It is hatch day here, too! It started yesterday with the Bresse. I have 2 hens and one lays a light brown egg while the other one lays a cream/white egg. I have their eggs separated in the incubator. All 5 of the brown eggs were hatched this morning but none of the 4 white eggs. One white one is partially zipped but hasn't made progress since 11 last night and 2 more are pipped. I also have seven Langshan eggs in with them. One blue chick has hatched and another one is almost completely zipped. Poor zipped one has his hatch mate sitting on top of his egg right now!
Then out in the coop, I have 3 Langshan eggs underneath a silly broody Silver Ameraucana. This is her first time being a broody mom so I short tracked her and after she sat diligently for 2 weeks, I gave her 3 of the eggs that were at day 17. I hope that I don't regret it! She is close to bottom in pecking order but never really gets pecked because she is so fast at getting away. She hoped out of the nest box for her morning constitutional and I could hear peeping coming from at least 1 of the eggs. As soon as they hatch, I'm going to put them in a large dog kennel.
good morning! and good luck everyone with the heat today...
good news here: the new pens are finished!
the original coop is on the right -- new structure has two 8x8' pens, back to back -- there's a divider through that one big henhouse, & a mesh divider on the bottom half. this was a simpler design, but in retrospect i may regret it, as the lefthand pen will probably be much wetter in the winter -- perhaps i can use it primarily for broodies or breeding, and so won't use it much in winter? or i can always put up a tarp/canvas covering for the side exposed to the SW, where most of our rain drives from. it still needs some perches and eventually some laying boxes, but for now, they are great spaces!
and here are the new residents of the righthand-side pen:
the two silver campines, getting settled in -- they are apparently 3-4 months old, and SO graceful and lovely!
Nope, all white. Do you have both? I was thinking about getting eggs or chicks from the lady in Lodi. Do you have her contact info and if you do, would you please PM me with it?
Nope, all white. Do you have both? I was thinking about getting eggs or chicks from the lady in Lodi. Do you have her contact info and if you do, would you please PM me with it?
a few of the black penedesenca rooster chicks are getting thick. thicker looking than the older crele rooster in with them. I may have to butcher some as I have 7 if no one takes any. I am going to keep Rons and 2 more to grow out the best 2 from Sand Hill. Sand Hills vary greatly in comb and ear lobe color. one black rooster looks like a black leghorn looking chicken in form. one looks good but the comb is strange like a butter cup. the hens look good so far 4 of them . will just have see what they do.
