Consolidated Kansas

[chicken danz]

Hello everybody!

Wanting to hatch some chicks and was wondering how you know what eggs are fertilized when collected. I have a candling flashlight, just am not sure what to look for!

The puppies (Jack and Maya) are doing great and learning fast!

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You can't tell by candling an egg if it is fertile or not before you start incubating. (At least not with my eyes!!!) All you can do is crack some open and look for the bullseye which indicates fertility. Even that may take a trained eye. The best way to proceed is to gather the eggs and put them in the incubator. Wait until about day 10. If you see veining and possibly a little embryo they are fertile. If they aren't showing anything by then they are duds. The one exception being that a really dark egg or a blue egg is often hard to see in. I normally give them a little longer. Just toss the ones that aren't developing.
Those definitely have some strong Anatolian in them. What other breed(s) are in there?
My DIL posted a link that I found very good. I think it's good reading for people who raise birds.
http://www.agdaily.com/insights/farm-babe-top-8-myths-gmos-debunked/
You wouldn't believe how many people, especially those buying birds for the first time, want to know if I feed non-GMO feed or if I feed organically grown feed. First off, it is nearly impossible to provide non-GMO feed. Even if you grow your own grains and make your own feed the seed you use will most likely be GMO seed. Secondly if you purchase organically grown feed you may as well guild those birds in 14kt gold. I guess if you only have a half dozen hens you could afford it but not for a good sized flock.
If a grain is genetically modified that doesn't mean you are going to be eating chemicals. I avoid pesticides and chemicals as much as I can in my own food, but since I have to buy most of the ingredients for bird feed, it's just impractical to believe I could raise birds with guaranteed non GMO feed.

 

[tlzimmerman]

Yep, there is a ton of money behind the anti GMO and organic movement. So much propaganda.....and it works. Conventional farmers like me have such a long ways to go to figure out how to get people to trust modern agriculture again.

 

[Trish44]

Hello everybody!

Wanting to hatch some chicks and was wondering how you know what eggs are fertilized when collected. I have a candling flashlight, just am not sure what to look for!

The puppies (Jack and Maya) are doing great and learning fast!

[/URL]

How old are your pups? The one on the right looks a lot like my Zander other than the white feet & he has a small white spot on the top of his nose. Mine is half GP & half Anatolian, is that what yours are?

I agree with Danz about knowing if the eggs are fertile or not. You have to start incubating & I agree it's best to wait till 10 days if you're new at it. Then you will look for veining in the egg & a dark spot that is the chick developing. You will need a really strong flashlight if that's what you're using, like an LED.

 

[Dani4Hedgies]

Well everyone,
This is it my last post until sometime after Feb 20th. My pet sitter has told me that we have lost a couple more chicks but other then that everyone is doing great. Since I know two of my broodies are first time moms this while sad is life. Hope everyone has a great next 7 days and I look forward to hearing what has happened in everyone life (hopefully great) and will share our great adventure on the cruise ship. Our adventure here on Galveston Island has been great found out from a local SPCA volunteer that there are tons of hens kept in backyards here however they aren't allowed any roosters. And they have something called The Chicken Strut where everyone tours through everyones backyards and coops seeing everyone flocks and coops. More information can be found at thekitchenchick.com for those interested. I have had a blast feeding the wild beach chickens several times a day and never got pooped on but my DH who didn't feed them got hit signing off now ttyl later.

 

[chicken danz]

Yep, there is a ton of money behind the anti GMO and organic movement. So much propaganda.....and it works. Conventional farmers like me have such a long ways to go to figure out how to get people to trust modern agriculture again.

I do wish people could understand what they ask for. Without my own silo, even if I grow non-GMO corn when I get corn in my feed from the feedbank, it's not my corn. It's everybody's corn who has corn there. The same applies to larger livestock as well if you don't raise all your own feed. Most people can't produce their own supplements and stuff so how would they even begin? GMO makes that grain produce better yields and disease resistance. So would people prefer a food shortage, small farmers going out of business, and much higher prices? Again my arch enemy, the media has played all this up. And those businesses who are promoting non GMO food are doing so to make a profit. Grrr
Dani sounds like a fun time.

 

[Trish44]

Well everyone,
This is it my last post until sometime after Feb 20th. My pet sitter has told me that we have lost a couple more chicks but other then that everyone is doing great. Since I know two of my broodies are first time moms this while sad is life. Hope everyone has a great next 7 days and I look forward to hearing what has happened in everyone life (hopefully great) and will share our great adventure on the cruise ship. Our adventure here on Galveston Island has been great found out from a local SPCA volunteer that there are tons of hens kept in backyards here however they aren't allowed any roosters. And they have something called The Chicken Strut where everyone tours through everyones backyards and coops seeing everyone flocks and coops. More information can be found at thekitchenchick.com for those interested. I have had a blast feeding the wild beach chickens several times a day and never got pooped on but my DH who didn't feed them got hit

signing off now ttyl later.

Have fun! We love cruising & have done quite a few cruises. This year we're going on a European River Cruise for the first time, it should be interesting.

 

[chicklover56]

@chicken danz thank you so much, you are so knowledgeable and always helpful!

@Trish44 Thank you as well! The bigger boy (left) is about 4 months, and is 1/2 GP and 1/2 Anatolian. The smaller girl (right) is mostly Anatolian with some Akbash, and she is 3 months.

 

[Trish44]

@chicken danz thank you so much, you are so knowledgeable and always helpful!

@Trish44 Thank you as well! The bigger boy (left) is about 4 months, and is 1/2 GP and 1/2 Anatolian. The smaller girl (right) is mostly Anatolian with some Akbash, and she is 3 months.

My pup is 5 months old now & he's getting big, he's also settling down a lot from what he was like when he first came here at 10 weeks old. I've had him out with my two 5 year old GPs at night for about a month now & he's loving that. By morning when I go out he's really tired & ready to go back into the dog run where he sleeps pretty much all day. I'm going to try him next month out with the chickens. So far he has only been out with the guineas who roost in the trees at night & the cats. He used to chase the cats mercilessly but he doesn't bother them so much now.

 

[Plinky]

Hello folks,

Last week I took the two fake eggs out of the two nest boxes to try to discourage the RI Red that was spending a bit too much time in there. She continued to lay in the nest box, but the Leghorn started laying in the roost (they are roosting in the covered outside area with the warmer temps). I decided to put the fake eggs back. But the Leghorn keeps laying in the roost and today I found that the RIR was following suit! Any ideas as to why and what to do?

Thanks!

 

[chicklover56]

My pup is 5 months old now & he's getting big, he's also settling down a lot from what he was like when he first came here at 10 weeks old. I've had him out with my two 5 year old GPs at night for about a month now & he's loving that. By morning when I go out he's really tired & ready to go back into the dog run where he sleeps pretty much all day. I'm going to try him next month out with the chickens. So far he has only been out with the guineas who roost in the trees at night & the cats. He used to chase the cats mercilessly but he doesn't bother them so much now.

That's so great! Do the older dogs help in teaching him his borders? Mine were pretty rowdy at first as well, but they are getting much better!

They still act up some but are learning fast and are so sweet. They only get to be out with the chickens when supervised, but they are doing fine with them so far.

I am planning on starting to hatch some eggs (when I get around to it), and was wondering if anyone near Topeka raises Americaunas? I just love the breed and all of mine have passed. If anybody is selling hatching eggs yet or in a few months please send me a PM!