Hello! A few months ago, I decided to buy some Isa Browns, for the eggs. We got a lovely rooster to protect them when they were outside and free-range. Then lock them up at night. Their enclosed Run is quite large anyway, but fresh grass is good for them and it makes them so happy to peck among it. The lot are very docile and easy to care for but they were bought from a place that de-beaked them and probably have sisters in tiny cages being fed on a conveyor belt right this moment.
Sad thought. I bought some young Guinea fowl, who have fit right in, and there seems to be no problems at the moment. Which is where I get the the main story. I wanted more chickens, but this time ones that were hand-raised and raised right. So, I bought an incubator. A friend and I both wanted chicks, so I'll pop some in my brooders and he'll pop some under a couple of his broody hens.
I went to a breeder and bought some pure-bred eggs in person, left them to sit for a day (to make sure they didn't get to jumbled in the trip home). They went in on Saturday, February 2nd. And here they are;
I have 14 Australorp, 6 Silver Laced Wyandotte, 4 Welsummers, 1 Light Sussex and 8 Golden Sebright eggs. I've researched a lot, and understand that the Sebrights will be a bit more difficult. Plus to that the fact that some of the eggs were a bit smaller than the others leads me to believe they came from a hen's very first season.
I'm hoping for two Sebright hens, but I know I'll love any I get. They are a harder to raise breed, I've been told, but I have the space, time and patience so I think I'll be fine. I have two separate brooders in case some of the chicks don't get along, one larger than the other and both outside. I'm going to medicate them against Coccidiosis but not Mereks (because I can only buy in batches enough to do 1000 chickens). If anyone else know where to get some in a smaller batch, in Australia, let me know.
In future, I'll join Hatch-a-longs. But this is my first batch, and I wanted to share in the excitement.
I'm candling at 9 days, and I'll see how many I have fertile then.
Feel free to throw advise at me, and being critical is fine too. I would prefer to swallow my pride rather than hurt any of my lovely poultry.
I went to a breeder and bought some pure-bred eggs in person, left them to sit for a day (to make sure they didn't get to jumbled in the trip home). They went in on Saturday, February 2nd. And here they are;
I have 14 Australorp, 6 Silver Laced Wyandotte, 4 Welsummers, 1 Light Sussex and 8 Golden Sebright eggs. I've researched a lot, and understand that the Sebrights will be a bit more difficult. Plus to that the fact that some of the eggs were a bit smaller than the others leads me to believe they came from a hen's very first season.
In future, I'll join Hatch-a-longs. But this is my first batch, and I wanted to share in the excitement.
I'm candling at 9 days, and I'll see how many I have fertile then.
Feel free to throw advise at me, and being critical is fine too. I would prefer to swallow my pride rather than hurt any of my lovely poultry.
