MARCH 2021 HATCH-A-LONG 🌷🌸🌼

[Blue Legs]

SMFARMAN: These eggs were produced here at home , my very first. Washed my hands and held one because I just couldn't help myself. Up to five little peepers now

 

[Winter Creek Coop]

Got my first two American White Bresse out of their eggs 12 hours after first pip

So cool. I’ve really been wanting to try these birds out. Have you eaten an of them yet? How do they stack up to their legendary a status?

 

[Blue Legs]

So cool. I’ve really been wanting to try these birds out. Have you eaten an of them yet? How do they stack up to their legendary a status?

So, I have eaten a large variety of fowl as a hunter, and cornish cross that I have raised. I have not yet raised another non production bird for meat, so I can't make a FULL comparison. However, with that being said:
The bresse I finished last fall was the most delicious poultry I have ever eaten hands down, up there with pintail. Every bite of chicken seemed to have as much flavor in it as an entire regular chicken would, if that makes sense. Overwhelmingly chicken, and tender. The legs made up more meat than the breasts by about 1.5-2 / 1, the breasts were a nice pale orange almost. I finished the birds for about 3 weeks on strictly corn in a smaller area (most of my birds free range over an acre or so) while still being outside. Slaughter was at aprox 4.5 months of age and all birds harvested were cockerels.

 

[Winter Creek Coop]

So, I have eaten a large variety of fowl as a hunter, and cornish cross that I have raised. I have not yet raised another non production bird for meat, so I can't make a FULL comparison. However, with that being said:
The bresse I finished last fall was the most delicious poultry I have ever eaten hands down, up there with pintail. Every bite of chicken seemed to have as much flavor in it as an entire regular chicken would, if that makes sense. Overwhelmingly chicken, and tender. The legs made up more meat than the breasts by about 1.5-2 / 1, the breasts were a nice pale orange almost. I finished the birds for about 3 weeks on strictly corn in a smaller area (most of my birds free range over an acre or so) while still being outside. Slaughter was at aprox 4.5 months of age and all birds harvested were cockerels.

Well pintail is delicious so that is high praise. Haha I do not need another breed but I sure do want several.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

I've got 7 more silkies hatching today! None have pipped yet but if I remember right I set them later in the day or evening. @LadiesAndJane How's your silkies going? My notifcations didn't go off and have lost track on the posts!

That's great!
I have 5 due to hatch Thursday! We will see!

 

[ChloeSilkie08]

That's great!
I have 5 due to hatch Thursday! We will see!

Is this the lavender ones? I'm dying to see what they look like!

 

[gimmie birdies]

Since I only have 4 brown eggs, left going on day 11 in incubator, I thought I would grab a few from the health food store, the farm they are from is by my house. The air cells are bigger than I want, but I am going to set anyhow. I am wondering if they should go under a hen or in an incubator. Currently warming to room temp.

People are saying incubator...

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Is this the lavender ones? I'm dying to see what they look like!

3 of the remaining are lavender but could also be black split to lavender, one lonely paint left and one BBS.
I hope I get at least one!

 

[Blue Legs]

This chick hatched and is odd for a few reasons:
1) color is silver as opposed to yellow
2) there is something still attached to it. Almost looks like an umbilical cord

What should I do? He is active, self hatched. Kind of got kicked out of his shell by a more aggressive earlier hatched bird

 

[Jaslynn]

I think I am losing one of my chicks, she has failed to thrive despite me showing her the food and water multiple times. She seems to be always cold. I have the brooder plate (Brinsea Ecoglow) set low at one end for the little chicks and high at the other end for the 3 week olds, I’ve shown her the warm end several times because she was very noisy. I found her flat out on the ground at the high end, stone cold. I thought she was already gone but she peeped softly so I popped her inside my top, against my skin which I assume she likes because she makes a lot of noise if I move. She’s a lot smaller than all the other chicks, even the ones who hatched at the same time. But she won't eat or drink so I’m just holding her close, keeping her warm and expecting she will pass soon.