EDUCATIONAL INCUBATION & HATCHING CHAT THREAD, w/ Sally Sunshine Shipped Eggs

[Fire Ant Farm]

Awhile ago I would have thought your weather was far worse. Now I'm not so sure. Really hope this quits soon. I've completely covered the garden with sunscreen.
The hen was an older one and one of my project birds. I have several older ones that probably won't make the next few days. Sunday will be the first day under 100 and then it's still 98. Next week promises to be cooler. 92
The Altsterier have been doing well so far. Still laying in the heat although today they took a break. The broody three some still have their 5 chicks amongst them. The rooster and the hen that didn't go broody have been keeping a safe distance from the three and their chicks. I will say I'm not impressed with one of the Altsteriers pens egg sizes. They are only supposed to be 55 g average but this group hasn't been even making that. They've been laying for about 3 months so it should be getting there on size

Well, I do have to say, FWIW, our weather is consistent. Our temps/climate has not really changed, and it's relatively predictable, likely because of our location geographically (disclaimer: I know JACK about meteorology...). Makes things a lot easier, all things considered, to know what to expect. Variations from the expected tend not to be overly severe.

So, in general, what do you think of your Altsteirers? I continue to be blown away by my mutt-type Naked Necks that I got from Ideal Poultry. Great big eggs, nearly year round, good mix of some that go broody and some that never do, variation of size so you can select for big ones... And I continue to be quite pleased with the S&G broiler NNs. Bubba (the great big boy who's ~10 lbs at 16 weeks) is wonderful. I'm keeping more than him in case something happens. But the girls are SOOOOOO sweet, friendly, and a pure pleasure to keep. They are also huge. Should you be in the place to consider it, at least based on my experience so far, I can certainly recommend them. (Just be sure to arrange Express shipping if during the winter).

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

Oh, and FWIW... The German New Hampshires that I got from Eight Acres (really big birds) have done EXTREMELY well in the heat - a nice surprise, as they are fully feathered and quite large. The Marans I got from Eight Acres were outstanding regarding egg color, and the girls have been fine in very high temps. Many of the boys did NOT tolerate their first summer well (and got culled) - but Monkey, the splash copper marans, was the largest, and has done totally fine in the heat. Their coop is in a hot spot. I can't think of any time that I've ever seen Monkey pant. I seem to recall that you sell eggs, if so, if you are looking to add color, I can recommend Eight Acres. They also have Lavender Wheaten Ameraucanas now - I am probably going to get some soon, will be phasing out CLs and moving to Ameraucanas for the blue eggs.

(Edit to add: GNH eggs are NOT large even into their 2nd year, if that matters. But hoping size will come up with NN cross)

 

[Pensmaster]

Well, I do have to say, FWIW, our weather is consistent. Our temps/climate has not really changed, and it's relatively predictable, likely because of our location geographically (disclaimer: I know JACK about meteorology...). Makes things a lot easier, all things considered, to know what to expect. Variations from the expected tend not to be overly severe.

So, in general, what do you think of your Altsteirers? I continue to be blown away by my mutt-type Naked Necks that I got from Ideal Poultry. Great big eggs, nearly year round, good mix of some that go broody and some that never do, variation of size so you can select for big ones... And I continue to be quite pleased with the S&G broiler NNs. Bubba (the great big boy who's ~10 lbs at 16 weeks) is wonderful. I'm keeping more than him in case something happens. But the girls are SOOOOOO sweet, friendly, and a pure pleasure to keep. They are also huge. Should you be in the place to consider it, at least based on my experience so far, I can certainly recommend them. (Just be sure to arrange Express shipping if during the winter).

The Altsteriers are a pretty bird and roosters seem to get along. Smaller sized but breast are supposed to be bred for size. Since I've only butchered one smaller cull I can't say for sure on that. I will be culling more soon. Egg size varies so much they are not worth selling. Second year eggs are larger. Yolk is weak on one or two of them and I have a hard time getting them into the frying pan whole. Don't think I want to mess with breeding that out. If the meat is good I'll keep at least a pair or trio. Since there's so little known about them it's hard to tell if I have a quality variety or not.
As far as meat goes my mutts are growing faster than the DC LF that were hatched at the same time. One of the keeper Roos look just like his dad eggs are good sized and consistent.
Curious if the NN variety I have in the incubator can keep up with them. Are the NN alohas doing any good for you. I'm pretty sure thats what the hens are but the rooster looks to be the red variety.

Oh, and FWIW... The German New Hampshires that I got from Eight Acres (really big birds) have done EXTREMELY well in the heat - a nice surprise, as they are fully feathered and quite large. The Marans I got from Eight Acres were outstanding regarding egg color, and the girls have been fine in very high temps. Many of the boys did NOT tolerate their first summer well (and got culled) - but Monkey, the splash copper marans, was the largest, and has done totally fine in the heat. Their coop is in a hot spot. I can't think of any time that I've ever seen Monkey pant. I seem to recall that you sell eggs, if so, if you are looking to add color, I can recommend Eight Acres. They also have Lavender Wheaten Ameraucanas now - I am probably going to get some soon, will be phasing out CLs and moving to Ameraucanas for the blue eggs.

