Maine

[IZZYBELLA]

I think that next year, any new chicks that I add will be by way of hatching eggs. I'd love to put out the challenge to every one who has the space and the desire, to maintain one breed of pure stock. Doesn't have to be show quality, as any thing that is home produced will be better than what the hatcheries are providing. Then, the state of Maine would be set up to be self supplying. It would be fantastic if we could develop a co-op of folks who have the capacity to hatch, as well as those able to provide good eggs. I have the supplies on hand to build a dorm refrigerator incubator. That should hold a lot of eggs! And, if my new coop plan comes together, it should have a 4 x 8 storage room. A little space heater in that room would turn it into the perfect hatching room, so I can keep all of the mess out of the house. (That should please Hubby!) That should be a nice winter project.

It's a great idea, LG, and one I would love to support. I can't have a rooster, so won't be much help in terms of breeding, but I could possibly set up to hatch using other peoples' eggs and I would certainly purchase locally.

Glad your chicks are doing well!

 

[ashandvine]

All the brassica except four, all the strawberry seedlings, all the peppers but one, most of the sunflowers, all the basil and most of the cucumbers were all eaten today by the chickens. Nearly everything I had out in the seedling trays enjoying some sunshine and wind. I just about gave up right then and there when I saw it. I reseeded all the cells and trays, then went out to the garden and put some Mangels and favas in. I started to clean another large pen in the barn but my toddler wasn't having that. I banded a few birds and cleaned out brooders. I let some bantam cochins out to enjoy the sun in a closed pen so the large fowl don't heckle them. So much more to do... I can't find the Ivermectin and I know I just used it a few days ago! One cockerel is feeling thin and we found a few mites on the Cochins already. Having tied up the hair of the two Polish Caps a few days ago I got an egg today! That was quick. I swear, they can't see the sunlight to know its Spring. My Favorelle hatch was good, 11 out of 12 eggs hatched. I have black Javas coming, due tomorrow, for a little project here. The Swedish Flower Hens didn't do well in the mail. Almost all the cells were detached. The ducks are laying and the geese are laying. New gander coming this weekend. Even the Muscovies are starting to show some signs of mating. All five of the apple trees I grafted last year are still alive and budding. Now.... if I can just find time to finish the pens and three more grafts I have waiting in the frig. Its Spring, alright!!

 

[dowgirl71]

As we speak, my husband is making my coop bigger.

 

[lazy gardener]

How exciting, Dow girl. I went out and dragged out the chop saw and the table saw, took inventory of my lumber... with intent of starting a new tractor. I decided to wait for hubby to get home to help me with my planning, b/c any plan I come up with, he can make it much better! So, maybe this weekend, I can get a start on it.

I'm brooding the chicks in my garage this spring. The 3 x 6 tractor is parked right in front of the overhead door. On a sunny day... like today, I can open the door, and turn off the heat lamp to give the chicks a bit of sun shine. They were soaking that up this morning. I moved a lot of my house plants down to the garage today, so they can harden off before moving outdoors for the summer.

 

[Cknldy]

Farmgirl- I give wet (moistened) feed any time the weather won't freeze it. Like fermented feed it firms up the poo to big healthy poos that don't smell much at all. The chickens all seem to like it much better and there isn't as much wasted. I noticed for the past few days that what I give in the morning lasts until late afternoon which for me is good to keep mice away. So, until you get fermented feed going you could start him on wet feed. I hope some of the suggestions work for you so both of you will be happier

 

[Cknldy]

Congrats on all the new eggs and mating! Wouldn't ya know about the time I decide to collect for the bator the girls spazz on eggs?!

 

[quailtrail]

@lazy gardener great idea as I believe we have quickly chatted. I am already working on Doms and Ameraucanas myself.

Ok so day #22 according to my math and recollection. .. nothing When candled looked like they were developing well...could it be the still air incubator and hand turning delaying these????

 

[Widget]

Well my wayward roosters and their hens came back home today. They have been mooching off the neighbors for about a month. Needless to say the tom turkey was not happy the roos were back. I will give the alpha rooster credit he did not back down. Of course he has a bloody comb to show for it but does not appear any the worse for wear.

So many plans for this weekend. This will be the first time in six months that I not only have a weekend off but an actual day off. I wanted to start on the yard clean-up but I doubt I will get to that. My back is sending me strong signals that it is not happy and will go on strike if I do not meet its demands. So now my goal is to relax and not do anything stupid and end up with severe and agonizing muscle spasms. Been there and done that more than once and I would not wish that pain on my worst enemy.

 

[buckabucka]

@lazy gardener great idea as I believe we have quickly chatted. I am already working on Doms and Ameraucanas myself.

Ok so day #22 according to my math and recollection. .. nothing When candled looked like they were developing well...could it be the still air incubator and hand turning delaying these????

Since you are not positive about the date, I would wait another day or two. Then if nothing has happened, you don't have much to lose by opening the bator and taking out some eggs to candle. If you can't see movement, you could try a float test. If you think none of them made it and you are not squeamish about it, you could open them and see how far they developed, or if some weren't fertile, etc.
Sorry it isn't going as planned. I hope you wake up to hatching tomorrow!

 

[buckabucka]

Quailtrail, I forgot to mention you can also put the egg up to your ear and tap on it. If the chick has broken through the membrane, it will chirp!

I had a hatch that I was sure was finished. There were just a last few dud eggs in there, but one that I tapped on chirped loudly and scared me half to death!