HALLOWEEN Hatch-a-Long 2016 w/ Hosts, Mike, Sally & BantyChooks

[BullChick]

I really need to get my butt outside to build a pen for the Silver Pencil Rocks. The oldest pair is old enough to start breeding. She will be laying anytime now. I'm thinking three weeks max. Once her eggs are the right size, I can offer SPR hatching eggs for prizes.

 

[DwayneNLiz]

Lol...I didn't. On a four hour trip back, we were already 1/2 towards home when he said that.
And I hadn't contacted the lady so I don't know if it would've worked anyway.
I also forgot my sponges to set the eggs on to bring them back.

But I already have 5-6 dozen of my own waiting in cartons if I decide to throw them in.
I kinda like my eggs better anyway.
They're just like a box of chocolates without the map...I never know what I'm going to get!

And my oldest eggs must be 3 weeks old...so maybe I won't get many chicks, just the toughest

And there is a sale next weekend where there "might" be eggs if the fellow with the Ameraucauna's brings some again.
This time I will buy them and not wimp out.

=
=

so when are you going to set them? lol

LOL
NO!
No egg customers, and I have to force myself to eat eggs. They are mutt chickens and Pekin and Muscovy duck eggs. 12 hens, two ducks for now. Almost all lay daily.
You gonna build it?

never again

 

[BullChick]

It was Easter time, and I literally could not give away the eggs. At the last minute, the church I had offered them to for their Easter breakfast took some.

 

[kajira]

If I end up being able to eat turkey/duck eggs, with out an allergic reaction, I may end up having more ducks, then chickens for eggs. Our cochins and silkies are going to end up really broody and not super great egg layers (or so i've heard?)

I'm hoping my easter eggers do okay, laying eggs, since the kids like collecting the eggs, but I've also been told the babies will sell well if we hatch a bunch... so I'm kind of glad to be keeping an EE flock.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

So sorry about your rooster.  
If your hens were to start laying again within a couple of weeks you might still have fertilized eggs from him.
I have to leave mine at least 3 weeks before fertility starts dropping after my guys are removed.

Your new guy looks nice!
Hopefully he's as lovely as your original guy.

Thank you. Unfortunately, before he got sick, I was in no hurry to breed so I didn't have them seperated. I know that my marans boy has been mating all the ladies so it's doubtful that they would be fertile through him. Honestly, I may have been a blessing in disguise. As beautiful as he was, if the issue he had was genetic, I wouldn't want it being passed down.

I do hope the new guy is sweet and add handsome as he looks. I guess I'll find out tomorrow and I'll report with better pictures

 

[DwayneNLiz]

If I end up being able to eat turkey/duck eggs, with out an allergic reaction, I may end up having more ducks, then chickens for eggs. Our cochins and silkies are going to end up really broody and not super great egg layers (or so i've heard?)

I'm hoping my easter eggers do okay, laying eggs, since the kids like collecting the eggs, but I've also been told the babies will sell well if we hatch a bunch... so I'm kind of glad to be keeping an EE flock.

silkies are broody and cochins are too though not as bad as silkies
ees are great layers in my opinion

 

[Wickedchicken6]

Quote:
Chicks are "almost" done hatching. Waiting on 3. They were due yesterday.
Just one guinea egg left to hatch on the 28th. But I can take it out if I decide to wash the 'bator.
"Maybe" in day or two. "Maybe."

Quote: That's so good of you!!

 

[chicapee]

Holy cow! Do you free range?

We are going through about 1-2 50 lb bag(s) of layer and 1/2 bag of chick feed a week although the chicks are getting bigger so soon it will be a whole bag. We also have about 50+ cockerals being grown out for the freezer though. Ages range from 10 weeks to 24 weeks give or take. With possibly one older guy who might be a cull. The first group is ready and the killing cone is on its way. Hopefully. If not we may just have them done. Idk but that's a ton of money to have them done. There are approximately 8 ready to go to freezer camp and day now.

We have a huge difference in how much they eat on days they don't free range. We're pushing 100 right now but I don't have an exact number either.

Only for an hour suoervised in the evenings. With predator threat and poppy neighbors, can't do any more. I don't have fencing around the majority of my property either.

 

[Wickedchicken6]

Quote: X 2 Silkies are always brooding.

And most of mine are crosses.

I think EE's are the best thing since sliced bread.

Very tough, very dependable.
I LOVE mine!

I had 2 EE's go broody this fall.
But they don't seem as heartbroken as Old English bantams or Silkie if they don't raise a brood.

 

[chicapee]

Only for an hour suoervised in the evenings. With predator threat and poppy neighbors, can't do any more. I don't have fencing around the majority of my property either.

All few from my grow out pen.