Mahonri's 3rd Annual, BYC Easter Hatch-a-long!

[dsqard]

Arielle, I know how good they can fly. We lost one of our toms to a coyote because he could figure out how to fly out of the pen but not back in. Silly bird. I heeded Denny's advice and clipped thier wings so they couldn't get to the rafters in the barn (she warned me they would like to roost there) but apparently I didn't clip them short enough or enough of the feathers for the shorter hop over the fence.

 

[Lotsapaints]

That's how I got my "new" to me sportsman....I would think finding one from the West Coast would lower the price ask Cheryl she's the one with the good shipping deals from FEDEX don't order parts from GQF their shipping made me almost faint.....

This evening, on the way to dinner with DH, I got a call from a coworker. His wife would like him to buy some of my Icelandic chicks. 2 Dozen Icelandic chicks

After I take the call I am excited about my big sale and start thinking about how many eggs I can fit in my bator. I have a Hovabator 1588, The turner holds 42 eggs. I have 2 dozen eggs ordered and a swap coming, so that only leaves me room for enough Icelandics to fill the order and none left for me. But if I stack them I could fit....

When we got to the restaurant, DH says, You know, maybe it's time to get one of those big cabinet style with, what have they got, 7 trays?

He wants to know how much they cost, I told him we can build one like Cheryl's, That would be enough chicks at one time. Besides, retailers are crooks of the worst kind. They post a shipping charge and then find out we are in ALASKA so they quadruple it. No joke. And I LOVE IT when they charge me $80 for shipping and the package arrives with $18.75 cents postage attached. When I call them on that kind of stuff they tell me the extra charge is for HANDLING. Um, they drop it at the same post office that takes the stuff they are shipping 2 states over, what is the "Extra handling" exactly? That is usually the question that makes them hang up on me.

Anywho... looks like there is a bigger bator in my future

 

[ChooksChick]

OK, all of you turkey-hatchin' wannabes.

There are now a ton of us talking about this, and I don't intend to start a new thread to have a Pre-Turkey Hatchalong chat, but I do want to start to consolidate ideas and assess whether we really are interested in doing this together. I haven't hatched turkeys before and will want to do at least 2 dozen, so having joiners would be good for me.

If we set on Easter, we'll hatch on Cinco de Mayo! I know some of us will still be hatching straggles from this go-round, but we are flexible, right? We can figure it out.

I want a couple of dozen, at least, so those of you who've contacted me about eggs, I'm in, even if I haven't answered you- I'll get to that soon.

Anyone interested in joining the Turkeython, please pm me so I can see the numbers and know if this is a feasible todo.

Hooray!!

 

[AK Michelle]

That's how I got my "new" to me sportsman....I would think finding one from the West Coast would lower the price ask Cheryl she's the one with the good shipping deals from FEDEX don't order parts from GQF their shipping made me almost faint.....

The shipping quotes are running anywhere from $380 to well over $700 just for the shipping

I think I"ll ask Cheryl to send me directions for the cabinet bator she built so I can build one of those.

 

[1muttsfan]

My sandhill chick order arrived this morning, and instead of the 25 mixed jaerhons and rosecombed colored dorkings I ordered, he sent me 47 chicks

- he didn't have any of the dorkings I wanted so shipped extras. Some are mystery chicks, as the packing list only has 37 listed. Well they will be fun to watch grown anyway.

Also got my Euskal Oiloa (basque) eggs in, he was short one egg - not surprising considering the number of people who wanted them for this hatch! - so he included 6 partidge bantam cochins. Still waiting for about 3 more dozen eggs, so eggciting!

 

[karimw]

6 would be the max I would want! I wanted 2 ducks, got 6 eggs and now I have 5 ducks.

Thank you for your kindness!

I still have to break it to the BF.

Oh he'll like turkeys, much less messy than ducks! Tons of personality and very tasty!

I'll join the hatch! I'll just have mixes from my little flock but I don't mind

What do you get when you cross a black or naraganset Tom on slate, royal palm and bronze hens?

 

[Lotsapaints]

Bourbon Red though because you could have Bronze turkeys I've been marking mine RB..my Bourbons seem to be good travelers and by Easter will be laying very good or I'll have some mixes and personally think those are much cooler. I have a Blue penciled turkey that is really cool looking that I'm going to cross with Auburns and Midget Whites the color possibilities are endless

Is BR barred rock or bourbon red?
Makes a big difference if you're trying to sway me.

 

[ronott1]

Over on this side of the country, especially as you get into the True Northern part by the Ocean, Folks swear by these Redwood incubators. Apparently there is a Guy that has a website with instructions on rebuilding these old Incubators along with parts for them. Supposedly they hold in humidity and heat because of the awesome properties of the wood.

Something to look for. Thread here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/205619/redwood-incubator-leahy-favorite-article-with-pic

That's how I got my "new" to me sportsman....I would think finding one from the West Coast would lower the price ask Cheryl she's the one with the good shipping deals from FEDEX don't order parts from GQF their shipping made me almost faint.....

 

[Arielle]

Arielle, I know how good they can fly. We lost one of our toms to a coyote because he could figure out how to fly out of the pen but not back in. Silly bird. I heeded Denny's advice and clipped thier wings so they couldn't get to the rafters in the barn (she warned me they would like to roost there) but apparently I didn't clip them short enough or enough of the feathers for the shorter hop over the fence.

Mine free range, which means they hang around the house, follow the chickens, and follow me like a puppy! Most of mine roost low, low enough for the local coyote to have a midnight stack. Well, at their current size, that would be dinner for six!

 

[dsqard]

Oh he'll like turkeys, much less messy than ducks! Tons of personality and very tasty!

I'll join the hatch! I'll just have mixes from my little flock but I don't mind

What do you get when you cross a black or naraganset Tom on slate, royal palm and bronze hens?

Baby turkeys???????