Hatching Eggs / Paypal CHAT Thread

[Smithyard Farm]

I have a question for all you part time free rangers. I want to start free ranging my white bresse when I am home. Would it be better to start them off in a small area and let them get use to that before letting them out into the larger area? I want to make sure they go back to the coop at night. I'm talking about maybe .5 acres. Not a ton of space but I am only talking about 5 birds.

I started by letting one out for an hour or so... she didn't go very far away from the pen. The next day i let her out again for another hour or so, and then let one more out. The next day i let them all out. They stay right around, and have aways gone back into their coop... (well.. except that one time the wind blew the door closed, and they were in the tree when i finally went to check on them and close the door)

I want to put this out there for discussion. Please be considerate and polite when responding.

What do you think about limiting the time eggs can be offered? None of us can tell the future and what's going to happen. Offering eggs for Fall is really pushing it. Heck, mid to late summer is pushing it too. So I want to get everyone's opinion since this is everyone's swap here.

So my opinion is maybe a limit of 2 months. If you can't get the swap out in the 2 month limit then it shouldn't be offered. With some new breeds popping up, most of us don't even know when they will start laying. I mean, how long does it take a Barthuhner to mature and start laying?

I'm not trying to chase anyone off. Just trying to keep it under control a bit. I mean, there are some swappers who may not get all their swaps out before Spring is up.

So what is your opinion?

I agree.... I have a few still owed to me... one is for turkey eggs... I really wanna hatch some.. and have been holding off getting them, hoping my claim would come.... not blaming anyone.... more disappointed than anything. I am VERY grateful to have been included in the swap... it was fun, and I was able to get a grip on incubating and getting some great breeds that otherwise I would never have attempted.

Since I'm waiting on over 20 dozen "spring" eggs due me, some swaps as far back as September, some form people active on BYC anymore, and some from people now banned. I've seen people swapping breeds for current shipment while I'm still waiting for my eggs, and posts from people saying they're disbanding some breeds I'm still waiting for. The previous discussion on this topic pretty much ended in "spring doesn't end until June 21 so you have to wait until June 21 before swappers are in default." Some people I have PMd but they are ignoring my requests. So I will wait until June 21, but then every last swapper who still owes me will be reported. I will not claim future eggs anymore. I support the 2 month restriction.

I also think it's not fair to ask the person you claimed from to change the swap. "To ship tomorrow" means that, not shipping in two weeks. If you can't take the eggs tomorrow please don't claim them. There is a reason for "hens choice". Please don't ask for specific breeds/colors if you claimed a "hens choice".

agree...

I like them

Kraftyladies sent me a picture of her first CCL egg the other day, and said how ugly it was, and I was like... Bits it's mossy green and speckled!! How pretty!

T o each, their own!

I too love green speckled eggs... I blame Dr Suess.....

 

[kraftyladies]

I like them

Kraftyladies sent me a picture of her first CCL egg the other day, and said how ugly it was, and I was like... Bits it's mossy green and speckled!! How pretty!

T o each, their own!

and you meant Isbar right?

 

[debs_flock]

Quote: Mossy green with brown speckles would be Isbar eggs, CCL should be a beautiful intense blue.

ETA - I like my Isbar eggs!

 

[John farmer]

Has anyone ever float tested eggs to determine age of the egg then hatched them?

 

[WVstruttin]

Has anyone ever float tested eggs to determine age of the egg then hatched them?

I haven't to test age but do it all the time to see if hatch is over

 

[John farmer]

I guess I'm wondering if they will still be viable to hatch if I dunk them, got a box full of rotten eggs and busted eggs today and I am trying to salvage what I can.

 

[debs_flock]

Quote: I do the same thing. From my experience, when you find one that is still viable, the dunk in warm water makes it hatch within the next hour or so.

Just make very sure there is no pip in the shell, you'd drown the chick.

If you're just talking about dunking an egg to see if it's fresh to hatch, I'd think you could just check the aircell with candling. I prefer to not get my hatching eggs wet, but if I do I spray them with dilute Oxine before setting them.

 

[John farmer]

Okay let's start over how can I tell the age of the eggs I got , before I decide to raise a fuss about it with the swapper that finally sent some eggs?

 

[madamwlf]

Okay let's start over how can I tell the age of the eggs I got , before I decide to raise a fuss about it with the swapper that finally sent some eggs?

If they are rotten then they are old eggs and/or not properly taken care of before shipping.

 

[debs_flock]

Okay let's start over how can I tell the age of the eggs I got , before I decide to raise a fuss about it with the swapper that finally sent some eggs?

I would candle them to check the size of the air cell.