First Time Hatching....Round 2

[demp4]

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We are doing silkies because my daughter WANTS them BAD!!! but out of those choices I would do Lav Orpingtons or Black Copper Marans as they are pretty rare. but then again I am a beginner

 

[Kathryn4629]

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We are doing silkies because my daughter WANTS them BAD!!! but out of those choices I would do Lav Orpingtons or Black Copper Marans as they are pretty rare. but then again I am a beginner

I totally agree with you! Maybe I will just get what comes up soon. I want those eggs in the bater now!!!

 

[youngbiddy]

Partridge Penedesencas. They're rare enough to have great sale value and they lay really pretty, dark eggs. I'm struggling against the temptation to buy some right now. And the only reason I'm struggling is because I live on an urban lot that just can't hold near as many chickens as I'd like.

Oh, and I would say go for the Black Coppers, but right after I started incubating a bunch of their eggs I started seeing all kinds of other people raising them...I'm afraid I caught the tail end of a wave that will end shortly in market saturation. *sigh*

 

[Kathryn4629]

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Wow those Partridge Penedesencas are pretty and have great colored eggs. The only thing I dont like is it say that they are really flighty and not friendly at all

I am all about friendly chickens

Do you have much experience with them? Maybe they are not as flighty as people say?

Yeah the reason I am feeling a little hesitant about the BCM is that it seems like everyone has them now. Although not very many people around here even know what they are. So maybe there would still be a good local market for them.

 

[youngbiddy]

Yeah, I'm all about friendly birds too, I've got 4 small children who like to play in the backyard.
I'm hoping there'll be good demand for the BCM's in my local market, as purebreds of any sort seem to be fairly rare. I'm actually thinking of getting some green egg layers and selling the eggs in a brown/green mix. It'll look like mint chocolate chip ice cream.

If you want some BCM's, I got a great batch from this seller..
http://myworld.ebay.com/lowlight3/
She sent 2 extras, not a single egg was damaged, and every single one was fertile. They've all filled their shells, have great air sacs, and this weekend I'll see how well they hatch! She apparently doesn't have any for sale right now, but perhaps you could message her and see if she'll sell you some because she was referred by a satisfied customer.

Just realized I forgot to answer one of your questions. I haven't raised any PP's (yet

), but I saw a comment from someone who does that they're friendly when handled frequently while young, they're just not lap birds like some.

 

[Hannah hen]

I'm not crazy about silkies either, any of the others would be a nice addition to any flock. Personally I would probably go with the maran or orpingtons but thats just personal preference. What I would really like are some Blue Laced Red Wynottes.
By the way we just set nine BR turkey eggs in our LG. I know it's not recommended but have to try it any way. We put them in the middle of the turner so they shouldn't get to close to the heat source. I was going to try dry incubation but have decided against it since the humidity was droping below 25% during warm up. We are running a little lower temp this time since our first hatch came about two days early.

 

[ThaJuicyJuice]

Going at it a 2nd time here:

First time

Hova bator 1602N
Hand Turning
No Fan
9 Buff Opringtons
0 % Hatch Rate
I had a horrible time keeping the temps stable and I candled too often.

2nd Time
Hova Bator 1602N
Added Egg Turner
Added PC Fan
9 Ameracaunas
7 Copper Marans
17 A&M Quail
Temps have been perfect. Got it all down. I also added two thermometers and developed a way to add water without opening the incubator lid. I candle less frequently, even though I can't see through the Ameracauana shells or the quail eggs. The marans are surpassingly the easiest to see. On Day 15 and have 4/7 positive development. So far I've learned a mountainful since the first attempt. Hopefully I have more hatch. Or at least a handful.

 

[latebloomer]

my eggs that were supposed to be delivered yesterday came today,
the ones that were supposed to be here today, aren't here,
hopefully tomorrow.

i like the look of the bcm's but i've heard the orpington's are really friendly
mine are getting used to be picked up and stared at by the dog

they seem happy.

 

[Kathryn4629]

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I had two BCM's (one got sour crop and died and the other flew over their fence and my dog killed it) but they were both really friendly and always the first in line to get treats. I would describe them as bold. My orpingtons are super friendly and very quiet. I got my orpingtons as pullets from a lady that never handled them, or spent anytime with them at all. They were wild. But after about a week with me they were sweet as can be.

So I think this is why I am trying to get the lavender orpingtons, but you never know..... I have a bid in on both the Lav Orps and BCMs

 

[texaschickmom]

Hi all! My first hatch is done and figured a 79% hatch rate. I guess that's not bad for a beginner with a temperamental LG. I did "eggtopsies" on the ones that made it to lockdown but didn't make it. One had zipped halfway, 2 were full-term but didn't pip and one looked like it had died in the second week sometime. I will be doing some research on BYC to try and figure out if that was due to temp spikes, humidity, etc. Especially the ones that made it to lockdown.

My other issue is how to store the eggs until I set them down here in TX where it's already in the 70's. I don't have a basement and know not to refrigerate them. I've been putting them in a guest bath that has a north wall. I'm just afraid they'll get too warm. What are your thoughts?

I'm trying not to bond with these chicks since none of them are staying past next week. All the females are spoken for and trying to get rid of all the roos. (Remember these are sex-links so I know what they are when they hatch) Unfortunately there are more roos than pullets. I hope my odds get better in that department!!

OK...here goes. I have 25 right now that I set yesterday afternoon and will be adding more next week, trying to fill the bator. I have a separate hatcher so I can get away with the week's difference. I only have 4 hens so that's the only way I can get a full bator.

Looking forward to the ride!!!

Martha in TX