California - Northern

[WildflowerJLH]

My whole family was sick, and I missed a week (and 50 pages) of discussion here! No way that I have time to catch up on all that. I will try to skim through it, though.

I HAD to come post, though, because I am very excited! I have had a broody hen sitting since January 14, so TODAY is the 21st day. When I candled the eggs a while back, the air space looked really small, so I thought that it would still be a couple days. Tonight, my husband happened to be in the coop with me, so I pulled my broody out. I heard peeping and saw a hole in an egg! I am so mad that I cannot be here tomorrow to keep an eye on how this progresses! Just hoping that mom does OK while I am gone.

I wish you could see me jumping up and down, I am so excited! I also have a new broody as of today. A little worried because she is the favorite laying box.

 

[SilkiesForEver]

My whole family was sick, and I missed a week (and 50 pages) of discussion here! No way that I have time to catch up on all that. I will try to skim through it, though.

I HAD to come post, though, because I am very excited! I have had a broody hen sitting since January 14, so TODAY is the 21st day. When I candled the eggs a while back, the air space looked really small, so I thought that it would still be a couple days. Tonight, my husband happened to be in the coop with me, so I pulled my broody out. I heard peeping and saw a hole in an egg! I am so mad that I cannot be here tomorrow to keep an eye on how this progresses! Just hoping that mom does OK while I am gone.

I wish you could see me jumping up and down, I am so excited! I also have a new broody as of today. A little worried because she is the favorite laying box.

So eggcited for you!!

I have 9 eggs in lockdown right now, hoping for some to hatch (Stupid me forgot to mark when I set them.

).

 

[gryeyes]

I was thinking of getting TJ eggs to put in the incubator.
How easy are they to candle?  Does anyone have estimates on fertility, trying to figure out how many I would need to pick up.

Trader Joe's fertile eggs are white and VERY easy to candle!

I hatched four out of 24, but there are others who have had as many as 11 out of 12 hatch.

White Leghorn, great layers. A White Leghorn roo is also gorgeous, with really impressive combs.

 

[debs_flock]

Quote: I'd agree. I also set TJ eggs, you can practically candle without a flashlight, LOL. I hatched 8 out of the 12 I set. I listed those chicks on CL and they sold instantly! The family wanted a good layer of white eggs (the family matriarch wouldn't eat nasty brown eggs............).

Deb

 

[debs_flock]

Oh Jason..................you have another chick this morning. Now that I've seen this one, the first was definitely a girl and this is a boy. It's almost all gray. Everything is still quiet with the second egg, so I don't know about it. We're now on day 23.

Deb

 

[OR4-hmom]

I haven't figured it all out yet since it would be quite a staggered hatch, but I have a hard time seeing into my brown eggs let alone a 7 year old.

Wish TJ was closer, it's a hour drive from our place. I quess that's the price you pay for country living.

 

[chiqita]

His idea is that I will get rid of the rest of my flock and only raise Bresse.  After 33 years, I don't think that he knows me so well!

Trader Joe's fertile eggs are white and VERY easy to candle!

I hatched four out of 24, but there are others who have had as many as 11 out of 12 hatch.

White Leghorn, great layers. A White Leghorn roo is also gorgeous, with really impressive combs.

Find out when they get their eggs ( if you can find out what day the distribution center gets the) and get there early that day. Depending on your store they may check the date and put them aside not in the cooler for you. This will drastically affect how many eggs start.

It was great seeing you Ron. Off to work now!

 

[ronott1]

Quote: It is hard to tell with chickens and you are wise to notice her change in behavior. Hens laying eggs is a good sign since egg laying takes a lot of energy. How is the egg? If it is thin shelled, has changed in shape or if she sometimes lays and odd shaped one then there could be a problem.

Another indication of health Is if she rushes out of the coop in the morning to get treats. It might not be a bad idea to check her out at night with a flashlight. I like the head lamps. Look for foot problems and check for swelling. Check the vent to make sure there are no bugs too.

She could just be acting weird though. My Blue Marans is a crazy thing. She still figures out how to get over the chicken fence into the back yard and then she lays her egg anywhere. It's been a couple of days since I got an egg from her, so I was searching for a new hiding place for her eggs last night. I will have to look more when I get home. I may also need to clip one of her wings. I also had a BR in the nest box last night and she looks a bit skinny. She is a Hatchery bird and is just over two years old so she could go at any time. The Atstralorps are still crazy healthy at 2 years old and the one Golden Comet that is 2.5 years old still lays an egg nearly every day. She is big and healthy too.

I hope yours is fine!

 

[ronott1]

Hi Lucas!

When do you go to Italy? You said Spring Break, so the end of March?

 

[zooweemama]

Thanks guys for the input on the all flock type feeds. I'm about to crack open the Nutrena today. Have never used it. I will also see how the birds like it.

I should be hearing some peeps around Thursday if Betty is doing her job right. I don't know though. I think she may have been too young. A few days ago I candled and found an egg with a tiny hole in it. I opened it and it was a stinky old egg. My flashlights aren't bright enough to see through the Orp and EE eggs though so I am just hoping all is well. I put a couple eggs under her on day 3. So if any eggs hatch around Thursday I will need to pull the chicks for a day or two until the others have hatched (assuming ANY hatch at all)...do you think Betty will re-accept the removed chicks once all the eggs have been hatched or tossed?

I will say I kinda saw blobs in some of the Orp eggs. But I just couldn't make anything else out.