Iowa Blues - Breed thread and discussion

[WVDan44]

Oh goodness - the pressure! LOL we're all learning here It takes a lot of luck - especially with shipped eggs!

Yeah, I know. I just thought I'd stroke youze two a bit to let you know how I appreciate all of you really, for being so friendly and helpful. Curt, Jim,....I hate naming, because I'm bound to forget someone, but seriously everyone has been great.

We have some upcoming trips to make hither and yon, the missus has two week-long habitat trips this month in Alabama, and I have an artists conference in Monterey CA in April, and as soon as I'm back home in mid-April, I'll start building pens again in earnest. Of course, it will be gardening time then as well and I raise quite a lot of our food each year. At the moment, I'm trying to finish up one I started for some Australorps. I have plenty of acreage, just need more safe housing before I start getting more chickens than I can handle. As I said, not enough hours...

 

[karimw]

Quote:
Tell me about it! I'm not sure how I'm going to manage growing out all these chicks! I have plenty of barn space, I just need outdoor runs. I don't hatch much in the summer either 'cause all my time is spent planting, weeding etc... I love gardening, but I'm ready for a break by the time winter comes!

 

[Hurley]

My darn job gets in the way of so many hobbies! I love to garden, but no way do I have time to devote to it. I generally panic plant something in the spring when my Iowa farmgirl genes force me to dig in dirt when the weather turns, but keeping up with things as the summer progresses is generally less than ideal. Think I'll devote my spring furor into pen building. Gotta have room for these chickies to grow out so I can see what I'm culling/keeping.

On the toes, yes, I had one in particular that took a beating the first couple days. His clutchmates were merciless, so I finally sprayed down his toes with blue kote to masque them (think I stained more of my hands than the chick's toes) and it did the trick. Poor guy, having mealworms for toes.

 

[karimw]

Mealworms for toes! LOL too funny I learned not to use red bands on my chicks for the same reason. they were always getting upended when someone would grab one and take off. These IaBs are stinkers! I have to be careful now when I open the door to the the NYD chicks. I have a couple that will leap out the door at me to get treats. My favorite SP boy is such a character, but I'm trying not to get attached. He and his side sprig are destined for freezer camp. So, sorry everyone, watch out for these in your chicks. Rex must be a carrier.

 

[WVDan44]

My favorite SP boy is such a character, but I'm trying not to get attached. He and his side sprig are destined for freezer camp. So, sorry everyone, watch out for these in your chicks. Rex must be a carrier.

Please elaborate for this uneducated newbie, I'm not up with the jargon, sorry. Thanks!

 

[karimw]

A side sprig is a point that sticks out from the flesh on the side of the comb instead of in line with the rest. I'll have to get a picture to show it. I've been watching it since he was a week old and now I'm sure that's what it is. It is a highly hereditary recessive gene if I'm not mistaken, so that means both parents are carriers. It is also a disqualification for show birds and birds should not be used as breeders if they have them. Rex will have to be replaced and, if I can figure it out, whichever hen is throwing them too. Could be she is already out of the pen. I guess we'll see.

 

[WVDan44]

Thanks Kari.

 

[Hurley]

24 eggs into the hatcher, nice movement and looking good. Now I can pace while waiting to see if the hatching will go off without a hitch! Maiden hatch on my new hatcher, so fingers crossed. Temps and humidity are holding perfect. Down side to this hatcher is I can't watch the progress, so that will drive me just a little insane.

 

[WVDan44]

Go Hurley Girl Go. I'm sending lots of good wishes your way for 100% success with the new bator. Crank out those spibs, my new nickname for silver penciled Iowa Blues, catchy, eh? )

Dan

 

[karimw]

I sorted birds today to make room for the Iowa Rocks to go out to the coop.Goodness they are monsters!

Out of the 35 chicks hatched on NYD, I have 4 pullets for the breeding pen. Just goes to show how slow the growth is going to be. I haven't even looked at them for culls yet.I have two nice Birchen cockerels I'm going to watch. I'm going to have to hope for a better SP cockerel in the next hatch. Connie, How is your trio doing?