Incubating Lavender Ameraucanas Dry Hatch or No?

[LadiesAndJane]

Thought I would share an update! Apparently my temps ran hot, because everyone started hatching 1.5 days early! So far I have 8 of 10 Ameraucanas hatched. No signs of pips on the last two yet, and unfortunately I *think* from the shorthand, that one was actually a Lavender he slipped in so I am super bummed it's doing NOTHING!!

I would be interested to know if Paul personally has better hatch rates with this Black/Black Splits than lavender; my guess would be yes.

Congratulations on your excellent hatch rate! Be sure to post photos when they're all cute and fluffed up!
The black split to lavenders are needed to help prevent the expression of the feather shredder gene which is common in the self blue birds. For some reason if you keep breeding lavender to lavender you may end up with shredded tail feathers in many of your chicks. I am no expert but this is what I understood after researching it myself.

 

[Shellybob]

Yes. I vaccinate my own chicks for Mareks disease, which can be a fatal neurological disease, caused by a virus that can take out a whole flock. It can be spread by wild birds and we have plenty of those including the wild chickens that run around here!
I am not able to get a hold of the coccidiosis vaccine but if you buy chicks from a hatchery this is usually an option. I just got some hatchery chicks and I had them vaccinated for both things.
I also give medicated feed to prevent coccidiosis If they are not vaccinated until they are about six weeks old sometimes longer. I know there’s a lot of debate about this and I don’t care to get into that but I do work in the medical field and I’m a big believer in prevention!
I hope Charlotte gets better soon!❤

I think you are right Jmns. I think I’m going to talk to my awesome vet and see if he will help me make the best choice for my girls. Thanks again for the quick answers. I really appreciate

 

[TattooedMama]

Congratulations on your excellent hatch rate! Be sure to post photos when they're all cute and fluffed up!
The black split to lavenders are needed to help prevent the expression of the feather shredder gene which is common in the self blue birds. For some reason if you keep breeding lavender to lavender you may end up with shredded tail feathers in many of your chicks. I am no expert but this is what I understood after researching it myself.

Thanks! I am holding out hope the last two will make an appearance before anyone comes out, but I will post pictures when they break free of their incubator jail!

I wonder if the fertility in the Lavs could be reduced as well by those genes that affect feathers? It could certainly help explain the poor hatch rates so many have experienced. I saw someone in this thread post that Paul mentioned a 50% hatch rate on his lavenders, but I wasn't sure if that was his personal hatch rate at home, or if that was his hatch rate reported back to him on his shipped eggs from customers.

I have heard the sentiments about poor feather quality and hardiness issues from a few breeders over the years. Another reason for utilizing the the blacks could be to breed the self-blue closer to the standard, increase beard size, egg size, help obtain a bluer egg, etc., since blacks have been bred longer, and have not been outcrossed as recenty. My own knowledge of Lavenders is limited and I have no personal experience with them (traded a Lav Orp away once because of the ugly feathers!), so I have lots to learn! That is my favorite part about chickens, the endless learning =) Me personally, I love the black Ameraucanas, and the option to get lavender down the line was a bonus!

 

[TattooedMama]

Used the hatchery box from my Speckled Sussex and Crevecoeur order this morning to transport my babies to the big brooder. We stopped for a picture on the way. Still only 8, but I'm so excited!!

The big brooder also has a few Welsummer and Olive eggers. Maybe I should post a photo of one of the OE I hatched, and maybe you all can tell me if you think it is Lavender. I need to google lavender down photos.

 

[Shellybob]

Thought I would share an update! Apparently my temps ran hot, because everyone started hatching 1.5 days early! So far I have 8 of 10 Ameraucanas hatched. No signs of pips on the last two yet, and unfortunately I *think* from the shorthand, that one was actually a Lavender he slipped in so I am super bummed it's doing NOTHING!!

I would be interested to know if Paul personally has better hatch rates with this Black/Black Splits than lavender; my guess would be yes.

Congrats! I actually posted earlier but, it didnt go thru i just noticed. Thats a much better hatch rate than I’m used to Too bad about your LA Pics?

 

[Shellybob]

I think you are right Jmns. I think I’m going to talk to my awesome vet and see if he will help me make the best choice for my girls. Thanks again for the quick answers. I really appreciate

Jmns.. what do you think about me giving Charlotte a little coconut oul just in case she has a blockage? And I found out that Scratch and peck starter does not have grit in it today My babies needed grit and I didn’t know it. Someone had posted on their fb website that it had it in there and I made an assumption. But, she has been coming out slmost every evening in my yard so hopefully got a little then. A lady suggested staying with it now though since they are 3 weeks and wetting it.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Used the hatchery box from my Speckled Sussex and Crevecoeur order this morning to transport my babies to the big brooder. We stopped for a picture on the way. Still only 8, but I'm so excited!!

The big brooder also has a few Welsummer and Olive eggers. Maybe I should post a photo of one of the OE I hatched, and maybe you all can tell me if you think it is Lavender. I need to google lavender down photos.

Your chicks are adorable. I love Ameraucanas little owly faces when they are chicks! They tend to look more like hawks when they grow up!
Lavender or self blue will look almost white with a silver sheen to them. They are so pretty.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Jmns.. what do you think about me giving Charlotte a little coconut oul just in case she has a blockage? And I found out that Scratch and peck starter does not have grit in it today My babies needed grit and I didn’t know it. Someone had posted on their fb website that it had it in there and I made an assumption. But, she has been coming out almost every evening in my yard so hopefully got a little then. A lady suggested staying with it now though since they are 3 weeks and wetting it.

It probably would not hurt, but I have used a little slightly warm olive oil. Does her crop feel hard? You can give it to her with a syringe or dropper and just hold her head up and drop it on the side of her beak and she should take it drop by drop. It is a test in patience for sure! She is probably getting some grit from the dirt in your yard. You can buy chick sized grit most feed stores or online. I get most of my stuff on Amazon due to limited availability where I live.
What did your vet think?
It can be really hard to tell how sick chickens are, as they are both predators (to bugs mostly) and prey animals, that do not really show when they are ill.

 

[Shellybob]

It probably would not hurt, but I have used a little slightly warm olive oil. Does her crop feel hard? You can give it to her with a syringe or dropper and just hold her head up and drop it on the side of her beak and she should take it drop by drop. It is a test in patience for sure! She is probably getting some grit from the dirt in your yard. You can buy chick sized grit most feed stores or online. I get most of my stuff on Amazon due to limited availability where I live.
What did your vet think?
It can be really hard to tell how sick chickens are, as they are both predators (to bugs mostly) and prey animals, that do not really show when they are ill.

Vet wasn’t able to get me in today, too many emergencies so tomorrow. I bought Tractor supply out of grit, organic duck crumbles, medicated chick crumbles and heat lamp bulbs today! She isn’t doing horribly, I just know birds and can tell she isn’t thriving like she should. Her crop feels flat and empty/boney. Like she can’t gain the weight she should be. I am good at gently getting things down a bird with a syringe from all the birds I rescued. Hope your flock is well

 

[Shellybob]

Used the hatchery box from my Speckled Sussex and Crevecoeur order this morning to transport my babies to the big brooder. We stopped for a picture on the way. Still only 8, but I'm so excited!!

The big brooder also has a few Welsummer and Olive eggers. Maybe I should post a photo of one of the OE I hatched, and maybe you all can tell me if you think it is Lavender. I need to google lavender down photos.

Oh how cute!