- Thread starter
- #11
I've decided chickens are prejudice. When I integrated my four Maran pullets and rooster and their foster momma (a small RIR type hen) into a flock of red stars, they quickly accepted the RIR, but took about three weeks to adjust and accept the Marans. I have found the same thing with baby chicks. They will much more readily accept same-colored chicks from another batch than chicks of a different color. If they hatch together they seem to do OK. But once they are even a day out, it is more diffucult to mix them.
So anyway, today I found one of my 2 week old buckeyes dead in the corner of the brooder, no apparent cause, weight was good. hmmm. I can see one other that has kind of watery eyes, I will have to check that out.
I moved 4 1-week old marans in with the bunch hoping that since there were already 10 marans in that bunch that it would go ok. I watched for a while and they seem to have mixed right in, better than when I mixed the first group of marans and the buckeyes.
Now here's something interesting. I lifted the lid on my hatcher this am, almost at the end of day 22. I had 5 (I counted twice) hatched and 4 more pipped. More Buckeyes! I think this is the highest percentage I have been able to get to this stage from shipped eggs. I will be anxiously awaiting the outcome of those left in the hatcher. I'm not sure what has happened. I have been watching my temps, and they have been the same as my other hatches. I can't figure out why they're late.
Monday i'm gonna set more eggs! A friend wants to set some banty eggs and I'm going to set more silkies. Maybe I'l. set my turkey eggs monday too. They called again yesterday and have put off my order of turkeys again. Now it will be the 21st of April. Still in time for thanksgiving for the toms, (Hopefully it won't be all of them)
So anyway, today I found one of my 2 week old buckeyes dead in the corner of the brooder, no apparent cause, weight was good. hmmm. I can see one other that has kind of watery eyes, I will have to check that out.
I moved 4 1-week old marans in with the bunch hoping that since there were already 10 marans in that bunch that it would go ok. I watched for a while and they seem to have mixed right in, better than when I mixed the first group of marans and the buckeyes.
Now here's something interesting. I lifted the lid on my hatcher this am, almost at the end of day 22. I had 5 (I counted twice) hatched and 4 more pipped. More Buckeyes! I think this is the highest percentage I have been able to get to this stage from shipped eggs. I will be anxiously awaiting the outcome of those left in the hatcher. I'm not sure what has happened. I have been watching my temps, and they have been the same as my other hatches. I can't figure out why they're late.
Monday i'm gonna set more eggs! A friend wants to set some banty eggs and I'm going to set more silkies. Maybe I'l. set my turkey eggs monday too. They called again yesterday and have put off my order of turkeys again. Now it will be the 21st of April. Still in time for thanksgiving for the toms, (Hopefully it won't be all of them)