Illinois...

[Mennoly]

That's how I started! I got 4 from the feed store. Built my little coop. Then decided I wanted some blue egg layers, so hatched out 6 Crested Cream Legbars. Then I wanted some chocolate egg layers, so hatched out marans. Then wanted a many different varieties of Orpingtons, hatch out many. Then wanted green egg layer, Isbars hatched. Then cochin bantams, etc. Be careful, its an addiction.

So far I am wondering about Buff Orpingtons, Naked Necks, and Silkies. I would love EE in different colors though too. I have read those are all good for beginners.

 

[chickendreams24]

So far I am wondering about Buff Orpingtons, Naked Necks, and Silkies. I would love EE in different colors though too. I have read those are all good for beginners. 

We have silkies and I love them and we also have buff Orpingtons and I love them too. We currently have 1 buff Orpington that's broody and three silkie broodies too.

 

[Faraday40]

So far I am wondering about Buff Orpingtons, Naked Necks, and Silkies. I would love EE in different colors though too. I have read those are all good for beginners.

EEs are friendly & playful. Each has its own personality & the colored eggs are fun too!



Orps are very addictive. I don't even have a buff. There are so many fancy colors, but it's their personality that will steal your heart Mine are so calm anyone can just pick them up. They all love to snuggle.
Here's my black orp, (Lady MacBAWK)

...and my fav hen Cuddles




I never tried a NN or Silkie, but I've heard good things.

 

[ChicagoClucker]

8 bantam cochins eggs went into lockdown, 8 hatched. Happy mama over here. Most look mottled black or blue, but I do believe I have a splash too. Added them with my 2 Orps which look huge and 3 SL cochin bantams.

 

[Faraday40]

Way to go ChicagoClucker! Those bantam Cochins are so cute. They are on "my list" for the future when Cookie starts slowing down. I've heard they make good broodies.

Please send some of your good hatching vibes my way.

I have 4 (Biele or Biele mix eggs) in lockdown - second 1/2 of day 22 & still no pips. I couldn't help but try to candle a moment ago. One no change. A 2nd started peeping when I moved it, so I quickly closed the door. So glad the humidity went back up to 65% in under 60 sec. Perhaps my Bieles just need more time to develop those enormous bodies.

 

[chickendreams24]

Yay!!! Good luck Faraday40 I could also use some of the hatching vibes we go into lockdown tonight on my Easter Hatch-a-long eggs in the incubator and tomorrow I have a broody that should be "locking down". It's her first hatch so I'm kinda wondering how she'll do. I also have another three broodies too.

@Faraday40 I do believe we have Jasmine's first perfect egg! Although I will wait until I find another one under her like it as confirmation. There were two options but I think one is a SLW egg so well see. I'll post pics later. I found her in the nest box at 11:30 with our only nonbroody silkie girl, and she was loud! That's one very proud little girl right there. and I'm a proud Mama!

 

[MeepBeep]

Anyone in North East Illinois looking for guinea fowl eggs for hatching?

My guinea fowl have started to bust out eggs and I have little use for them beyond feeding back to the birds right now as I'm not in the mood to hatch any out right now, and the stigma of them not being chicken eggs makes them a hard sell for eating... But if someone is interested in hatching out some I open to that... I could also ship them but I would rather not as the trouble to package them and cost to ship them is prohibitive vs the $3 dollars (bring your own carton) price I would ask for a dozen picked up...

***Some potential buyer bewares***

1. My flock is mixed colors, most that hatch will be pearl or gray (based on my own hatches) but there are other color morph genes (cream, white, pied, chocolate) in the flock so anything is possible...
2. There is also the chance of a guinea/chicken hybrid (Guin-Hen aka Guins) as I have seen a few of my guineas submitting to my roosters this year...

If not no worries the eggs will get used for food, just figured I would see if anyone wants to hatch them out as I personally had a hard time finding local guinea hatching eggs when I wanted to hatch some out...

As always with hatching eggs I can't guarantee anything...

 

[ChicagoClucker]

Way to go ChicagoClucker! Those bantam Cochins are so cute. They are on "my list" for the future when Cookie starts slowing down. I've heard they make good broodies.

Please send some of your good hatching vibes my way.

I have 4 (Biele or Biele mix eggs) in lockdown - second 1/2 of day 22 & still no pips. I couldn't help but try to candle a moment ago. One no change. A 2nd started peeping when I moved it, so I quickly closed the door. So glad the humidity went back up to 65% in under 60 sec. Perhaps my Bieles just need more time to develop those enormous bodies.

Be patient, I was becoming impatient also after the first 3 hatched, then nothing for hours. I opened the incubator to make sure chicks didn't roll the eggs on their pipped area, haha. Heard lots of peeps and closed it right away. But I had four eggs left when I went to bed last nite, and the last chick must of hatched right before I woke, because he was still wet and flopping about. Sending good vibes!!! My next set of eggs go into lockdown this evening. Grandkids just left, so have to clean out the brinsea so I can lockdown this next batch due Friday. Also got the call today, my Spangled Orpington chicks are on their way. Loving it!!! I will have chicks available in a month or so, only keeping a few select from each breed, if anyone is interested.

 

[Faraday40]

Anyone in North East Illinois looking for guinea fowl eggs for hatching?

My guinea fowl have started to bust out eggs and I have little use for them beyond feeding back to the birds right now as I'm not in the mood to hatch any out right now, and the stigma of them not being chicken eggs makes them a hard sell for eating... But if someone is interested in hatching out some I open to that... I could also ship them but I would rather not as the trouble to package them and cost to ship them is prohibitive vs the $3 dollars (bring your own carton) price I would ask for a dozen picked up...

***Some potential buyer bewares***

1. My flock is mixed colors, most that hatch will be pearl or gray (based on my own hatches) but there are other color morph genes (cream, white, pied, chocolate) in the flock so anything is possible...
2. There is also the chance of a guinea/chicken hybrid (Guin-Hen aka Guins) as I have seen a few of my guineas submitting to my roosters this year...

If not no worries the eggs will get used for food, just figured I would see if anyone wants to hatch them out as I personally had a hard time finding local guinea hatching eggs when I wanted to hatch some out...

As always with hatching eggs I can't guarantee anything...

I never knew that could happen!
Do you have a pic of such a creature?

I'd love guineas, but live in a neighborhood. Don't think they'd be appreciated. LOL

 

[ChicagoClucker]

Anyone in North East Illinois looking for guinea fowl eggs for hatching?

My guinea fowl have started to bust out eggs and I have little use for them beyond feeding back to the birds right now as I'm not in the mood to hatch any out right now, and the stigma of them not being chicken eggs makes them a hard sell for eating... But if someone is interested in hatching out some I open to that... I could also ship them but I would rather not as the trouble to package them and cost to ship them is prohibitive vs the $3 dollars (bring your own carton) price I would ask for a dozen picked up...

***Some potential buyer bewares***

1. My flock is mixed colors, most that hatch will be pearl or gray (based on my own hatches) but there are other color morph genes (cream, white, pied, chocolate) in the flock so anything is possible...
2. There is also the chance of a guinea/chicken hybrid (Guin-Hen aka Guins) as I have seen a few of my guineas submitting to my roosters this year...

If not no worries the eggs will get used for food, just figured I would see if anyone wants to hatch them out as I personally had a hard time finding local guinea hatching eggs when I wanted to hatch some out...

As always with hatching eggs I can't guarantee anything...

I have seen a pic of a Guinea/chicken and you would have never known there was guinea in there. It was a beautiful chicken. And it also laid fertile eggs, that some people say those crosses can't reproduce. But according to this person, she hatched babies.