California - Northern

[PetRock]

How exciting!

Just in time for Easter Hatching!

I'll have to set it up right away and check the settings. I went to Petsmart yesterday to buy a thermometer/hygrometer since an ordered one won't get here in time. They were completely out of them! We have several other pet stores in the area so I need to make the rounds today.

 

[ronott1]

Quote: Mine are first generation. The hatching eggs were one of the nicest blue eggs I have ever seen. Are yours second generation?

I do have a Blue Barnie OE pullet that hatched from an olive egg. I have a couple of months until she lays though.

 

[PetRock]

Mine are first generation. The hatching eggs were one of the nicest blue eggs I have ever seen. Are yours second generation?

I do have a Blue Barnie OE pullet that hatched from an olive egg. I have a couple of months until she lays though.

I just revised my post to say that mine are 2nd generation and I added a pic of their eggs.

 

[JerseyGiantfolk]

Are Marans a docile breed?

 

[ronott1]

Are Marans a docile breed?

They are Docile but a bit more flighty than some breeds.

They are easily tamed and can make a nice pet chicken. My Blue Marans is the only one that flies over the chicken fence into the back yard. She waits for me to come home and get the treats out and is very easy to handle.

 

[chiqita]

Are Marans a docile breed? 

This depends on the line and the age.

The chicks are rambunctious. I can't raise them with silkies and bantams . But they don't usually pick on each other ( oes pick more I blame vonnie the see granhen).

The older hens like to be lead hen and since they are big they usually get there way. But I have never had a pecking blood incident or a chick pecked by a non broody (Catalina did have an incident whereiI moved her nest and she went insane). They let me pick them up and are fairly calm. The roosters are my most aggressive however. I had to trim my OE roo muffler because he and Louie 2 could not live together.

Mind you what I have to compare the roo's to is silkies and cream leg bars....

My marans eat almost as much as the turkeys however they are piggies and need 16-20% feed to lay well.

I am on my phone so I will reply to more things later. But ron I need you to blow out a few of those eggs for me! My OE is not laying so I don't have any examples. I set all her eggs last year and then she went cold turkey on me!

 

[ronott1]

Quote: I was going to do that for myself so I will get some for you too. They are so shiny!

16 to 20% Feed? They do eat a lot.

I have 11 Bresse in a brooder--they are almost 2 weeks old. Yesterday I came home and they were raising quite a ruckus! I thought they were dying and when I checked realize that their food was out. It was full in the morning LOL. They are little piggy's! and they eat all of it, even from the bottom of the Brooder!

 

[HighNDryFarm]

Quote: Orpington and Australorp chicks are so pretty! Marans too.

I have not decided for sure to hatch some Breeder Quality Black Australorps. I have too many chickens now and I do not know when the Small Animal Exchange will start. I have chicks growing out all over the place

How much interest is there in good quality Australorps? I also have a chance at getting Blue Black and Splash Australorp eggs....
These really are cute chicks, I like the chipmunk but this has to be my fave....love the tuxedo with sunglasses look!

I haven't seen a lot of Australorps out there and they really are beautiful chicks. I have one but her and the sex links I bought from the feed store two springs ago just never look good. They look like they're in propetual molt. I actually can't wait to get some King Feed and see if it finally can put some feathers on these girls. I'm embarassed when someone sees them, the rest of my flock is goreous and shiny and then I have these 3 haggard girls who lay like clockwork for me!

I'd be interested in quality Australorps. I'd like to get some Orpingtons again too....I want, I want, I want.....

Quote:

I LOVE Earlene!! This picture just makes me

I don't know what it is about her, but her name fits her so well and this pic, just love her.

My incubator is out for delivery on the FedEx truck!

Woohoo! Made my stomach jump with excitement recalling seeing the same message a little over a week ago and now I'm growing chicks!

I'm going to candle on Sunday and see what I've got!

 

[PetRock]

These really are cute chicks, I like the chipmunk but this has to be my fave....love the tuxedo with sunglasses look!

I haven't seen a lot of Australorps out there and they really are beautiful chicks. I have one but her and the sex links I bought from the feed store two springs ago just never look good. They look like they're in propetual molt. I actually can't wait to get some King Feed and see if it finally can put some feathers on these girls. I'm embarassed when someone sees them, the rest of my flock is goreous and shiny and then I have these 3 haggard girls who lay like clockwork for me!
Woohoo! Made my stomach jump with excitement recalling seeing the same message a little over a week ago and now I'm growing chicks!

I'm going to candle on Sunday and see what I've got!

I have been very pleased with King Feed! My farm friend feeds her flock (and part of mine now) poultry feed from a feed mill in Petaluma. She drives all the way there to get feed for all of her farm animals. It is fresh, locally sourced, and a great price but I've noticed that the feathers on her birds do not look as nice as my birds' feathers. I talked to a breeder up that way who had used that feed and wasn't happy with the way her birds looked so stopped using that feed. She mentioned noticing the same feather problem and guessed that the feed was too high in ash. I am fermenting the one bag of feed that I bought from there and I'm trying to persuade my friend to switch to King Feed at least for our breeding stock.

Be sure to post your results after candling! I'm excited for you and for me!

 

[gryeyes]

At least one of the five flock eggs I put under Sparkle, my recently acquired house silkie, started peeping when I checked for pips. Tomorrow is Day 21. (No external pips yet.)

I am so excited!

It's not like it's my first broody or anything, but it IS the only one I've had right in the house... Plus, Sparkle is special.

Okay, everybody in the flock is special. Miss Sparkle is just specialer.