnut. Non fertilized eggs will have a smaller spot without the upraised egg. The cell divides a couple of time in the hen before the egg is laid. The Embryo then goes into dormant state until it is heated to 99.5.

The other way is to throw a couple of eggs into the bator and see what you get.

Ron
Quote: Thank you Amy Beth!

The wind is for casted to increase at midnight tonight. The is a worry but so far ok for Lake McUmber.

Ron

Are they thinking the fire will head your moms way? Kind of alarmed me when I saw her town mentioned. I'd never heard of it before you talked about it.

 

[zooweemama]

BigDaddysMom, thanks for the link to the animal rescue group. The focus is usually on people, and while we all hope and pray for no injuries or deaths, it is good that the animal members of the families are not forgotten. Would make the prospect of evacuating a bit easier knowing that your pets are safe.

Hope the fires end soon. Best wishes to all affected.
Lynda

x2

 

[ronott1]

Quote: I know of two ways. The first way is to crack open the egg and look for the white spot on the egg with a magnifying glass. It is supposed to be 1/8 of an inch in size and have upraised edges. It looks like a Bullseye or a doughnut. Non fertilized eggs will have a smaller spot without the upraised egg. The cell divides a couple of time in the hen before the egg is laid. The Embryo then goes into dormant state until it is heated to 99.5.

The other way is to throw a couple of eggs into the bator and see what you get.

Ron

These fires. Gosh. Ron I am so glad your mom's house is fine!

I live closer to Palo Cedro than full on Redding. I hope the fires stay away. The smoke was icky yesterday not quite as orange today.

Thank you Amy Beth!

The wind is for casted to increase at midnight tonight. The is a worry but so far ok for Lake McUmber.

Ron

Are they thinking the fire will head your moms way? Kind of alarmed me when I saw her town mentioned. I'd never heard of it before you talked about it.
It has moved south towards Manton. My Mom's place is at the northern edge so is safe unless the fire heads back north. The report I read said they will know where it is headed in the next 24 hours(They do not know I guess). There is a big push right now to get more containment before midnight. The houses that have burnt down are by Manton.

Whew...

Ron

 

[ronott1]

We are Number 5 for today and for the last 7 days. We are number 6 for the last 30 days:

 

[UrbanviewFarm]

I do not raise Guineafowl. My There were some at my Grand Parents that live in the irrigation drainage ditch.

Ron

Thank you!!

I couldn't resist... show n' tell time.

 

[ronott1]

Quote: The look so good!

I might have some hatching this weekend. It's a test hatch and the eggs are very small. Three were developing at last candling. They go into lockdown tomorrow.

Ron

 

[UrbanviewFarm]

The look so good!

I might have some hatching this weekend. It's a test hatch and the eggs are very small. Three were developing at last candling. They go into lockdown tomorrow.

Ron

YAY for new chickies!!!! Once I see an embryo developing I can't help but hatch it either... I'm keeping my incubator on for a couple more days hoping these last two will hatch myself! These eggs were set a few days after the original eggdrop, I don't like doing staggered hatches but have been DYING to hatch from this Shamo. I have a friend who's borrowing an incubator and about 40 eggs today for a hatch using my little circus of chickens. My #1 incubator is being shut off ASAP....I need a break!

 

[Jen C]

Eighteen new chickies, YAY!!! Some mutts from a Splash hen that are a real pretty cinnamon color. Olive eggers. Marans. Silkies and more silkie crosses....LOL
My fertility test for the Shamo rooster is due tomorrow also. Will have to take pictures of all these crazy looking little chickens!!! <3
Does anyone here know about raising Guineafowl? My very first ones are growing up and I'm having trouble sexing them. I thought there were a pair for awhile, but they've grown out to pretty much look the same to me.

For guinea fowl the males have slightly larger helmets and wattles. The easiest way to sex them is by voice though. Both males and females will make the one syllable "Chi" call but only the females can make the two syllable "Buckwheat" call. Young guineas are usually quite vocal and I hear my young females making the buckwheat call multiple times per day (starting at about a month old). If you haven't heard a particular bird make that call then it is most likely a male.

Jen

 

[boogiedog]

Hey, question for you all - has anyone on here done staggered hatches in a cabinet incubator? I have searched and gotten some information, but not enough to give me the confidence to do it. I have a Brinsea 190 with about 5 batches of eggs. I'd love to be able to move the "lockdown" eggs to the hatcher on the bottom and ramp up the RH for the 3-4 day lockdown/hatch. Will this negatively impact my other eggs in various stages of development? Is there a point in development that other eggs may be ok for the RH rampup? Can the "newest" eggs endure a couple of rampups of RH before their own lockdown (without jeopardizing their viability)? Please share any experience you have had with this - greatly appreciated!