July Hatch-a-Long (including 4th of July hatch-a-long)

[smfarman]

I haven't dived in too deep, but my understanding is the Blue Plymouth Rock sex linked hybrid (goes by several TMs like Sapphire Gems, which I have) are a bit of a mysterious mix originating in Czech and the Blue Andalusion being used for the color. It is supposed to be sex linked with males having a yellow spot on the head like (barring gene in the males) however it's not reliable just yet because it's a new hybrid. The males do tend to be blue with some barring expressed. They do not breed true though.

The Plymouth Blue Rock is supposed to be a regular Plymouth Rock with Blue being the color. Like the Partridge, or white variety. Though I don't the history of how they brought in the color blue, but I think they breed true.

Because yours is Lav Orp X Barred Rock, it would probably need a name of it's own. Beyond that I'm not too familiar with the barring gene and how well it is expressed in F1 (first generation) crosses.

I'm betting though there are some good pages in the genetics section or in the articles because there are some very knowledgeable people here when it comes to genetics and setting the traits you are trying for.

Thank you that's a great help, I'll check out the genetics section

 

[kelseyk]

Hatch day for the last 2 eggs in my 2nd attempt at a Welsummer is tomorrow. I checked on them today and no peeping, so I decided to candle. I wasn't 100% sure when I candled on day 17 if they were really late quitters or not, but there was a lot of space left where I could see light. Well, they didn't grow any and there wasn't movement in either egg. 1 egg had extra bubbles floating around on the end opposite of the air cell...I can only think it is gas bubbles built up from a spoiling egg? No smell yet. I did go ahead and remove both of them. So at the moment... I have 5 melanistic pheasant eggs and 4 Speckled Sussex eggs in the hatcher. I am hoping for a turn around on things right now. Ever since my silkies hatched, it hasn't been good hatch wise or development wise for my chicks/eggs. (2/5 Salmon Faverolles, 0/2 Welsummers, and down to 5/12 pheasant eggs and 4/6 Speckled Sussex eggs) Candled my 2nd attempt at Bresse eggs (day 7) - out of 12....1 with possible development but I think the veins look weak, 3 blood rings, and the rest were clear. I also candled my Blue laced Barnevelder eggs (day 7) - out of 11....3 with veining, the rest either clear or possible light blood rings.

 

[FortCluck]

Hatch day for the last 2 eggs in my 2nd attempt at a Welsummer is tomorrow. I checked on them today and no peeping, so I decided to candle. I wasn't 100% sure when I candled on day 17 if they were really late quitters or not, but there was a lot of space left where I could see light. Well, they didn't grow any and there wasn't movement in either egg. 1 egg had extra bubbles floating around on the end opposite of the air cell...I can only think it is gas bubbles built up from a spoiling egg? No smell yet. I did go ahead and remove both of them. So at the moment... I have 5 melanistic pheasant eggs and 4 Speckled Sussex eggs in the hatcher. I am hoping for a turn around on things right now. Ever since my silkies hatched, it hasn't been good hatch wise or development wise for my chicks/eggs. (2/5 Salmon Faverolles, 0/2 Welsummers, and down to 5/12 pheasant eggs and 4/6 Speckled Sussex eggs) Candled my 2nd attempt at Bresse eggs (day 7) - out of 12....1 with possible development but I think the veins look weak, 3 blood rings, and the rest were clear. I also candled my Blue laced Barnevelder eggs (day 7) - out of 11....3 with veining, the rest either clear or possible light blood rings.

Looks like another rough hatching month for some of us.

 

[chickenlittle21]

I have one brown leghorn hen and she's the best!

Yes, I love their wonderful eggs and how they do really well in the heat.

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

My broody abandoned the eggs I'd given her. They were room temperature this morning. Checked them a few hours later. Same thing. Popped them into the incubator with their brethren. They're wiggling away and no worse for the wear.

Now I've got 44 eggs on day 7/10 that are almost all looking great. Good thing we're building a new coop this year.

 

[Hucklekree]

4 Creves out of a possible 5.

Yesterday all of them were either pipped or rolling and peeping. This morning, three were out, two with pips. One quit and when I noticed I checked the other. It was still kicking so I assisted a bit. 5 hours later I had 4 healthy, happy creves. So now 8 chicks in the brooder. The Bieles are trying to be nice but they are like earthmovers.

 

[SnapdragonQ]

4 Creves out of a possible 5.

Yesterday all of them were either pipped or rolling and peeping. This morning, three were out, two with pips. One quit and when I noticed I checked the other. It was still kicking so I assisted a bit. 5 hours later I had 4 healthy, happy creves. So now 8 chicks in the brooder. The Bieles are trying to be nice but they are like earthmovers.

Yay on the Creves!

And wowie you guys...these Bieles really do pop out ready to take on anything. Not even dry when they start pecking at everything and trying to preen their fuzz.

I've got 5 so far that popped like popcorn and the last two have pipped so I'm waiting.
The Bieles popped out so fast then when some of my own flock eggs are ziping or trying to kick out, it's like watching everything moving in slooow moooootion.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

@CluckNDoodle breaking a broody will have no effect on her future propensity for brooding will it?

We have so many broody hens! We break them constantly, but they come back into broodiness quite regularly.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Hi All, we are due for a nerve wracking hatch this week! This is Part 2 of our 2020 broody guinea in coop experiment. Part 1 was one month ago, when broody guinea hen Viceroy was given six fertile guinea eggs, four hatched (one other was malpositioned, and one egg disappeared!). Dominant hens Scout Red and Lemon Pie stole her babies and have done so well with raising them, but two keets were lost to a storm/black rat snake combo and one lost to electrocution after tangling on our electric poultry netting.

So for Part 2, I acquired some ridiculously expensive, rare colors guinea eggs with the expectation of dividing under four broody hens that I had after the keets hatched. Well, the black rat snake ended the broodiness of all but one, Welch. She’s not successfully hatched eggs before and I’m not thrilled about putting these under just her - talk about all of my eggs in one basket. However, after being broody for a good 7 weeks, I’ve finally removed her eggs and put the expensive eggs under her. Eggs are at 22 days today so should hatch by Friday- Sunday, possibly sooner. As if that’s not nerve wracking enough, I have to drive to Iowa Thursday and won’t be back until Saturday!!! Wish us luck!!!

 

[CluckNDoodle]

Hi All, we are due for a nerve wracking hatch this week! This is Part 2 of our 2020 broody guinea in coop experiment. Part 1 was one month ago, when broody guinea hen Viceroy was given six fertile guinea eggs, four hatched (one other was malpositioned, and one egg disappeared!). Dominant hens Scout Red and Lemon Pie stole her babies and have done so well with raising them, but two keets were lost to a storm/black rat snake combo and one lost to electrocution after tangling on our electric poultry netting.

So for Part 2, I acquired some ridiculously expensive, rare colors guinea eggs with the expectation of dividing under four broody hens that I had after the keets hatched. Well, the black rat snake ended the broodiness of all but one, Welch. She’s not successfully hatched eggs before and I’m not thrilled about putting these under just her - talk about all of my eggs in one basket. However, after being broody for a good 7 weeks, I’ve finally removed her eggs and put the expensive eggs under her. Eggs are at 22 days today so should hatch by Friday- Sunday, possibly sooner. As if that’s not nerve wracking enough, I have to drive to Iowa Thursday and won’t be back until Saturday!!! Wish us luck!!!

Wow! The guinea saga continues!! Fingers crossed!