I currently have three, seven year old hens, two black australorp and one Ameraucana. The Ameraucana was the only survivor of 15 chicks sent through the mail--my first time (AND LAST TIME) ordering chicks through the mail. She had zero shipping stress despite all the others dying--strong chick. I ended up getting her a few friends from the feed store and they have been healthy and happy for seven years. This Ameraucana is incredibly vital, great forager, strong, tight, athletic body, easily lays better than the Australorps, very friendly and confident, alpha female, and her eggs are a beautiful green color. This spring she is laying an egg a day at seven years old.
I have been wanting to continue her excellent genetics but couldn't find any local sources for high quality Ameraucanas so I ordered some BBS Ameraucana eggs through the mail a few weeks ago. Four out of seven developed and they are due to hatch in two days. I can barely stand the waiting. This is my first time incubating eggs and I have wanted to do this since I was a little kid. I turned 50 today. I keep telling the eggs to hurry up but that doesn't seem to be working. It is going to be hell watching them trying to hatch and knowing that I shouldn't try to help. I'm going to be a nervous dad for sure.
None of the Welsummer eggs that I ordered were viable so if I am successful with this hatch I'm thinking of trying again in three weeks with some new Welsummer eggs.
I have much more to share but I'll stop here. I'm looking forward to starting a breeding program and I'll be relying on your collective expertise to help me through. Thanks in advance! I'm looking forward to meeting you.
Rick
ps--should I put a paper towel under the eggs before they hatch or is it okay for the new chicks to hatch onto wire? I'm worried about toes getting caught. I'm using a TurnX7 incubator.
I have been wanting to continue her excellent genetics but couldn't find any local sources for high quality Ameraucanas so I ordered some BBS Ameraucana eggs through the mail a few weeks ago. Four out of seven developed and they are due to hatch in two days. I can barely stand the waiting. This is my first time incubating eggs and I have wanted to do this since I was a little kid. I turned 50 today. I keep telling the eggs to hurry up but that doesn't seem to be working. It is going to be hell watching them trying to hatch and knowing that I shouldn't try to help. I'm going to be a nervous dad for sure.
None of the Welsummer eggs that I ordered were viable so if I am successful with this hatch I'm thinking of trying again in three weeks with some new Welsummer eggs.
I have much more to share but I'll stop here. I'm looking forward to starting a breeding program and I'll be relying on your collective expertise to help me through. Thanks in advance! I'm looking forward to meeting you.
Rick
ps--should I put a paper towel under the eggs before they hatch or is it okay for the new chicks to hatch onto wire? I'm worried about toes getting caught. I'm using a TurnX7 incubator.
