Maine

[hoppy]

if you can break your semi broody hens that will help but I think either way, they will sell anyway being of age to lay now.
I've got a pen of silkies that eithe are not old enoughto lay or were trying to be broody so no nestboxes. once they stop being broody,they go back with the rooster of my choice.

I'm thinking of taking the following to one of the upcoming swaps, but was wondering if any fellow BYC'ers thought they would sell. They are all either laying or semi-broody right now: 2 Barred Rocks, 3 Unknown breeds, and maybe a Golden Comet. I might sell one of my EE's also. They are more like pets and are not flighty. I don't really want to get rid of any, but if I want to get ANY chicks this year, I need to make room first.

By the way SCG, I think that both of the chicks that I hatched from your eggs are females. They look kind of comical with their big feathers growing in ! If they would ever hold still I would take and post pictures.

 

[Coldweatherbirds]

I've stopped getting update notifications.

Anyone putting eggs in the 'bator this month? I know there are Easter hatchers going in soon... or already in? My borrowed LG is warming up and eggs are accumulating in the closet. Woo-hoo!!!!!!

 

[annabananaandfamily]

I've stopped getting update notifications.

Anyone putting eggs in the 'bator this month? I know there are Easter hatchers going in soon... or already in? My borrowed LG is warming up and eggs are accumulating in the closet. Woo-hoo!!!!!!

I just got my first incubator and am looking for eggs to put in it! I only have 2 hens right now, and neither has layed an egg in forever. So I am compulsivel checking the auctions here and on ebay. Are there other places to get eggs I should look into? Also, how long can you hold on to eggs before setting them in the incubator? And where do you store them til you are ready?

 

[hoppy]

I've actually gotten eggs from a roadside stand that I hatched. for your first hatch, don't get anything you don't care if it hatches (get cheap eggs). my first incubator I never hatched a thing in it and finally sold it to someone looking for just that model.

I just got my first incubator and am looking for eggs to put in it! I only have 2 hens right now, and neither has layed an egg in forever. So I am compulsivel checking the auctions here and on ebay. Are there other places to get eggs I should look into? Also, how long can you hold on to eggs before setting them in the incubator? And where do you store them til you are ready?

 

[hoppy]

I'm constantly loading mine each weekend. I decided not to load this weekend until some eggs came up on auction I couldn't resist. one set arrived this morning but they will have to wait at least until wednesday.

I've stopped getting update notifications.

Anyone putting eggs in the 'bator this month? I know there are Easter hatchers going in soon... or already in? My borrowed LG is warming up and eggs are accumulating in the closet. Woo-hoo!!!!!!

 

[casslarrabee225]

Oh that is HORRIBLE!

I haven't seen any minks around here...but that doesn't mean they are not around.

weasels will bite off your chickens heads and not take the body, they will do as many as they can catch at one time. I lost 11 one night and figured the rest were safe until night fall, wrong, it came back and killed 3 more. only then did it try to drag one through the fence but it wouldn't fit. it killed big chickens 10# birds and small.what ever it could corner. someone told me they only suck out the blood and make your birds weak, this was total carnage! maybe if I had turkeys it would have just sucked out the blood. weasels this time of yr are white, minks are dark brown and well foxes, you know. foot prints may also tell you what animal. weasels can slip through a hole big enough for an extension cord (that's how mine got in the coop)
I had guineas the first time, and they never said a word. those survived, they were in the rafters.

 

[hoppy]

they eat mice among other things but when the food supply is low, they go after chickens. and they just kill mostly for the fun of it, they are very wasteful.

Oh that is HORRIBLE!

I haven't seen any minks around here...but that doesn't mean they are not around.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

I'm thinking of taking the following to one of the upcoming swaps, but was wondering if any fellow BYC'ers thought they would sell. They are all either laying or semi-broody right now: 2 Barred Rocks, 3 Unknown breeds, and maybe a Golden Comet. I might sell one of my EE's also. They are more like pets and are not flighty. I don't really want to get rid of any, but if I want to get ANY chicks this year, I need to make room first.

By the way SCG, I think that both of the chicks that I hatched from your eggs are females. They look kind of comical with their big feathers growing in ! If they would ever hold still I would take and post pictures.

Awesome! I'm glad you had some hatch.

 

[Coldweatherbirds]

I just got my first incubator and am looking for eggs to put in it! I only have 2 hens right now, and neither has layed an egg in forever. So I am compulsivel checking the auctions here and on ebay. Are there other places to get eggs I should look into? Also, how long can you hold on to eggs before setting them in the incubator? And where do you store them til you are ready?

It's my second hatching, I'm using the LG still air (blah). I got a just-under 50% hatch rate last year (then 3 fatalities I think). It's a borrowed LG... I never ended up getting the incubator that I really wanted this year. (Sigh.) I put my eggs in the closet in the office as I collect them. It's about 55 degrees in there. I only collect for 3-4 days and then assume that they will get too old, but I've heard of people hatching older. Last year I was less discriminatory with egg condition and I think that (along with the poor quality incubator) accounted for my low hatch rate. This year I'm not putting in any that were not still slightly warm to the touch when collected. I'm not putting in ones with imperfections in the shell (I hold them to the light and if the shell has lots of light areas, or is too rough to the touch, or has visible lumps or striations it goes in the fridge to eat.


I think I offered before, but I have fertile mutt eggs you could try. The gas money might not make it worth the drive to Litchfield, though. Good luck!

 

[annabananaandfamily]

my grandparents live in gardiner and we try to make it up to the litchfield fair with them every year. i like taking the kids there because it still has the good down-homey feel to it.
anyway, i think you might be right, litchfield may be too far of a drive to justify at this point! i think i may actually meet up with klf this weekend and get some fertile mixed breed eggs from her!