Hands on hatching and help

[Ravynscroft]

thought i would try hatching again set 10 eggs 19 days ago noticed this morning that 2 had piped so excited  it has been about 2 months since i set eggs and the last batch i had a crook/wry neck that is still recuperating so was kind of afraid to try again  but i did it anyway no so excited to see how things go this time!!


am wondering with some that have hatches going all the time what do you do with all your chicks??

Grow out the decent ones to refresh/improve current stock and sell off culls and extra cockerels at auction or process for food...

 

[babychicks7]

Grow out the decent ones to refresh/improve current stock and sell off culls and extra cockerels at auction or process for food...

thanks guess will have to sell them cant bring my self eat them

 

[Ravynscroft]

thanks guess will have to sell them cant bring my self eat them

Many can't and nothing is wrong with that... just be aware that if you expect every rooster to go to a pet home or as someone's flock rooster, that is not realistic... as long as they have a good life up to processing, that is a better life than many get...

 

[ShanandGem]

Many can't and nothing is wrong with that... just be aware that if you expect every rooster to go to a pet home or as someone's flock rooster, that is not realistic... as long as they have a good life up to processing, that is a better life than many get...

I couldn't agree more on this. When hatching you have to expect half your chicks to be boys and plan accordingly.
Lucky for me I am married to the Great Outdoorsman who does a fantastic job of humanely culling our unwanted cockerels. They get to spend their lives eating the finest food and ripping around our 11 acres until their final day. I prefer that to sending them to auction or selling them.
I wasn't sure I would be able to eat our chickens but honestly by the time they are ready to be processed and there are several in a pen their behavior is usually so obnoxious I am happy to rid of them.

 

[jenniferlamar70]

wish i could find people to buy my boys sold 2 at the poultry swap here in town saturday it is hard to sell the boys here most of the time a lady that owns a resturant in another town buys every bodys roosters thank goodness she didnt show up i will not sell to her!!

I don't blame you. I wouldn't either. I'm pretty picky about where they go.

I couldn't agree more on this.  When hatching you have to expect half your chicks to be boys and plan accordingly.
Lucky for me I am married to the Great Outdoorsman who does a fantastic job of humanely culling our unwanted cockerels.  They get to spend their lives eating the finest food and ripping around our 11 acres until their final day.  I prefer that to sending them to auction or selling them.
I wasn't sure I would be able to eat our chickens but honestly by the time they are ready to be processed and there are several in a pen their behavior is usually so obnoxious I am happy to rid of them. 

Unless you me. I have the magical ability to hatch all boys lol. Honestly I couldn't eat mine. I could have them culled if they become aggressive though for sure.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Many can't and nothing is wrong with that... just be aware that if you expect every rooster to go to a pet home or as someone's flock rooster, that is not realistic... as long as they have a good life up to processing, that is a better life than many get...

Amen. I can't eat my chickens, but I had to acknowledge right from the beginning that if I was going to do this I had to come to terms that my extras would more than likely be someone's dinner. What I can't sell on CL or our local poultry page I take to the Amish. Amish is usually my last resort, but they are always happy to help take them off my hands.

 

[RubyNala97]

thought i would try hatching again set 10 eggs 19 days ago noticed this morning that 2 had piped so excited  it has been about 2 months since i set eggs and the last batch i had a crook/wry neck that is still recuperating so was kind of afraid to try again  but i did it anyway no so excited to see how things go this time!!


am wondering with some that have hatches going all the time what do you do with all your chicks??

Congrats on the pips! I'm on day 20 of a batch and up to 3 pips. The first pip has been sitting there for way over 24 hours but it pipped early on day 18 and is making a tiny bit of progress here and there, so I'm leaving it be. I like to keep the best chicks from each hatch and like Ravyn said, grow them out. Most of my chicks I sell. There's a good demand here for silkies.

 

[WVduckchick]

Congrats on the pips! I'm on day 20 of a batch and up to 3 pips. The first pip has been sitting there for way over 24 hours but it pipped early on day 18 and is making a tiny bit of progress here and there, so I'm leaving it be. I like to keep the best chicks from each hatch and like Ravyn said, grow them out. Most of my chicks I sell. There's a good demand here for silkies.

 

[jenniferlamar70]

Congrats on the pips! I'm on day 20 of a batch and up to 3 pips. The first pip has been sitting there for way over 24 hours but it pipped early on day 18 and is making a tiny bit of progress here and there, so I'm leaving it be. I like to keep the best chicks from each hatch and like Ravyn said, grow them out. Most of my chicks I sell. There's a good demand here for silkies.

Silkies are extremely popular here as well. I bet they are popular everywhere. Mine have turned out to have the sweetest dispositions out of all my chickens. I just love them.

 

[MultipleAnimals]

OMG!! I HAVE AN AMERICAUNA/EASTER EGGER ABOUT TO HATCH!! IT WAS SUPPOSED TO HATCH 2-3 DAYS AGO! I THOUGHT IT WAS A GONER! I HAVE Americauna AND Easter EGGER Eggs In The Incubator and Stupid Me Forgot To Mark and Separate Them. Advice On Colors For Americauna And Easter Eggers. TIA