May Hatch-a-Long!

[Kelsykin]

Quote:

Thank you. Turkey number 7 is working his way out.

 

[BirdyGirl7198]

I have 3 pips but still no ducklings! They're wiggling and peeping but still none have hatched. Today is day 30.. Should I be worried??

 

[Kelsykin]

I have 3 pips but still no ducklings! They're wiggling and peeping but still none have hatched. Today is day 30.. Should I be worried??

I am not even sure. I know I have at least 4 duck eggs that piped but they aren't due to hatch until tomorrow.

 

[Farmer Viola]

I hatched all around, before, and after Easter but not for the actual Easter Day hatch a long. I just can't plan that well ;-) I think last time I saw you was in the Feb or April HAL? I'm always in those!

I am hatching mostly barnyard mixes, a few mottled javas, and a few BCM x blrw from my young pullets. today is day 14 on one incubator, and day 7 on the other. I cannot WAIT to candle after dark tonight!

what kind of eggs did you win from the easter HAL? Congratulations btw! was it a photo contest? that photo of broken eggs... soooo sad.. fingers crossed for the 3 that made it in-tact

 

[Cynthia12]

I hatched all around, before, and after Easter but not for the actual Easter Day hatch a long. I just can't plan that well ;-) I think last time I saw you was in the Feb or April HAL? I'm always in those!

I am hatching mostly barnyard mixes, a few mottled javas, and a few BCM x blrw from my young pullets. today is day 14 on one incubator, and day 7 on the other. I cannot WAIT to candle after dark tonight!

what kind of eggs did you win from the easter HAL? Congratulations btw! was it a photo contest? that photo of broken eggs... soooo sad.. fingers crossed for the 3 that made it in-tact

That photo..is the winning eggs! I felt so bad for her when I had to show her how they arrived! Most were supposed to be Appenzelders..none of those worked out..she sent extras..little silkie mix eggs and not sure what the dark one is, looks to be a marans, but probably mixed as well. I just hope they hatch so I can send her photos of a few babies that I did get!
I hatch often too. Toooo often! My DH just walked into the door..back from the P.O. with more eggs.

 

[Kelsykin]

Quote:

If I get any more eggs I think I will need a lawyer. He just complained that he is going back to working for somebody else to support my poultry/hatching habit. it is far cheaper than his rabbit habit. lol

 

[Farmer Viola]

HA HA I know the feeling!!!
I have been allowed to hatch these by promising they can be our meat birds for the year, hah. I only have about 70 eggs in my incubators, what? oh and another dozen to be set today!!!

we did cornishX last year, never again. most of these will be rocks x orps, and x marans, so I think they will be good just need longer to grow out. and of COURSE I will be picking favorites who may not actually make it to the butcher block

 

[Kelsykin]

HA HA I know the feeling!!!
I have been allowed to hatch these by promising they can be our meat birds for the year, hah. I only have about 70 eggs in my incubators, what? oh and another dozen to be set today!!!

we did cornishX last year, never again. most of these will be rocks x orps, and x marans, so I think they will be good just need longer to grow out. and of COURSE I will be picking favorites who may not actually make it to the butcher block

We got barred Rocks last Nov. never again. They are mean and nasty and no meat to them. They are 6 months and not one egg. DH is so disappointed. I told him we should have went with the Orps and Favs lik we had before.

 

[JenBoughtHens]

HA HA I know the feeling!!!
I have been allowed to hatch these by promising they can be our meat birds for the year, hah. I only have about 70 eggs in my incubators, what? oh and another dozen to be set today!!!

we did cornishX last year, never again. most of these will be rocks x orps, and x marans, so I think they will be good just need longer to grow out. and of COURSE I will be picking favorites who may not actually make it to the butcher block  

Curious.. why never again on the cornish X?

 

[Farmer Viola]

Curious.. why never again on the cornish X?

they just grow too freaky fast. try everything once, right?
they use a specific genetic line of rocks and cornish to create the cross, which is bred for super fast growth. they are ready to be processed at 8 weeks old! that's crazy fast... the breast meat grows so thick, it's like 2 breasts. 1 breast weighs 14-15oz (almost 1 lb) and feeds 2 people. in fact, Foster Farms processes their CornishX at 44.5 days, to get the perfect sized breast meat (6wk)

I didn't like their behavior. they were gross. they would not forrage, or "free range" they would just lay down in front of the feeder and eat all day. they didn't care if they were covered in their own poop. the meat tastes fine, I guess, but I have heard that it is a bit "plain." chickens who eat grass and bugs have better flavor than those who only eat grain, like my cornishX did.

this will be my first year using heritage cross breeds as my meat chickens, so it's a work in progress and we'll see how it goes! I am going to have them in a tractor that moves around the property and fenced range area separate of my egg flock.