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

[ozexpat]

The hatch continues. More groups are starting to join the party.
the numbers

Heritage white leghorn 8
Banty Cochins 16
Phage's Creme Legbars 2
Marans 3
Salmon Faverolles 6

Pipped
Banty Choc Orps 2
Legbars 2
Banty Cochins 2
Salmon Favs 2
Speckled Sussex 3
Banty Rocks 1
Rhodebars 1

No movement yet Australorps. Swedish FlowerHens, Mille Fleur Leghorns

The chickens hatch so differently than quail. Quail mostly pip to hatch in 1 to 3 hours and within 12 hours start to finish. Chickens like to drive me to the edge.

We ended up with 40 chicks. We had more cochins hatch as well as Salmon Faverolles and a Mille Fluer Leghorn. Thats around 20% if you added all the non-candle-able marans into the eggs considered viable, its more like 30% if you remove them. We still are suffering from oversized wet chicks that pip and poop out. This included all the banty choc orps, speckled sussex and Banty rocks that pipped.

We still have pheasant, guineas and ducks to go, then the bator house will go into lockdown until Thanksgiving.

Our next hatch will be rather specific breeds as well as heritage birds. I am targeting, Cream Legbars, Marans, Sussex Silkie and Bresse.

We currently have around 200 chickens of varying sizes and ages. My goal is to get the number down to no more than a hundred "full time" chickens.

By November the monsoon will be over and much less humid. The bator house will get a little remodel when I am there. We will divide it into 2 rooms. One for hatching and one for incubating. The incubation room will be 12x4 with lined interior walls and a ceiling. A room dehumidifier will be set to run at 45% humidity, bringing the incubators down to 30% when at heat.

I also will set up an older mini fridge with a thermostat to run at 55-60F to store our local eggs for hatching.

The adventure continues.

 

[Bens-Hens]

And WHAT an adventure it is!

Fingers crossed I will be able to come see for myself in the New Year!

 

[ozexpat]

And WHAT an adventure it is!

Fingers crossed I will be able to come see for myself in the New Year!

We cant wait.

Come November we will hatch up a couple of hundred mixed breeds to give away as part of the Chicken Mission. I will put a Black Roo over Barred Hens so I can sex link. By then we should be able to set about 30-40 eggs a week from those crosses. 3-4 weeks should be enough to add to the 80 mixed we have growing out now.

 

[scottcaddy]

Piglett and Phage made the top 10 posts yesterday from their posts on this thread!!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/pages/stats/top/range/1day/

The link will only work till its updated with today's top posts.

Thanks for that link, I didn't even know that info was available to the common man!


Scott

 

[scottcaddy]

And while looking at all of the info on that page I seen that Mr. OZ was #8 in all time ovations for an article!
Way To Go Oz!!

Scott

 

[ozexpat]

The good news is you can sex Cream Legbars by color. I have all yellow/brown with no chipmunk striping. That means all roos. Great for making blue egg layers by covering leghorns and andalusians but not so good for breed propagation. Looks like I will be doing some grovelling come November.

I did not mention we also have 2 of LaPalma Chicks Swedish Flower Hens.

 

[ozexpat]

And while looking at all of the info on that page I seen that Mr. OZ was #8 in all time ovations for an article!
Way To Go Oz!!

Scott

here are the two ramblings i have posted

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/an-open-letter-to-egg-shippers

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...-how-to-go-about-vaccinating-a-backyard-flock

 

[Phage]

​

40 chicks is only a mini-monster hatch and still awesome, as every chick that hatches over there after all its been through is amazing. Also these chicks are the hardy ones that have made it with local conditions (and in monsoon season), and may be the better breeding stock for the Philippines.

 

[piglett]

We cant wait.

Come November we will hatch up a couple of hundred mixed breeds to give away as part of the Chicken Mission. I will put a Black Roo over Barred Hens so I can sex link. By then we should be able to set about 30-40 eggs a week from those crosses. 3-4 weeks should be enough to add to the 80 mixed we have growing out now.

a black english orpington would would fit the bill IMHO

 

[piglett]

The good news is you can sex Cream Legbars by color. I have all yellow/brown with no chipmunk striping. That means all roos.

i have a silkie hen that throws chipmunk stripped babies
she can also throw white babies which could be either sex
i think she is mixed with a little cochin but she sure loves to brood eggs