I REALLY wanted a blue egg layer!

[Mrs. Feathers]

A white egg layer and a big bottle of blue food colouring

With all the hatchery issues I am reading about sounds like ordering from breeders locally or through BYC is the way to go. There are photos of some very beautiful birds posted on the Breed and Showing thread. Perhaps some of those members sell eggs or chicks.

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

Quote:
I'll just go ahead and say it. BUY AN INCUBATOR!!!

Hatching your own babies is more fun than you can imagine. It has all the elements of a childhood Christmas- plotting and planning, anticipation, eyeing all the deliciously wrapped presents (eggs) and then the surprise and fun of the packages unwrapping themselves. You just cannot beat it for all around amazing!!

Go ahead and get at least a Hovabator Genesis 1588. I didn't at first and lost all sorts of eggs. While financially the loss was a hit, even sadder was the little dead chicks in the shell.

I finally gave up and bought the 1588 and it has worked like a charm. It has run almost constantly since spring and has more than paid for itself with chick and chicken sales. The one time I did have a problem with it, GFQ instantly sent me free replacement parts and directions on how to fix it. I just love it! I hatch 12-18 eggs at a time, so it is perfect for my needs.

So come on, join the insanity! Get an incubator! Once you start hatching you can hatch out your own ameraucanas from all sorts of people. It'll be great!

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Quote:
I'll just go ahead and say it. BUY AN INCUBATOR!!!

Hatching your own babies is more fun than you can imagine. It has all the elements of a childhood Christmas- plotting and planning, anticipation, eyeing all the deliciously wrapped presents (eggs) and then the surprise and fun of the packages unwrapping themselves. You just cannot beat it for all around amazing!!

Do it, do It, DO IT!!!!

You will love, love, lo-ve it.


Purchase eggs from an APA Ameraucana breeder as stated.


If you see birds called: AmerIcana - Amerarcauna = they are generally if not always Easter Eggers. Not a thing wrong with them, EEs, they lay great and help give you a natural Easter basket.

 

[wsdareme]

I agree -- get an incubator!!!!! I went with a Brinsea Mini Advance and have had two 100% hatches. It will hold up to 7 large eggs, which is not big enough for some folks. However, I like having that size because 1) I can have more hatches, and 2) I don't increase my flock size as quickly. I have problems parting with ANYTHING, so even getting rid of the excess roos is going to be sad for me. But we have sure had a ball with the incubator! Our first hatch was all French Black Copper Marans, and our second was a mix of Splash Marans, Blue Marans, and Ameraucanas (real ones). There is nothing like hatching your own babies!!! Do it, DO IT!!!!

Find some Ameraucana eggs and enjoy the ride!

 

[undergroundchickens]

You guys are just plain instigators aren't you!

I would LOVE to purchase a bator and start hatching eggs BUT I am an illegal chicken owner at this time and can only keep a small flock under the radar. I plan on moving to a place I can legally have as many chickens as I want in the next year or two and then I know I will be hatching some eggs and increasing my flock size. It is hard to wait!

I know folks are trying to persuade the city council to allow chickens in the "city" limits again...hoping it will pass but not putting much faith in the possibility. If it does pass I can start increasing my flock sooner than later.

Thanks again for all the comments and suggestions. Who knew raising chickens could be so fun and rewarding?!?!? I am loving it!

 

[CricketYang]

Quote:
I'll just go ahead and say it. BUY AN INCUBATOR!!!

Hatching your own babies is more fun than you can imagine. It has all the elements of a childhood Christmas- plotting and planning, anticipation, eyeing all the deliciously wrapped presents (eggs) and then the surprise and fun of the packages unwrapping themselves. You just cannot beat it for all around amazing!!

Go ahead and get at least a Hovabator Genesis 1588. I didn't at first and lost all sorts of eggs. While financially the loss was a hit, even sadder was the little dead chicks in the shell.

I finally gave up and bought the 1588 and it has worked like a charm. It has run almost constantly since spring and has more than paid for itself with chick and chicken sales. The one time I did have a problem with it, GFQ instantly sent me free replacement parts and directions on how to fix it. I just love it! I hatch 12-18 eggs at a time, so it is perfect for my needs.

So come on, join the insanity! Get an incubator! Once you start hatching you can hatch out your own ameraucanas from all sorts of people. It'll be great!

You're getting me so excited! I just got that SAME incubator off of Ebay.. It should be here any day now!! I have one girl that lays blue eggs, Tina, she escapes the coop every day to lay her "special blue eggs" away from the general population. I'm thinking about just incubating her eggs to try and have a better chance at getting babies that'll also lay blue for me!! If undergroundchickens wasn't so far away from me I'd ship her some of Tina's eggs. She lays everyday for me!

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

Quote:
You will love it! Mine is happily humming away in the kitchen even as we speak. I think I have done 5 or 6 hatches in it this season alone.

It's a trooper.

 

[bragabit]

Come down to the Southern end of the State (UT) we all got chickens down here !