November hatch-a-long

[ChickenCanoe]

Hello! I’m new to the incubating business... had one hatch last month. I have 3 Lavender Orpingtons due on the 6th...

Just set 7 Deathlayer eggs, shipped from eBay. They appeared fresh and in ok shape, only 2 with loose/wobbly air cells. One was cracked, I have attempted a repair with candle wax - is this crazy? I will definitely keep a close eye/nose on that one! I am just so excited about Deathlayers, and I couldn’t find any chicks, so here I go! I have read that they are not the easiest to hatch possibly due to gene pool issues. Anyone out there have any experience with Deathlayers?

Thanks and happy hatching!

Not crazy and a good move. People use all sorts of things to repair. The product I've had the most success with is liquid skin bandage. I think what makes it good is that it contains antiseptic properties.

 

[The Cave]

I’m sad I’m so ahead of everyone but not at all at the same time I have a pip!
It seems to have gotten a littler bigger throughout day but no peeping or movement from any of the eggs. Good thing I have high level of patience and my studying to distract me

 

[LadyCraig]

No, not crazy to repair a cracked egg. I have repaired and incubated eggs repaired with candle wax and nail polish. Have one in the bator right now that has a glittery blue patch. LOL!Do just keep an eye on the patched ones.

I hatched deathlayers this summer.....and then found out that there is a ton I did not know about deathlayers.....and now second guessing my getting them. Many have said they are a heartbreak breed. They can be temperamental to hatch first of all....and then comes the neurological issues aka "the leg issue" after they hatch (which can show up anywhere from right after they are born until they are 2 years old). I just lost my single 2 1/2 month old silver deathlayer pullets to neuro and the single cockerel from that hatch is starting to show signs of neuro. They are both from my first attempt of hatching deathlayer eggs (2/6 hatched). My 2nd attempt was 0/6 hatched, and my 3rd attempt was 3/6 hatched. The 3 from my 3rd hatch are still okay....but they are still pretty young. I have decided I am going to get out of the deathlayers as I am wanting to sell day old chicks and I do not want to sell chicks that die (due to nuero issues) on my customers. It sounds as though the neuro issues can even be passed on crossing out of the deathlayers. So just something I don't want to get into. Both the temperamental hatching and the neuro issues are caused by the limited gene pool...too much line breeding. If you want to stick with deathlayers, I would definitely look into joining a strictly deathlayer group to learn about the issues they have with the breed.

Wishing you the best of luck with your hatch!

Wow, my stomach just dropped. Thank you for the candid reply. I had no idea that there may be neurological issues in my future. I definitely would not want to perpetuate a breed with such issues! I have a tender heart and do not do well with suffering critters. I will be looking into a deathlayer group posthaste! Is that technically considered counting my chickens before they hatch? = )

 

[TwoShepherds]

This is my first time incubating. I set quail eggs on October 30! So excited!

 

[igorsMistress]

This is my first time incubating. I set quail eggs on October 30! So excited!

Nice. How many and what kind?

 

[TwoShepherds]

Nice. How many and what kind?

We have several different kinds of coturnix from Myshire Farms---jumbo white wing pharaoh, jumbo Egyptian, and a mix that was described as feather sexable. I'm a bit embarrassed to say I ordered 75 eggs and received 90, many more than I need--though the eggs were shipped and I'm inexperienced at incubating so not expecting a huge hatch rate. Some folks who post on a regional FB page say they can't keep up with the demand for fertile eggs and chicks, so I'm hoping I can sell any extras.

 

[kelseyk]

Wow, my stomach just dropped. Thank you for the candid reply. I had no idea that there may be neurological issues in my future. I definitely would not want to perpetuate a breed with such issues! I have a tender heart and do not do well with suffering critters. I will be looking into a deathlayer group posthaste! Is that technically considered counting my chickens before they hatch? = )

I went through the same gut drop when I found out about the neuro issues too. I was so excited about the deathlayer breed. None of the sites I looked at had any mention of the neuro issues - I didn't find out until I was looking for an explanation for why my pullet was acting so strange and joined a deathlayer group on FB. It sounds like this is even an issue in their country of origin as they are considered rare there too. I also found that silvers are more susceptible to neuro than golds. And that Greenfire is even trying to cross Silvers and Golds to try to combat the issue (which means they are more than likely seeing it at their farm too). I wish they did not have the issues as they are absolutely stunning birds!

 

[The Cave]

We have two babies out! I let them dry till slightly puffy then pulled them out so I could keep an eye on remaining bunch. So far no other pips...should I be worried? The air pockets aren't huge so I am going to make a post and see what people think. It is day 20 rolling into day 21 this evening. Am I being a worry wart?! Were the first two just flukes? The first one took forever to hatch the second one pipped about 12 hours after the first one and stole it's thunder by flying out of its egg first!

 

[The Cave]

Here are first two out

 

[LadyCraig]

I went through the same gut drop when I found out about the neuro issues too. I was so excited about the deathlayer breed. None of the sites I looked at had any mention of the neuro issues - I didn't find out until I was looking for an explanation for why my pullet was acting so strange and joined a deathlayer group on FB. It sounds like this is even an issue in their country of origin as they are considered rare there too. I also found that silvers are more susceptible to neuro than golds. And that Greenfire is even trying to cross Silvers and Golds to try to combat the issue (which means they are more than likely seeing it at their farm too). I wish they did not have the issues as they are absolutely stunning birds!

I am so sorry to hear about your chicken heartache! So sad, really hoping some hatch yet now I’m scared. Is there any chance it was Mareks? But I’m sure they would vaccinate on the GF farm...