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

[ChooksChick]

No dogs here, just cats. If I drop something on the floor the cats will walk over, look at it and walk away, tail held high. nothing I eat holds much interest for them.

I have a 'special' cat. Weasel is 31# of solid muscle and fur, and he thinks he's a dog. I call the dogs in and he trots in with the other 2. He is quite singular.

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I had three different ages of eggs in my incubators right now. Today the first group went into lockdown and it's quite disheartening. This is my first experience with shipped eggs, so maybe I was just spoiled with my own eggs. Out of the 37 eggs I set (there was one more broken in transit), only ten waved at me when I moved them from the turner. There are six more that looked like late quitters. They don't smell nor are they leaking, so I left them in. My biggest problem is the breed I wanted the most (lakenvelder) only three are in lockdown.

I also had my "free" bobwhite quail eggs that came with the incubator. They sent 37 eggs (one broken). I never actually candled them until today. I didn't check for live chicks, just the shadow of a chick. I put 24 into lockdown and one that looked like a quitter. The rest were clear.

So it's really about 46% at lockdown. It's just the lakenvelder I am depressed over.

Deb

Sorry about the Laks. I used to have Golden Laks, but I sold them. They are very pretty!

 

[Mahonri]

This was the only girl at the big coop brave enough to check out the snow and it didn't take her long to decide that it wasn't very interesting.


My favorite kind of snow though, as it will be all gone tomorrow with highs in the 60's - yahoo!

WOW... what a GORGEOUS GIRL! Real eye candy!

 

[BHep]

I had three different ages of eggs in my incubators right now. Today the first group went into lockdown and it's quite disheartening. This is my first experience with shipped eggs, so maybe I was just spoiled with my own eggs. Out of the 37 eggs I set (there was one more broken in transit), only ten waved at me when I moved them from the turner. There are six more that looked like late quitters. They don't smell nor are they leaking, so I left them in. My biggest problem is the breed I wanted the most (lakenvelder) only three are in lockdown.

I also had my "free" bobwhite quail eggs that came with the incubator. They sent 37 eggs (one broken). I never actually candled them until today. I didn't check for live chicks, just the shadow of a chick. I put 24 into lockdown and one that looked like a quitter. The rest were clear.

So it's really about 46% at lockdown. It's just the lakenvelder I am depressed over.

Deb

I have great experiences with shipped eggs and horrible experiences. I think it depends on where they come from, not necessarily how far, just what terminals the packages travel through. I also got the free Bob Whites with my Genesis... they sent 37 and every single one is developing..

I am trying to figure out what I will do with all these Quail. I found out on Sun. that since they are a native species here in NC...... I cannot sell them without a special permit/license.

 

[BHep]

Well I may be in I'll update later lol... My husband suprised me with a bator this morning

. With one condition... I don't buy eggs

I'm not sure he knows how this works since my hens aren't laying, this will be their first year to lay so who knows when they will start. This will be our first time to incubate eggs if we get any

.

So you don't "buy" eggs, you swap for them.

 

[rarely bored]

I ordered a bag of Chicken Wheat from a place in Oregon called Azure Standard. They have trucks they send down from Oregon to different parts of CA. My Drop in in Vavaville and a lady with chickens had 12 bags of Chicken Wheat and she accidentally took my one bag with her. I met the Lady and her Husband on 80 on the way home and we had a chat about my recent loss of chickens in shipping. It turns out the husband drives a truck for the Postal Service

I've ordered from Azure! I like their hard white whole wheat flour- great way to sneak whole wheat into cookies and brownies and pizza and... Glad you got your bag of Chicken Wheat - I've seen how easy it would be for someone to walk off with the wrong item! Will have to look into their chicken food.

 

[debs_flock]

I have great experiences with shipped eggs and horrible experiences. I think it depends on where they come from, not necessarily how far, just what terminals the packages travel through. I also got the free Bob Whites with my Genesis... they sent 37 and every single one is developing..

I am trying to figure out what I will do with all these Quail. I found out on Sun. that since they are a native species here in NC...... I cannot sell them without a special permit/license.

This group of eggs had the added disadvantage of spending the day riding around with the carrier in his truck. This despite me going to the PO two days in advance with a sign for them to hang on their sorting wall that I was expecting eggs. The seller marked the box HOLD FOR PICKUP with my phone number. My carrier didn't see either sign.

They were probably already scrambled, but I'm sure the extra journey did not help them.

I have gone in and spoken nicely with the local branch several times. I'm hoping they'll take an interest in the fact they are live eggs and will be a little more careful and won't send my eggs out for delivery next time. The second set of shipped eggs (same story) I had to make multiple phone calls and they ended up pulling them back off the carriers truck.

Deb

 

[coz74]

At least in my part of the country, the weather looks good next week for shipping eggs. When it got cold again last week I was getting worried. Now it looks like highs in the mid 50's and lows in the low 40's. Should be no worries of having eggs freeze on the way here.

 

[Pinx]

Ummmmm, this sounds like the perfect time for us BYCers with a few extra, fertile eggs to offer to donate 'em to Pinx, so she won't have to "BUY" any eggs!

Hmmm?

Thanks, but thats alright. I'll figure something out

. Maybe I'll tell him he can take my truck for a week if he lets me buy som of the Bantam Cochins I've been drooling over in the sales lol.

 

[Pinx]

So you don't "buy" eggs, you swap for them.

I would if I had something that was laying... My luck they will start laying after my bator is full or in mid swing though.

 

[Arielle]

Catching up. Miss so much in a few short hours.

I was born and raised here. My wife is from Wyoming. We want to move somewhere with less rain, no or little snow and less than triple digits in the summer...yes, we are dreaming! LOL!

Try coastal Maine-- I find the beauty of OR/WA as striking as Maine. Just not the rain and cooling ocean breezes keep the temp down. Some snow in winter though.

I have 12 dogs.......all in the house. 3 English Shepherds, 4 Shih Tzus, 1 Poodle, 2 Shih-Poos, 1 Brussels Griffon & a Chihuahua. We have the same bathroom issues. Just pray I'm not in a rush to get there, I trip over them.

OMG! SOmeone with more dogs than I had. Life with 4 dogs was a challenge, plus 2 kids and 6-8 cats, all living in the house. Yes, I can relate to the bathroom issues. Have fewer dogs, but the 2 kids have kept up the tradition!