New here and to chickens, excited to join and learn more about our feathered friends!

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BockBockChick said:
As far as their eventual disposition (friendliness), I don't think it matters where you get them, as long as you interact with them and handle them regularly. Healthwise, yes, it matters where they come from, as I'm sure you already know. I've seen the McMurray's is good, but I don't know many breeders.
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Ok!😊👍
 
Happyhennies said:
😅😂👍 Good to hear about your roosters! My other concern would be like never ending multiplying but I guess if you don’t let your hens sit on the eggs it won’t happen! But then I would feel bad for the hens they can’t do what they naturally would like to…😂
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Just put decoy (fake) eggs in their nest. They really don't know the difference. They'll be just fine with your taking the real ones.

Leghorns make terrible mothers, as they do not sit on the eggs long enough to hatch them, not that I've tried to breed them, just from my personal observation and research. It is quite cute (and sad, haha) that they will pull in the fake eggs and sit on them for a few seconds. 🤣🥰🐣
 
BockBockChick said:
Just put decoy (fake) eggs in their nest. They really don't know the difference. They'll be just fine with your taking the real ones.

Leghorns make terrible mothers, as they do not sit on the eggs long enough to hatch them, not that I've tried to breed them, just from my personal observation and research. It is quite cute (and sad, haha) that they will pull in the fake eggs and sit on them for a few seconds. 🤣🥰🐣
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Okay good advice and that is funny to hear about the Leghorns!!😅😂 I guess if you don’t want broody hens that is perfect then!🤣👏
 
BockBockChick said:
Leghorns. They have an undeserved bad rep. Mine are super sweet and friendly. They are so much fun and funny. Each have their own distinct personality. I hatched them myself and made sure to handle them every day so they would get used to it and not be so skittish, as they are reputed to be. They don't mind being held at all, and follow me around like little puppies, haha! Sooooo danged cuuuuuuute!!! I'm completely, madly in love with them.
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About hatching your eggs, where did you get/buy them from? What was your hatching rate? And was that your first time incubating? How did it go, any issues? I’ve never done it myself but would like to try some day!!🤩
 
Happyhennies said:
About hatching your eggs, where did you get/buy them from? What was your hatching rate? And was that your first time incubating? How did it go, any issues? I’ve never done it myself but would like to try some day!!🤩
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Before I got the eggs, I spent literally days and days watching as many YouTube video as I could on how to hatch eggs and how to build an incubator. I read as many articles as I could find through an Internet search.

I got eight eggs from a friend. It was my first time ever trying to hatch eggs. It started out as mostly just an experiment and curiosity, just to see if I could do it.

I purchased one of the smallest and cheapest incubators I could find, and because of its small size and being relatively inexpensive compared to the others, I did not expect any eggs to hatch, but was hoping for just ONE. I followed the directions that came with the incubator as closely as possible. It does not have an automatic egg turner, so the only thing I did additionally was to gently move the eggs around in the incubator each time I rotated the eggs.

Of the eight eggs, one turned out to not be fertilized, so that had to be removed. The remaining seven, four hatched the first day, and two more followed the next morning. One of the seven eggs did not make it. I candled it and saw slight movement, so I put it back, thinking (hoping) that maybe it was just a bit slower, but it never hatched. In retrospect, I should have probably helped it out on the second day of hatching after the two hatched the next morning. It was sad, but a learning experience.

So I ended up with SIX successful hatchlings out of eight, many, many more than I had hoped for. I was so freaking happy it was ridiculous. :wee:celebrate <--- This was literally me on hatching day.

I can't even begin to describe the feeling of watching the mircle of life develop right before my eyes. To see these living, breathing, beautiful chicks come out of the tiny eggshells was just incredible. Truly an AMAZING experience.
 
BockBockChick said:
Before I got the eggs, I spent literally days and days watching as many YouTube video as I could on how to hatch eggs and how to build an incubator. I read as many articles as I could find through an Internet search.

I got eight eggs from a friend. It was my first time ever trying to hatch eggs. It started out as mostly just an experiment and curiosity, just to see if I could do it.

I purchased one of the smallest and cheapest incubators I could find, and because of its small size and being relatively inexpensive compared to the others, I did not expect any eggs to hatch, but was hoping for just ONE. I followed the directions that came with the incubator as closely as possible. It does not have an automatic egg turner, so the only thing I did additionally was to gently move the eggs around in the incubator each time I rotated the eggs.

Of the eight eggs, one turned out to not be fertilized, so that had to be removed. The remaining seven, four hatched the first day, and two more followed the next morning. One of the seven eggs did not make it. I candled it and saw slight movement, so I put it back, thinking (hoping) that maybe it was just a bit slower, but it never hatched. In retrospect, I should have probably helped it out on the second day of hatching after the two hatched the next morning. It was sad, but a learning experience.

So I ended up with SIX successful hatchlings out of eight, many, many more than I had hoped for. I was so freaking happy it was ridiculous. :wee:celebrate <--- This was literally me on hatching day.

I can't even begin to describe the feeling of watching the mircle of life develop right before my eyes. To see these living, breathing, beautiful chicks come out of the tiny eggshells was just incredible. Truly an AMAZING experience.
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Oh wow that really sounded like a special experience!!!👏❤️🤗🥳 You did really good for a first timer I think and doing all your research!!👍 I’m sorry about the ones that didn’t hatch, especially the one that was moving but at least you got 6!!!🐥🐣🐥🐥🐣🐥💕🩷💕 I can only imagine the feeling on the hatching day and then all the days after that when they started growing, I’m sure it forms a different and special bond between you and the birds.🥰 Then you’re literally like a mom to them!!❤️
 

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