(Edit to add: GNH eggs are NOT large even into their 2nd year, if that matters. But hoping size will come up with NN cross)

The lavender Ameraucanas sound promising. Blue eggs have all but ceased in my bunch.
Is Dunlap Hatchery where you picked up the S&G NN?

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

The Altsteriers are a pretty bird and roosters seem to get along. Smaller sized but breast are supposed to be bred for size. Since I've only butchered one smaller cull I can't say for sure on that. I will be culling more soon. Egg size varies so much they are not worth selling. Second year eggs are larger. Yolk is weak on one or two of them and I have a hard time getting them into the frying pan whole. Don't think I want to mess with breeding that out. If the meat is good I'll keep at least a pair or trio. Since there's so little known about them it's hard to tell if I have a quality variety or not.
As far as meat goes my mutts are growing faster than the DC LF that were hatched at the same time. One of the keeper Roos look just like his dad eggs are good sized and consistent.
Curious if the NN variety I have in the incubator can keep up with them. Are the NN alohas doing any good for you. I'm pretty sure thats what the hens are but the rooster looks to be the red variety.


The lavender Ameraucanas sound promising. Blue eggs have all but ceased in my bunch.
Is Dunlap Hatchery where you picked up the S&G NN?

Sounds like if you don't have another reason to work on the Altsteirer breed that they haven't been promising...

I have to keep reminding myself of the hybrid vigor effect in my crosses so I don't jump to the gun culling unless I'm sure.

As you are on the NN and Breeding for Production threads, I'm sure you saw those scholarly articles that Beer Can posted about NNs and their improved immune systems and muscle mass.

Yep - Dunlap got all the breeding stock for the S&G broiler NNs, and when I called them, they confirmed that all their NNs were out of that stock this year. It's a minimum 25 chick order, but if you can accommodate it, even if you treat the boys as broilers and cull for the freezers, the girls are super sweet and I am hoping will be good genetics. (Disclaimer - mine are too young to have started laying yet).

It's a pain, but if you can track weights, it helps you track some of these aspects. It's not the whole picture, but it can help with decision making...

(Edit - Holy Cow - autocorrect made a mess of this post. Tried to correct everything...)

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

@Pensmaster - failed to answer the Aloha part of your post.

My alohas have been significantly smaller (by a lot) than all my other NNs. I am hoping to cross them with the S&Gs. It is my understanding (from Sommer) that it is directly related to which cock bird was the father - I have a couple with good size that also carry the dun gene - those can be traced to a specific sire.

In short, the Alohas need size work. I have a LOT of birds, but hope to get somewhere with that since I have the ability to cross them with S&Gs...

 

[Pensmaster]

@Pensmaster - failed to answer the Aloha part of your post.

My alohas have been significantly smaller (by a lot) than all my other NNs. I am hoping to cross them with the S&Gs. It is my understanding (from Sommer) that it is directly related to which cock bird was the father - I have a couple with good size that also carry the dun gene - those can be traced to a specific sire.

In short, the Alohas need size work. I have a LOT of birds, but hope to get somewhere with that since I have the ability to cross them with S&Gs...

I thought I remembered you saying the alohas were smaller. Well I'll see what comes of the mix from eBay.
Mean time I'm done in. Too hot and too long of a day.
I might get some from Dunlap before they start mixing things up but it will have to cool off here first

 

[dan26552]

If your churches are quiet, you're going to the wrong church!

X2 a quiet church is a dead church.

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

I thought I remembered you saying the alohas were smaller. Well I'll see what comes of the mix from eBay.
Mean time I'm done in. Too hot and too long of a day.
I might get some from Dunlap before they start mixing things up but it will have to cool off here first

I can certainly recommend getting the chicks from Dunlap. The VERY LARGEST chick I had for the first three weeks was also the most friendly. Because it was so large, I assumed it had to be a male. Turns out it was female, super friendly, super large. Got the name of "Muffin" very early. One of my favorites (only second to Puppy), near pet status. You will not regret it. Worst case scenario, you will have excellent birds for your freezer...

(I even found myself thinking I should get more from them, before reminding myself that this was insane and that i should breed them myself...)

Good night. I can relate to it being a long hot day of work. Get some rest...

 

[kajira]

Off to get labs and a repeat scan. Pray for 1-2 healthy little beans instead of an ectopic.

 

[TheKindaFarmGal]

Off to get labs and a repeat scan. Pray for 1-2 healthy little beans instead of an ectopic.

Will be praying for good news.