Cream Legbars

[tdhenson86]

Quote: Gorgeous egg and such a big size for a pullet! Congratulations!

 

[tdhenson86]

I have moved to basically "dry" incubating all eggs in a brinsea cabinet. Maybe just adding water twice during incubation and then keeping it at 60 for the last few days.

This has resulted in a dramatic reduction (to almost zero) in failure to hatch of fully developed chicks.

I also usually only candle them twice - once at day 7 and once at day 16 ish. It seems that the less the eggs are handled the better they do.

Great information! Thanks! I've been using that same method and it has dramatically decreased my hatching issues.

 

[ChicKat]

Gorgeous egg and such a big size for a pullet! Congratulations!

It was a one-time-thing -- She is back to normal pullet sized eggs now--- But maybe she has that large-egg potential~ Thanks.

 

[BuffyBugSlayer]

So my pullets are all pretty small and I have been thinking about feed lately. I raised them on chick starter, plus they get some scratch, eggs occasionally, yogurt and they free range. I switched them over to a layer feed when they went off live with the layers at around 20 weeks. I have recently started adding additional seed and ultra kibble (has fish protein added) to their scratch mix they get in the morning. I am trying to move away from the corn heavy scratch that is available to a more diverse scratch with higher protein.

I am not sure if my feeding program has anything to do with their small size but was wondering what others do? I worry about switching away from a layer feed completely because of the calcium issue, even though I provide oyster shell as well. Any thoughts? Anyone want to share what they have had success with?

 

[KPenley]

So my pullets are all pretty small and I have been thinking about feed lately. I raised them on chick starter, plus they get some scratch, eggs occasionally, yogurt and they free range. I switched them over to a layer feed when they went off live with the layers at around 20 weeks. I have recently started adding additional seed and ultra kibble (has fish protein added) to their scratch mix they get in the morning. I am trying to move away from the corn heavy scratch that is available to a more diverse scratch with higher protein. 

I am not sure if my feeding program has anything to do with their small size but was wondering what others do? I worry about switching away from a layer feed completely because of the calcium issue, even though I provide oyster shell as well. Any thoughts?  Anyone want to share what they have had success with?

Size can be based on genetics and rearing. It seems like early rearing is the most influential to final size. Many of us have had success with Manna Pro chicks starter until 4 months.
Personally I start adding soaked oats at 3 days, and whole grains (oats, calf manna, BOSS, bird seed) at 2 weeks. I continue the whole grains with the layer or flock feeds after 4 months. I don't know how important it is, but I also feed a wet mash instead of dry. I also follow the Dragon lady's worming schedule which is very agressive (every two weeks from 2 weeks until 16 weeks). Also beneficial is culling for size. If you keep the largest 10%, chances are good that your flock will grow each generation. HTH

 

[BuffyBugSlayer]

Thanks for your response kpenley. Interesting about the worming schedule. I do worm regularly but don't tend to worm chicks and have never done that schedule.

Is a there a benefit to soaking grains? Or is it just easier to digest?

 

[KPenley]

Thanks for your response kpenley. Interesting about the worming schedule. I do worm regularly but don't tend to worm chicks and have never done that schedule.

Is a there a benefit to soaking grains? Or is it just easier to digest?

Easier to digest and less waste which saves a bit of money since I don't feed them as much as I used to dry. I do feed them every day though, and not everyone has time for that.

 

[caychris]

Here are my chicks at just shy of 3 weeks

First the boys this is Cass (For Castiel)


This is Henry pretty sure its a he and seems to be getting a bit of crest he had the strongest striping Ive seen on a boy



Now for Robin our new girl



And for my gimpy girl her right leg is very messed up and she is developmentally smaller and but you can see with the zip ties she stays upright most of the time

My daughter named her Faith,

 

[tdhenson86]

Here are my chicks at just shy of 3 weeks

First the boys this is Cass (For Castiel)


This is Henry pretty sure its a he and seems to be getting a bit of crest he had the strongest striping Ive seen on a boy



Now for Robin our new girl



And for my gimpy girl her right leg is very messed up and she is developmentally smaller and but you can see with the zip ties she stays upright most of the time

My daughter named her Faith,

Very nice! I also like your signature line! Ha ha! It's that chicken math...

 

[tdhenson86]

Here are some updated pictures of the Jill Rees cockerels. Sorry about the lighting. It is hard to get chickens to stand still for pictures.