Euskal Oiloa ( Basque Thread)

[Maggiesdad]

A couple of you mentioned "FF". What exactly is that and what is it used for?

Also I received 3 eggs from another member on this site and they have been incubating. On day 18 I moved them to the hatcher and 2 candled with moving chicks inside. They didn't hatch as expected yesterday and never pipped. Now they aren't moving. I read about hard shells in this thread. Could they have died, unable to break out? Any suggestions? I am getting very frustrated with my egg hatching experience.

I'm running two pens of Basques this year, one is averaging 50% successful hatchings and the other, 80%. There are charts that show levels of inbreeding for each cross. We know we are working with limited blood lines in this breed, and if folks continue to get eggs, hatch from those eggs and then distribute eggs from sibling matings, we are going to see more and more problems.

That's just one issue. 3 eggs is a small number to begin working with. Were the eggs shipped? Shipping can be hard on hatching eggs.
Have you had good success with your incubation techniques in the past? There are so many variables to that aspect alone.

You said you're getting frustrated... have you had problems with Basques before? I'm sorry you're having difficulties, don't lose patience!

 

[GreenAcresChick]

I actually drove to Baton Rouge and picked up 5 chicks from mzstre. She threw in 3 eggs for my trouble, so not shipped. I am brand new to incubating. I learn something new every day. 2 of the 3 eggs had fully developed chicks that never pipped. I think maybe there wasn't sufficient air flow. I have removed the plugs from the vent holes and am maintaining a humidity of 65-80%. The temp is more tricky but the still air Little Giant I use for hatching ranges from 100-103. I move more eggs to the hatcher tomorrow. Hopefully I'll have better results this week!

 

[FROMWHITEDOGHILL]

I think you may be right...if there isn't enough air exchange, the durn CO2 can get high around hatch time and they may not even pip. Are your other babies OK??...........Mike

 

[GreenAcresChick]

Yes the 5 I got as chicks are doing great. I have 3 Blue Ameraucana out of 6 eggs that were shipped. I sure hope I get better at incubating. It's heartbreaking to stare at those eggs and nothing ever come of them.:-(

 

[Arkansas81]

I have 2 basque -rooster and hen. I might at some point seperate them out and I was wondering how difficult will it be to find more hens..ive never seen anyone selling pure basque anywhere near me. As I understand it this breed is not well known...I would like to breed pure since mine are...

Ive really enjoyed learning about this breed, my hen /rooster are very calm and quiet...my roo hardly ever crows. My hen seems to be friends with everyone. Any thoughts??

 

[Stef82]

Does anyone have hens in PA? If I get enough hens from this hatch, I'd love to trade for another hen. Would like to make this bloodline stronger.

 

[Maggiesdad]

I have 2 basque -rooster and hen. I might at some point seperate them out and I was wondering how difficult will it be to find more hens..ive never seen anyone selling pure basque anywhere near me. As I understand it this breed is not well known...I would like to breed pure since mine are...

Ive really enjoyed learning about this breed, my hen /rooster are very calm and quiet...my roo hardly ever crows. My hen seems to be friends with everyone. Any thoughts??

I have found that if the rooster cannot hear another rooster, he mostly crows just before sunrise. If they can talk to each other, then it's all day long!

Mike on here is working with them in Oklahoma...

 

[Maggiesdad]

Does anyone have hens in PA? If I get enough hens from this hatch, I'd love to trade for another hen. Would like to make this bloodline stronger.

There are several folks working with them here in central VA, myself included.

 

[Stef82]

There are several folks working with them here in central VA, myself included.

Wow. That would a long drive for me. Hopefully someday I'll be able to meet up with someone and do a trade so I don't have to inbreed these birds.

 

[Maggiesdad]

Wow. That would a long drive for me. Hopefully someday I'll be able to meet up with someone and do a trade so I don't have to inbreed these birds.

There are EOs on Longguyland, too!

That's quite a bit closer to you...