November/December "Hatch-a-Long"

[Ihilani Coffee]

Does anyone have chickens from Greenfires first line of Legbars? I got my chicks from a guy that has some as his breeders. I am finding info online saying Greenfire mixed Legbars with Rhodebars and they are more colorful than they should be. I have 2- 3 month old roosters and they look nothing like the pictures of Legbar roosters on the internet. I posted pictures on the Legbar thread and they say they are crossed or the guy sold me something else. This guy has always been great and fair. I don't think he crossed them or gave me the wrong chicks. I was wondering if anyone else has had odd colored chicks from this line. I normally ignore this type of information online but the chicks look like they could be crossed with Rhodebar or Welsummer but the guy I bought them from doesn't have these breeds. I have been to his place a few times. His breeds are all seperate and they are all beautiful. My hens are all fine. I know this is the hatching place but you guys aren't mean when I ask a question like the other threads. These are my 2 roosters.

I have my first Rhodebars in the incubator now (this makes it OK to post on the hatchalong...

) The Rhodebars are showing the legbar influences also. Unfortunately from what I gather Greenfire just breeds the heck out of their "imports" to make those OUTRAGEOUS profits and we all pay for it down the line trying to "undo" the damage. I understand when dealing with a limited genepool that sometimes outcrossing to "improve" the line happens...but to do that and NOT TELL THE CUSTOMERS is unconscionable IMO. If using HRIR to improve a line of Rhodebars for example, it takes 3 generations before you again have "pure" (true autosexing chicks that will breed true) Rhodebars.

I take full responsiblity for buying cheap Rhodebar eggs off of eBay. I am sure the seller loves his Rhodebars and has really no idea of the genetics involved, and is simply passing on the "information" about the birds from the sellers HE bought his eggs from on eBay. Caveat emptor. As I learn, I am finding out how hard I am going to have to cull these chicks so as not to waste my time with raising breeders that won't breed true. I don't know if this helps you, but what you describe is, unfortunately, all too common.

 

[Heidisgran]

Does anyone have chickens from Greenfires first line of Legbars? I got my chicks from a guy that has some as his breeders. I am finding info online saying Greenfire mixed Legbars with Rhodebars and they are more colorful than they should be. I have 2- 3 month old roosters and they look nothing like the pictures of Legbar roosters on the internet. I posted pictures on the Legbar thread and they say they are crossed or the guy sold me something else. This guy has always been great and fair. I don't think he crossed them or gave me the wrong chicks. I was wondering if anyone else has had odd colored chicks from this line. I normally ignore this type of information online but the chicks look like they could be crossed with Rhodebar or Welsummer but the guy I bought them from doesn't have these breeds. I have been to his place a few times. His breeds are all seperate and they are all beautiful. My hens are all fine. I know this is the hatching place but you guys aren't mean when I ask a question like the other threads. These are my 2 roosters.

mine aren't green fire but here are to of the roos...they're bigger now with bigger crests and combs but the coloring is about the same as this picture

 

[gimmie birdies]

I got mine from some cowboy hippy. legbars have nice light blue eggs.

 

[Heidisgran]

Quote: I mean "two" I know that!! dippy me

 

[Farmer Viola]

this type is my favorite proven incubator. I have 2 fully made incubators, like this above one, 2 waiting to be made (1/2 made)

and this one,



this big one was too big to dry hatch. I like the small ones because I figured them out, on this big one I may have to play with it. I like the looks so I won't give up.

Your incubators are both very cool. What is the first one made out of? The second one looks like wood?
I am interested in building an incubator, too. These styrofoam bators can only last so long..

 

[gimmie birdies]

The first one is a small cardboard box. I am currently teaching people how.

 

[gimmie birdies]

I think I like to hatch out so much because I like to visit with other moms-to-be.

 

[Farmer Viola]

Uh...I put in 7 eggs on Day 1...

Since I need more experience candling, I'm following the advice of my Sportsman incubator mentor who has hatched thousands of eggs (mostly his own, but some shipped also). Hand turning is not an option for my lifestyle, so I am keeping the shipped eggs in the carton. I am pretty sure I had some chicks that had to work WAY harder to hatch because of their earlier hatchmates kicking, rolling, and otherwise spinning them around while they were trying to pip. So I'm thinking it might actually be easier for them to get themselves out of an upright shell than try to fine the "top" of the aircell over and over as they are continuously moved about?

Oh! So what's the plan there? Are you going to try and increase humidity between day 18 & 19 or just go for it day 18? Maybe slow ramp-up day 18 & full blast humidity day 19? Just wondering

Interesting theory on egg position too. So you say he puts shipped eggs on their sides as well? I think the idea behind having them upright, at least through lockdown, is to get into the proper position within the egg before hatch time. They are still growing after getting into position, so if they grow in the wrong position then they won't pip in the correct location (as far as I understand it). if they are positioned properly inside the egg, no amount of rolling around would un-position them(?)

 

[Farmer Viola]

The first one is a small cardboard box. I am currently teaching people how.

I read the how-to-build-an-incubator Articles here on BYC where they claim you can build one for about $10. Ha! Well, maybe if you have all the materials lying around your house already.

I am looking for a good container, at 2nd hand stores, Goodwill, etc. Either a wine cooler, wood cabinet, or maybe even an ice chest. other things like a lamp kit (for lightbulb wiring) I would have to buy so I'm just going to wait for a cheap lamp. I think I will have to buy the thermostat too.

 

[Ihilani Coffee]

Oh! So what's the plan there? Are you going to try and increase humidity between day 18 & 19 or just go for it day 18? Maybe slow ramp-up day 18 & full blast humidity day 19? Just wondering

Interesting theory on egg position too. So you say he puts shipped eggs on their sides as well? I think the idea behind having them upright, at least through lockdown, is to get into the proper position within the egg before hatch time. They are still growing after getting into position, so if they grow in the wrong position then they won't pip in the correct location (as far as I understand it). if they are positioned properly inside the egg, no amount of rolling around would un-position them(?)

Essentially a dry hatch to day 18 as described in the Dry Hatch Method page on BYC. RH ~35-38% and letting it dry down before adding water each time until day 18, then right up to 65% through lockdown. If you re-read my post I will keep them in cartons through hatch, not lockdown on their sides as with the homegrowns. I don't think rolling around "unpositioned" my last ones, but perhaps disorients them when they are trying to pip? But then, I'm really a newbie.