California - Northern

[ronott1]

Hi, All! Sorry that I haven't been posting lately. I have kept up with the chat and enjoyed the photos that have been posted! I have some new pics to share of my Langshan pullets and my first broody mama Pita Pinta and the 3 chicks that she hatched this past week. I'll post them later today.

I am teaching a high school biology class for our homeschool co-op. This week's experiment used eggs (green ones from my Pita Pinto cross pullets) and vinegar to make naked eggs by removing the calcium carbonate outer shell. We are having a blast with it! Here is a link where you can see about it. If you have kids at home, this would be a fun thing to do with them!

http://imaginationstationtoledo.org/content/2011/04/how-to-make-a-naked-egg/

Welcome Back!

That is a great experiment too.

I can't wait for pictures of the Pita Pinta momma and babies

 

[PetRock]

Welcome Back!

That is a great experiment too.

I can't wait for pictures of the Pita Pinta momma and babies

LOL! I had two Pita Pinta pullets who decided to go broody. None of my original hens have ever gone broody but 2 of their white legged daughters went broody at the same time. I gave each of them 3 Pita Pinta eggs from Zorro's flock. We've named the first girl Vivaz and she hatched all 3 of her eggs. They are the ones in the following pics. The second Pita Pinta was a wonderful sitter but 3 days before hatch day, I moved her with her eggs into a large dog kennel. I have been doing that with all of my broodies and it has worked well. This time, though, I guess she didn't like the kennel and was not sitting on the eggs when I checked on her in the morning. All 3 eggs were stone cold and she boogied out of the kennel without even a backward glance. I candled them and there was no movement. I thought about firing up an incubator just in case but decided to put the eggs underneath a PP/CL broody pullet who had been sitting in a wine box nest box for around 10 days. I put her in the kennel with the eggs and thankfully, she stuck with them. 2 chicks hatched yesterday and today the 3rd one is peeping & pipping! She is one happy mama chicken!

 

[caychris]

I have a question about the Pitas winter hardiness. They do not seem to be as heavily feathered as some other breeds their feathers also feel softer to me almost furry. I don't know what it is they just feel different to me.

 

[PetRock]

I have a question about the Pitas winter hardiness. They do not seem to be as heavily feathered as some other breeds their feathers also feel softer to me almost furry. I don't know what it is they just feel different to me.

I had no problems with mine last year. My coops are not insulated and the ones at the farm are 3 sided as you know. It has been my experience that they handle both extremes of weather very well.

 

[HighStreetCoop]

ADORABLE!!!

 

[ronott1]

I had no problems with mine last year. My coops are not insulated and the ones at the farm are 3 sided as you know. It has been my experience that they handle both extremes of weather very well.

My experience with them is the save for both heat and cold.

Unless in the mountains, It is not very cold here though.

 

[Kaylish]

LOL! I had two Pita Pinta pullets who decided to go broody. None of my original hens have ever gone broody but 2 of their white legged daughters went broody at the same time. I gave each of them 3 Pita Pinta eggs from Zorro's flock. We've named the first girl Vivaz and she hatched all 3 of her eggs. They are the ones in the following pics. The second Pita Pinta was a wonderful sitter but 3 days before hatch day, I moved her with her eggs into a large dog kennel. I have been doing that with all of my broodies and it has worked well. This time, though, I guess she didn't like the kennel and was not sitting on the eggs when I checked on her in the morning. All 3 eggs were stone cold and she boogied out of the kennel without even a backward glance. I candled them and there was no movement. I thought about firing up an incubator just in case but decided to put the eggs underneath a PP/CL broody pullet who had been sitting in a wine box nest box for around 10 days. I put her in the kennel with the eggs and thankfully, she stuck with them. 2 chicks hatched yesterday and today the 3rd one is peeping & pipping! She is one happy mama chicken!








Adorable!

 

[casportpony]

Chicks are growing like weeds (ok some are, some aren't, the size discrepancy among the splash chicks is kinda nutty considering they're only a week apart in age; they are my biggest and my smallest chicks, including the ones that are week YOUNGER than the small splash chicks). Feathering in also ranges from nearly feathered to nothing but fuzz. Can't wait to figure out which ones are hens (*fingers crossed* for the lone black chick!).

Cute!

-Kathy

 

[ronott1]

I need some quick advise for a 1st time broody (hers and mine). My 7 month old Cochin just started laying 6 weeks ago and is now trying to go broody (YEA!

...I think...) 1st question - is it going to be to cold to have little ones out with the flock in a few weeks? and
2 - She's been on a few eggs since yesterday (first saw her in the box @ noon when I got home and haven't seen her leave since) if I decide to let her try and hatch should I simply add a couple more now? Or can I pull them and wait to she if she's going to stick and then put them back in a day or 2 when I have more? Will I be killing the embryos if I pull them now? (I read somewhere of people incubating for 24hrs prior to shipping and still getting hatches so that's where that thought is coming in)

As long as the Broody and the chicks have a dry place, they will be fine here in the winter. Chico is not a very cold place either.


It is not a good idea to add eggs daily to a broody. You can collect and store the eggs and then add them at the same time. Broodies usually leave the nest two days after the chicks start to hatch so the eggs need to hatch close to the same time.

Eggs that have been incubating for 24 hours will go back into a suspended state when pulled. You would then have the normal two weeks to put them back for incubation.

Have fun!

 

[casportpony]

Quote: Adorable!

-Kathy