- Feb 12, 2010
- 43
- 1
- 24
See e bay. There are some hatching eggs on sale now. Dprather I think.
Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
Marcy I have some pullets that are so dark even their combs and beaks were black. Early Dec hatch; however, some of these are starting to get a small amount of copper on the neck now and their wattles and combs are beginning to pink up. So you might give the girls a little bit longer and see what they do. However, I'm with you, those boys that are going to be way overcolored seem to get that right away and are easy to pick out early. I have at least 3 of them that are flaming orange. They will go to freezer camp as soon as I have time. You are right, good feed is too expensive to waste on birds you know won't make the grade so might as well eat them early. I've been surprised on some of my other breeds; they didn't look that big at 4 months but still dressed out at 2 1/2 pounds. And I don't mind little guys the size of cornish game hens ;=)
I'm glad you concur. I always get a little nervous butchering early for color wondering if they will change when they molt. The pullets do tend to color up a little later. I have quite a few now, same age as those cockerels, that already have nice color and I haven't seen a mossy one yet. I culled all the mossy ones last year and didn't keep any females without color, so I hope I am making some progress. Maybe if I keep only pullets that color in early I will get pullets that color in early! Those cockerels dressed out between 2 pounds 5 ounces and 2 pounds 10 ounces--not too bad for so young. I sell the processed birds when I have buyers, so that helps pay for feed.
they are sooo cute....... and good looking ..Even though it was rainy today I got a few pics of the two black male chicks. They are a little messed up from playing in the rain and sandy mud. At this age, they still hard to differentiate from a BCM chick but when they are born they have way less to no white on their faces than the bcm chicks (at least mine seem to) but then my bcms always have a lot of white on their faces lol. Anyways, I'm happy with how they look so far. One has that middle toe feather grrr. They are the biggest chicks in the brooder even bigger than the lavender orpington roo babies that are the same age. They look just like their dad did at that age but bigger. They are feathering in pure black and losing their white fuzz on their chests and legs and the lighter black fuzz on their bodies. Everyday they are looking more like dad. They are 1 month old today.
Roo 1 -Voodoo. Dh named them lol. I've just been calling him Boo. He's sooo sweet. He has some major wattle action going on just like his dad. On the downside, has the middle toe feather on both feet. This was a early problem with my solid blues but it hasn't showed up for a few generations...hmmm
Roo 2 -Blackjack He has no middle toe feathering but the feathers aren't covering that outer toe completely even though there is a stub on the top of each outer toe. He has been already acting like the alpha roo fighting with all the other ones. He is very sweet and likes to be held.
Here's Dad (Black Bart) He has a double serration on his comb. Right now I'm not seeing that on the 2 cockerals. Keeping my fingers crossed!!!
morning all!
I'm getting excited, will be moving the eggs over to the hatcher tomorrow night!
Thanks lady! I sure hope so too! I've got those baby kitties to play with to keep me distracted until the chicks hatch. I'm really curious about the Birchen eggs I got in Kansas and eggs from a couple of my blue copper pulletsGOOD LUCK! Hope you get lots of fussy butts!