Trish I'm glad you are or were feeling somewhat better. Sorry you had to get up early. I just hate my routine to get changed. It throws my whole day off.
I have another very busy day ahead. I am really hoping I can get these birds sorted for this weekend and then everyone shows up as scheduled.
I candled a tray of eggs yesterday and had several that weren't fertile but many of them had potentially been frozen so I kind of expected it. I was really happy to see my barred rocks and sussex eggs are fertile. I wasn't sure if my barred rock rooster was able to perform since he broke his back but he is doing great. He looks a little bent in the middle and he high steps. It's kind of like his legs go to high in the air when he walks. I don't care as long as he can still do his job. He doesn't act in pain or anything. His son who was raised with them all will be breeding age in a few months so maybe I will let this guy just become a yard rooster then. I'm sure he'd be glad to free range.
I also had several babies hatch yesterday. I guess some will have to grow before I know colors for sure cause I was doing test hatches from my orpington pen where I hadn't separated colors. I also had some other orpington eggs in there from pens where they are separate and didn't have them marked. Time will tell I guess. I need to add to layers anyway so if I get some funky colors the girls will still be useful.
I have another very busy day ahead. I am really hoping I can get these birds sorted for this weekend and then everyone shows up as scheduled.
I candled a tray of eggs yesterday and had several that weren't fertile but many of them had potentially been frozen so I kind of expected it. I was really happy to see my barred rocks and sussex eggs are fertile. I wasn't sure if my barred rock rooster was able to perform since he broke his back but he is doing great. He looks a little bent in the middle and he high steps. It's kind of like his legs go to high in the air when he walks. I don't care as long as he can still do his job. He doesn't act in pain or anything. His son who was raised with them all will be breeding age in a few months so maybe I will let this guy just become a yard rooster then. I'm sure he'd be glad to free range.
I also had several babies hatch yesterday. I guess some will have to grow before I know colors for sure cause I was doing test hatches from my orpington pen where I hadn't separated colors. I also had some other orpington eggs in there from pens where they are separate and didn't have them marked. Time will tell I guess. I need to add to layers anyway so if I get some funky colors the girls will still be useful.