I refuse to go to Alpena....lol.
I have had incubators going since January, I now have broody hens on eggs plus 2 bators and a hatcher going. I have chicks in 2 brooders and 2 groups I just moved out.
What I need is to be put into a self induced coma until the urge to hatch anything passes....lol.
I've got some runner duck eggs in the bator. I didn't plan on doing any ducks, but got sent a goose egg as a surprise in a swap. So of course I worried it would have to brood alone and slipped 3 of my duck eggs in with it. Wouldn't you know all 3 of mine were fertile and the goose egg clear....lol.
That really sucks about the egg allergy and to the whites only. I know you were hoping it was just the duck eggs.
I look at the Meat chick add every time I go to get feed at Millers but I tell myself I have enough butchering to do. The downside to hatching is too many cockerels. I've got some young maran cockerels I hatched in January that are going to be too pretty, I can tell already....always a tough choice on who stays and who goes to freezer camp. I have enough roos...just like everybody else...lol.
The marans are big and not afraid, they don't take much crap in the chicken yard...lol. Surprised me their first day "out" with the flock and a silkie rooster went to check out the newbies feed dish and a young maran cockerel jumped on him and proceeded to drag him out of the enclosure....lol I think the silkie was as stunned as I was.
Julie