I agree with you. We have enough eggs though from the older pet-quality bunch we have. I couldn't possibly start another breeding project, as this new coop that the Amish are delivering in a few weeks will be divided into four breeding mini-coops and runs. I have the birds going there already picked out.
The other issue is their age. Keeping day-old chicks now brings a new problem I've tried to avoid: where to house them when the most brutal winter hits here. They'd not be old enough to join the main coop until possibly December, but most likely January. They'd be a little bigger, so maybe sooner than I'm used to with silkies.
Well... since I'm already going to be over-wintering chicks anyway, you could roadtrip them over here and pick them up at POL when your weather improves
There are still a few eggs in the Brinsea Connect, but I only see one pipped out of those. I left 10 chicks in the incubator to dry and rest.
Here are the 19 I just pulled out. The first one had hatched on Monday, so he was probably getting a little hungry. Those big yellow ones are the salmon faverolles and sure are spunky little buggers. I'm not used to this with just silkies but it's sure fun!
Here's all but one that's still in the incubator. I had 3 with air cells on the side, two of which appeared to have died about a week ago. One was peeping and moving.
From my past experience, these kill themselves by putting a wing over their face. I took it to the kitchen and chose the right side for where its head was, and broke in. No blood, membrane, or yolk were left, and as soon as I got its head loose so he could move it free from the wing, it pushed and nearly jumped out right there. I ran him back in the incubator, and in 10 seconds, he finished the job himself. He was over ready!
These are one of my hens doing this. I thought as they got older, they'd get their air cells right. They are 15 months old now. I guess I best figure out who it is. When this chick I left in the incubator dries, I should be able to.
Okay, so I said I didn't want any chicks over winter here, but, but, but, what do we have here? These have to be paints!! The breeder never told me there were paints in there and these surely aren't mine.
Here's their feet. (Five toes on each). Silkie feet are supposed to be black but guessing these will turn black as they age? I have been trying for paints here with only one naked neck paint girl to show for it, so if these are, oh boy, hold me back!
I have 39 developing! Just 3 quitters so far, one that had barely started, and 2 that quit maybe4 or 5 days in.
