Iowa Blues - Breed thread and discussion

[Hurley]

I've been getting killed at work during the week and have been outside on the weekend trying to get the coops ready for the onslaught of chicks. It is finally above freezing during the day here and just today I thought I saw some green under the dead grass.

Putting an order on for test antigen for NPIP, got my inspection done, good to go for the year.

Got one coop revamped, need to paint it this weekend, then get to work finishing the other one. I need the 2 breeder runs that it will house! Did get the chicks moved out to the outdoor brooders.

Incubator has chicks hatching now, can't wait to see what all comes out! I do have my breeding pens divided to 3 flocks now, so will be keeping the eggs I set for a bit here. The other chicks hatched have moved on to new homes, for the most part. I haven't kept any of the Iowa Blues yet, as they've been mixed flock and I want to keep my selected ones.

Hope I catch a break this weekend and not get called in, but I've been getting pummeled at work this week so expecting it to continue through the weekend's on call.

Work gets in the way of my important hobbies!

 

[WVDan44]

Yes, that is what I have been doing, trying to talk about my brand new "IAB" chicks while enjoying the outside picking up huge tree fall out from the November ice storm we had here.

I am happy for you with your new chicks. It seems that sometimes posts are made and all you hear are crickets chirping in here.....

Well, I'm just as guilty as anyone because I am often just plumb tuckered out and too tired to post a response. I do like your post about the chicks and hope they grow out to be winners for you.

 

[WVDan44]

I've been getting killed at work during the week and have been outside on the weekend trying to get the coops ready for the onslaught of chicks. It is finally above freezing during the day here and just today I thought I saw some green under the dead grass.

Putting an order on for test antigen for NPIP, got my inspection done, good to go for the year.

Got one coop revamped, need to paint it this weekend, then get to work finishing the other one. I need the 2 breeder runs that it will house! Did get the chicks moved out to the outdoor brooders.

Incubator has chicks hatching now, can't wait to see what all comes out! I do have my breeding pens divided to 3 flocks now, so will be keeping the eggs I set for a bit here. The other chicks hatched have moved on to new homes, for the most part. I haven't kept any of the Iowa Blues yet, as they've been mixed flock and I want to keep my selected ones.

Hope I catch a break this weekend and not get called in, but I've been getting pummeled at work this week so expecting it to continue through the weekend's on call.

Work gets in the way of my important hobbies!

Yeah, I hear that. Gardening, chickens, spring cleanup, working my job, and lo and behold I was out walking in the lawn on Wednesday and realized it was already growing and needed to be mowed! Oh no, not another chore. Today I did a dump run, had appointment with real estate appraiser at noon, did more garden prep, ran errands, and attended our awards celebration this evening. Glad to be home. Tomorrow I finish the nest box on my newest pen then caulk, add trim, and that should do it.

 

[Candy442]

Work gets in the way of my important hobbies!

Mine too! I am sorry you are slammed at work, Connie. It has been the week from Hades at my job I wonder if it's been like that for everyone.
You take good pictures of your babies and I really enjoy seeing yours, Kari's, Emily's, Curt's, and Dan's birds to get a better idea of what to look for in chicks. Hard when you start with four birds you didn't see as chicks, only grown ups.

Well, I'm just as guilty as anyone because I am often just plumb tuckered out and too tired to post a response. I do like your post about the chicks and hope they grow out to be winners for you.

Thanks I didn't mean to make anyone feel bad because I am sure we are all super busy.

I just got very happy to have seven eggs to set and six hatch of the Iowa's...our first incubation. So far none of the pullets/hens are showing broody. My other birds are now one year old and the Iowas/Delaware that I got will be one in May/June.

Kari said the one I thought was a Birchen looks like a charcoal! This makes me happy. The baby continues to have the pattern feathers growing all over and was a very dark brown when born and I think it is a pullet. Out of the six Iowa's, I believe only one boy hatched and he will be a smokey cockerel.
I still have a LONG way to catch up to you all

 

[mrandmrschicken]

Spring fever seems to infect everything. That time of year when every living creature demands attention from a long winters hibernation, and they want it now. And of course the weather has not been very kind to any part of the country and set us all back.
I have this link I wanted to share. It is the brooder cam from the Okoboji High Schools FFA classroom. They hatched a batch of my bantam chicken eggs, and have been very generous with me, (I almost feel like a staff member!) When you get to the page, watch the screen on the left. It will count down 25 seconds and then begin the live feed. Or you can watch a commercial. It is so much fun. They started the cam when the chicks were hatching in the incubator. I think it was 17 out of 20 that hatched. Sorry no Iowa Blues in this group.
I am hoping one of the Kindergarten classes will have this when they begin hatching on the 15th, there will be IB's in that hatch!
How many of you are planning to be in Avoca, IA this year? That show will be here before we know it! I plan to attend and the promotions committee will have a table. I'd like to speak with Diana, about the IB's but will need a rough head count. the show will be Mother's Day weekend. Usually the weather is spectacular! It is a double show I believe.
Eric

http://www.ustream.tv/search?q=okoboji+ffa

 

[Candy442]

Ok, here are more photos of "mystery" Iowa....I thought was a birchen, came out dark brown and now look at these patterns?

4 weeks old:

 

[WVDan44]

Hi Candy

Birchen, Smokey...heck I can hardly tell one from the other so I'm no help. At first glance it looks pretty much like the black chicks I've hatched. Can't really see much detail in the photo.

 

[WVDan44]

After enlarging the photos: Uh, I don't think it is a birchen. I think you have something else (I can't ID it )...appears more bluish or slate than black...maybe the fabled charcoal?...looks very interesting!

 

[karimw]

Here are some pics of mine for comparison taken at about 2 months:
I think charcoal, hatched from a Sandhill smokey pullet and a charcoal rooster.That is a smokey cockerel behind her. Odd colored black one below. He looks like a hen feathered birchen now. Eggs I got from Curt Burroughs.











Mix of mostly my chicks from Pen B (Bentley)



Smokey pair

 

[karimw]

The problem is, Candy, I can't think how you would have hatched a Charcoal chick from the birds Jake raised out of the birds I had at the time.