Larkwell Valley (2023)

[JacinLarkwell]

3rd strike hen is in the main flock now, shes not allowed near my other nesting hens. She's on the cull list after the rest of the male's. I'll probably have to help the 4th chick since it looks like it was shrinkwrapped. It's resting now though, so I'll wait a few hours more and see if he's still tired or if he's acting better.

Other three are 2 blacks and a blue, all barred with one or two genes depending on who mama is. I'll try to graft these onto my dark brahma with the failed nest tonight.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

One of the blacks didn't make it. Not sure what happened, it's foot looked like it got stuck in the floor, but I'm not sure if that cause it or happened after it had passed since it never gave any alarms. Other two are talking and walking around. I ended up giving them to the cochin mama that is still sitting, just because I knew she wouldn't reject them. Now she just has to stay on the nest until I get home tomorrow. Then I can move her and her hatchlings to the coop I think they have a better shot in. I'll try to candle tomorrow if she's still on the nest at night and move any unhatched eggs to the brahma or to Mare for now, just so I can see what I'm dealing with. I should have broken the barred when she first stole the nest. Maybe then the pheonix on it would have taken over again.

One of the Cornish eggs is pipped and another looks like it might be. Just one araucana still.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Though if I can get out of bed on time, I might just move her tomorrow morning and give all the eggs to the brahma for the day. I'll have to think on that tonight

 

[JacinLarkwell]

4th (now 3rd) little orphan is still working on his yolk. I moistened the membrane a bit, but I'm not sure if he'll end up being able to hatch. He still has lots of veins and chewing going on though so I can't help him anymore tonight. It will have to be up to him unfortunately

 

[JacinLarkwell]

3rd is still working on finishing his yolk.

Took a super quick glance and saw progress on a Cornish egg, but I woke up late so I didn't have a lot of time to inspect every egg.

I heard nothing under Cochin mama, so they're either content or didn't make it. I'm moving her today at some point and gave her some water in a shallow bowl if they are still alive since it might get hot today while I'm gone

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Black from last night ended up passing. Might have just not been doing too stable. Haven't found a blue body, but I was just checking real quick to make sure she was still on the nest. Another black did hatch recently though under her. Original Phoenix that was brooding is hanging out in the box too, hopefully she wants to be an Auntie? ID love if that happened

 

[JacinLarkwell]

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Pipped cochin egg ended up passing.

2nd Cornish hatched and 2nd araucana is pipped. Really hoping it hatches while at work so they can all go down to Cheese tonight.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Bunny also might have an egg pipped. It was cracked under her last night, but I can't tell if it was from popping or her starting to eat one that went bad since I set her back down real quick

 

[Chipmunk Chicks]

Bird is done. Got the saddle and hackles I wanted, as well as some chest and tail feathers. Also took the breasts for tonight. Since he's almost over a year old, the rest wasn't worth taking in our opinion, so we gave him back to the flocks. Especially the broodies since they're not eating as well as the others are right now. Only exceptions were the ducks and the current chicks

What do you do with the feathers? Lures?