Getting the flock out of here - a diary of a crazy chicken man

[ozexpat]

you guys crack me up? So Oz how are the Wellie eggs coming? I think mine are all clear ;-( discovered that while I was doing so much overtime the feather mites had exploded. My poor old cock bird looks really bad. Took me 4 hours to treat and dust all my adult birds last week. But things are looking up. That old boy is more energetic this week and this morning he was covering girls. I'll wait a bit for cooler weather tho and try again. Mine are due this Thurs and next Thurs.

Bernie is candling tonight and going into lockdown. There are 3 wellie eggs that had a chance on day 8. I will get a report when I wake up. I have not had much luck with darker eggs, These Wellsummers traveled from TN to socal first. fingers crossed. They are due friday our time.

 

[ozexpat]

I had a bit of a scare in the last 24 hrs. We lost 2 week old mutt chicks and Bernie reported that some of the five week old purebreds looked weak. No runny noses or wet poop. Just weak. We gave them a hit of sulfa medication and some Vetrx. They picked up in a few hours and no more losses so here is hoping,

 

[ozexpat]

Silly bird! but lately they let themselves out of the pen, stay out all day then put themselves away at night. ah well.

like owner like birds.

your turkeys are looking good HFR

 

[scottcaddy]

And Mr. OZ himself gets the #3,000 post!!

Scott

 

[ozexpat]

The update

Breed Expecting Arrived in LA Set in Phils Candle 7-12 days Viable 1st candle Day 18 Candle Hatched
Peafowl - Black Shouldered 6 6 6 0 0% 0
peafowl - Mixed 6 6 6 6 100% 4
peafowl - Mixed 6 6 6 1 17% 1
Total Peafowl 18 18 18 7 39% 5
Turkey - Eastern Wild 24 18 17 5 29% 5
Turkey - Narraganset 12 12 12 0 0% 0
Total Turkey 36 30 29 5 17% 5
Duck - Pekins 6 8 8 4 50% 3
Duck - Jumbo Pekin 24 20 19 16 84% 10
Duck - Ruoen 20 20 20 12 60% 6
Duck - Welsh Harlequin 16 16 16 11 69% 2
Total Ducks 66 64 63 43 68% 21
Guinea Fowl 36 40 40 32 80% 28
Guinea Fowl 30 34 34 24 71% 12
Total Guineas 66 74 74 56 76% 40
Chukar Partridge 50 62 61 56 92% 56
silkie/sizzle 12 12 11 3 27% 1
swedish flower hens 10 11 11 0 0% 0
Light Brahmas 12 13 13 0 0% 0
Blue Andalusians 16 18 18 6 33% 6
Lemon Cuckoo Orpingtons 12 12 12 7 58% 5
Americaunas 24 30 29 13 45% 8
Americaunas 16 15 14 8 57% 5
Breda Fowl - Blue 12 12 12 9 75% 8
Wellsummers 12 13 13 3 23% 2
Total Chicken Eggs 126 136 133 49 37% 35
362 384 378 216 57% 162

 

[Bens-Hens]

Wow, they really don't like a couple of flights do they

Seems the ones that get goings do alright though, so the mega 'bator must be doing a pretty good job. Here's for 160+ chicks!

 

[ozexpat]

Wow, they really don't like a couple of flights do they

Seems the ones that get goings do alright though, so the mega 'bator must be doing a pretty good job. Here's for 160+ chicks!

The loss would be staggering for the uninitiated.

When I did the candling on day 7/8 with Bernie the pile of eggs that we pulled (160+) was enough to make a grown man week at the knees.

The reality is that eggs dont do well with travel.

I strive for the freshest eggs because the smaller the aircells, the less barotrauma to the egg by the need for the gas inside the air cell to equalize. Its a bit like diving with blocked sinuses.

Another important factor is the storage temp. This time of year the eggs may reach the critical temp needed to start cell division at 4 places along the way - the supplier's facilities, on the way to my place in Anaheim, on my front porch or between Anaheim and the location they have set. There are studies that show that starting incubation briefly then stalling it once will improve hatch rates but the "once" is the key. When the eggs are traveling through environments where the temp was as high as 110F or 45C the incubation process can not only start but can render the egg useless.

Shipped egg hatchers consider hatch rates of between 25 and 50 percent a success. Right now, if we were to hatch every chicken egg Bernie considered viable, i would be one chick over 25%. Based on small sample sizes, Peacocks and Turkeys are not good travelers, Guineas seem pretty tough. Quail are the bane of my existence.

And then there is humidity.

If I can get breeding trios out of Ameraucana, Lemon Cuckoo Orps, Breda Fowl and the Andalusions then the chicken section is a roaring success.

Planning for my trip that leaves in 5 weeks is well under way.

The chicken shopping list is as follows

Crème Legbars

18​

Blue Andalusians

18​

Sumatras

12​

Silver Penciled Rocks

12​

Silkies

24​

Speckled Sussex

24​

Mille Fleur Leghorn

12​

Fench BBS Marans

24​

Australorp

24​

Cuckoo Marans

20​

Every egg on the list will come from California. I was just "hooked up" with Australorps today.

The egg transportation will wind down after this trip. It will concentrate on one or two of must have breeds per trip and an occasional whimsical addition.

 

[gryeyes]

[

The egg transportation will wind down after this trip. It will concentrate on one or two of must have breeds per trip<B> and an occasional whimsical addition. </b>

Ah, that which sustains so many of us!

 

[ozexpat]

Breda Fowl is pipping

 

[Sage874]

I have enjoyed reading your adventures Oz, thanks, I am learning alot.