North Carolina

[ramirezframing]

Possum, I don't use a bator unless it requires feed everyday.

I have used them before but don't hatch as many with the human bators as a silkie. I have a few silkies that if I take the new chicks away as they hatch and dry and replace with new eggs, the hen will keep sitting. Found this out last year when bait eggs started hatching while waiting for some I had got off ebay to show up. But I dp leave them with mom if possible, but I remove them all till big enough to go in with the other birds. So there is some pecking order issuses going on and I guess it would be the same if mom and babies stayed in with the other birds as the chicks get bigger. I hope this helps.

 

[goldhillgirl]

HT- beautiful babies you go there

Homesteader- Glad there was no damage to your new barn.

As for us

Our coop was picked up from underneath and blown over on it's back. The damage doesn't look to be too bad but getting the thing picked up is gonna be the problem. It is so heavy. I am not discouraged though....even glad that it happened now rather than when we get the babies in there. And speaking of babies....going to pick up 3 white silkies this afternoon!

They are only 4 weeks old but the lady said she thinks they are all pullets!

side note: The wind also snapped the neighbors 20 ft. flag pole in half so I don't feel so bad about the coop going over knowing how bad that wind must have been.

 

[NewHomesteader2010]

ML - you mean I have to choose ONE breed??

. Actually we have some orpingtons ready & waiting for us to get done with the coop. They are still young so I don't think they will be laying any time soon so that means LOTS of cuddle time!! Hehe. Try to stay warm & dry!!

 

[HenThymes]

Quote:
My goodness ML, so just what are you going to do with all those little ones when they hatch!!

We did rehome 8 young cockerels last night, it's a nice little relief in the grow out pens.

But... have plenty more cook'n in the bator!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I don't know HT someone needs to

me.

i guess we'll process the roos and find homes for most of the hens but i feel sorry for the girls when they want to sit so bad..

 

[Matt A NC]

We lost power just after midnight. After 90 minutes I candled the eggs in the bator and took the good ones out to a couple setting hens to stay warm. The power didn't come back on till at 6am. Put the eggs back in the bator at 7. I can't leave them out. Too many ladies will try to get in the nests and I end up with broke eggs. The broody houses and lots are still being used this week and then I will have 2 places to get hens settled. Two bantam girls, Lacy and Bella, will be getting bator eggs to finish hatching. Maggie, standard Ameraucana, will get a few to hatch, but will be raising some hatchery chicks that I am picking up the same day.

I was planning on most of these eggs to be duds, but out of 36 bantam eggs only 6 were duds. As long as only 24 hatch the girls can raise them for me.

Matt

 

[ourlittleflock]

Quote:
YUUUHHHH!! I am still waiting on my call duck eggs - you having calls

<<but congrats on having them - are your magpies, the magpie duck (larger breed) or the magpie call duck...

The magpies are the larger size. The other dozen are mystery eggs, I'm thinking runners since they are white to green in color. They look like the runner eggs I hatched before. The calls are white. I have bought call ducks egg here before but only 2 developed & both quit at pip.

So for $1 an egg I will try again. I paid 45 for my last 6 eggs, I can't afford them again. I would rather buy ducklings or a breeding pair.

I do not have call but have been patienty waiting for eggs from a BYCer who has calls but they are moulting/on strike whatever. Wonder if we are waitnig on the same seller????

I also found 2 local people selling calls. I am patienty (again) waiting for my income tax refund.

The one guy has white, black bibbed & grey. Not sure about the other guy, he came highly recommended, but I will wait until I have the cash in hand before calling.

I wil; keep you posted on the fertily on these eggs & hopefully hatch some.

you will definitely have to let us know what the mystery duck eggs are when they hatch -- it sounds like we are waiting on the same seller - I have another seller that is tested magpie call duck eggs and she has been wonderful - her fertility is getting higher and higher each week. pm me is you would like her info...

 

[BookWorm243]

I am glad everyone made it thru the storm. It was horrible here, we had the lighting, thunder, wind, hail, and plenty of rain. It is sunny now but this morning it looked horrible out.

 

[Miss Lydia]

it's cold and very windy here and we've had snow showers off an on, wacky weather. going to be summer rest of the week

 

[vfem]

Our chicks haven't been able to get back into the coop at night (the 3 week olds are just able to on some occassions) so last night we went out with lights and gathered up all the chicks (who were under their mama's though) and get everyone back in the coop. Those silly little fuzzies were probably very happy to be up in the warm nesting boxes for a night. So everyone survived the storming winds and rains. Thank goodness!!!