Heritage Large Fowl - Phase II

[ronott1]

Well this year was a wash in the hatching side of things. I have some of Jeremy Woeples barred rocks and all of the eggs died. I have 10 hens and 2 roo's so fertility shouldn't be the problem. All of the hens seemed to tend to their nest well, only leaving for a few minutes. I feed them good food (Purina Flock Raiser). They get clean water daily and the waterers get washed twice a week. The coop bedding is cleaned out every week and so are the nest when hens aren't sitting in them. They turned one year old this summer. Any suggestions on why the eggs did not hatch?

The hens did not go broody. Broodiness has been bred out of most breeds--You will need to buy a good incubator if you want to hatch since it sounds like you do not have broodiness in your flock.

Silikes and cochins are good at hatching and raising chicks. Some breeders will keep several to hatch chicks.

 

[neopolitancrazy]

Well this year was a wash in the hatching side of things...only leaving for a few minutes...Any suggestions on why the eggs did not hatch?

Broody hens only leave the nest to poop and drink once every few days, so if you see a hen off the nest, she is NOT broody. Incubators are more reliable than most hens these days. I do have a reliable Dorking hen, and am hoping the bantam Cochins will also make good foster mothers. So far, my Wyandottes are not real reliable.

Best wishes,
Angela

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

I only broody hatch here, and so far it's only been the hatchery birds (and their mutt offspring) who have done the brooding. I do have to work with their schedule, and I have had mixed results, but I've got a good number of pullets and cockerels running around the property at the moment that prove hatchery birds can make decent broodies.

 

[Adorkable]

I only broody hatch here, and so far it's only been the hatchery birds (and their mutt offspring) who have done the brooding. I do have to work with their schedule, and I have had mixed results, but I've got a good number of pullets and cockerels running around the property at the moment that prove hatchery birds can make decent broodies.

My most reliable has been a hatchery Australorp that has been going broody for me each year since she turned 9 months old. She's about 4 yrs old now. This is the first year that I didn't let her hatch anything since she was late and I had already hatched my fall/winter layers in the incubator. She warns all the other hens of danger/predators and is an excellent mom. I gave her these sex links to raise last year since I didn't have fertile eggs at the time. She has definitely earned her right to stay here for the rest of her days.

 

[crazyhen]

i broody and use the incubator to hatch. I'll have to say that a broodie is a whole lot easier on my nervous system. I have a barred rock that is a great momma and also I've used a blue wheaten Amerucuana as a broodie also. They are wonderful to work with. My big English orp broke the eggs and the faverolle got up and left to often. Oh well. At least I got baby dels this spring. Yeah!!

 

[NanaKat]

Broodies here are Wyandotte, Cochin, and a few Wyandotte X Cochins. Then the Delaware Bantams and the Rosecomb Bantams are not far behind. A few sneaky girls have hidden their nests and surprised me with chicks...even with a black snake in the barn. Fortunately it has been satisfied with eating the mice instead of Banty babies.

Also I've been hatching in the incubator and giving broody hens those chicks to raise...there is a plethora of chicks running around...literally. Well taught to free range, some of the chicks escape the coops thru the 2" x 4" wire screens and greet me in the morning when I come out to open the pens. They have ranged as far as the pastures...50 yards from the barn.

I have a hatch due on the 1st of September that I will give to a Blue Wyandotte hen that has been pancaked in a nest box for two weeks. She has four layer flock eggs that are due on the 8th. Another hen has been broody on an empty nest for a week. She will get the four eggs from the Blue hen and any chicks that hatch in the next incubator hatch on September 7 - 8.

Hubby was teasing me about the new satellite technology our tax assessor has..." I hope they don't confuse the chickens for our cows when they do a head count!".

 

[3riverschick]

ok, anyone want some Light Sussex eggs? I have 12 waiting to go to a home....for free. I had a BYCer contact me wanting them and we judiciously saved them on the turner for 7 days. Now he is not contacting me, tho he is on BYC. I am done with him. He can go pound salt. I am ******. I can ship USPS express overnight on Tuesday. The eggs are from my best stud cock over my best hens. I just can't hatch them here, too late in the year....tell that to one of my hens who has just gone broody.
I need to know in the next 24 hours so we can secure a shipping date. And please, if you want them, do send me your shipping address,. I tried to tell the other guy I really needed it to ship but no answer. These birds are line bred on both sides of the pedigree on 3x APA Grand champion Senior a Walt Boese show cock.
Karen ( I'm ******) Tewart

 

[ronott1]

ok, anyone want some Light Sussex eggs? I have 12 waiting to go to a home....for free. I had a BYCer contact me wanting them and we judiciously saved them on the turner for 7 days. Now he is not contacting me, tho he is on BYC. I am done with him. He can go pound salt. I am ******. I can ship USPS express overnight on Tuesday. The eggs are from my best stud cock over my best hens. I just can't hatch them here, too late in the year....tell that to one of my hens who has just gone broody.
I need to know in the next 24 hours so we can secure a shipping date. And please, if you want them, do send me your shipping address,. I tried to tell the other guy I really needed it to ship but no answer. These birds are line bred on both sides of the pedigree on 3x APA Grand champion Senior a Walt Boese show cock.
Karen ( I'm ******) Tewart

Sent a PM.

 

[3riverschick]

Sent a PM.

Well nuts. Both ronott1 and I are disappointed. We got the eggs all collected and ready to ship...wait for it.... FEDEX wanted over 120. to ship express overnight to CA from PA The USPS was also well over 100. Any less , the eggs wouldn't have been viable what with the hot weather out there. So we both decided to let this one go. Maybe later we can devise some way to get eggs out there at less expense. Nuts, 3 years ago I only paid 150 to ship 3 adult size Light Sussex from MT to PA.
What frustration.
Karen

 

[finnfur]

Well nuts. Both ronott1 and I are disappointed. We got the eggs all collected and ready to ship...wait for it.... FEDEX wanted over 120. to ship express overnight to CA from PA The USPS was also well over 100. Any less , the eggs wouldn't have been viable what with the hot weather out there. So we both decided to let this one go. Maybe later we can devise some way to get eggs out there at less expense. Nuts, 3 years ago I only paid 150 to ship 3 adult size Light Sussex from MT to PA.
What frustration.
Karen

I would think that a stir container like they ship frozen steaks etc in with a cold pack might work if it can get there in two days with USPO.
I have done reverse in cold weather with heat wraps. I see those stir shipping containers in the thrift type stores all the time. Just a thought.