Just a quick update on the SLWs and a new twist or two
The second SLW egg that was pipped, hatched yesterday afternoon. Yay! Meanwhile, 23 Cream Legbar eggs that should have arrived last Friday, got here today. Boo. Shipped last Wednesday. Low hope. Nonetheless, with 4 broody Silkies with *I think* 4 chicks just hatched last Friday (hard to get a good count right now) I decided to give them the two SLW chicks and however many of the CL eggs they would take. Took the two chicks without so much as a "what the ...?", tucked 15 CL eggs underneath themselves, will not budge to give me a hint of whether there are any viable Silkie eggs and with the way they are doing the family brooding thing, coupled with the late hour at which I took up this task, I put the remaining 8 in the incubator.
I don't think any of the hens has laid in the past week, and I do think they are sitting on about a half dozen of their own eggs that have no chance of hatching. Tomorrow I will lift each and get a better assessment of what they are sitting on, remove eggs I know not to be viable based on what is marked, and give them some of Wendell's eggs, putting the rest in the incubator. There are two more SLW eggs and 14 RIR eggs in the incubator due for lockdown Wednesday, so far all but two RIR look good. Plenty of room for Wendell's eggs. I can always fire up another incubator if needed, but between the broodies and the currently running incubator there is room aplenty.
I am excited at the prospect of those gorgeous black and white striped birds complementing my flock
Anything that hatches that Wendell wants/needs back is his, no question. I will be thrilled to have a pullet or two to add to my layer flock. If a nice trio ends up here, I am happy to be a partner in his breeding program. I know essentially nothing about Dominiques - I've read a bit, but will rely on his expertise to select any keepers if I get a hatch. Too fun!!!
