Official Christmas Hatch! c'mon and join

[evonne]

is it time to open the eggs yet?? i mean presents?? i mean....

rofl... oohh crap... hold that though.. i forgot to turn the eggs.......

i think this is gonna be my last run until we set one for valentines day.. are we going to do a valentines one??

i think we'd have to set on jan 24??
valentines day is a sunday this year.. that's nice... a nice relaxing weekend day....

*head off to clean downstairs so she can start decorating for the hatch day*

 

[neferset]

Oooo...I'll cheerlead that hatch too. Go Chickies! Go Chickies! Go! Go! Go!

 

[evonne]

Quote:
*makes a note to make nef a chicken hat and pompoms*

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
Well, I didn't really pay, "per dozen," as I bought other things also. It was a, "group price." Marans are rather common now, and the price has dropped drastically. I also bought 4 (rare) Light Sussex chicks, 6 growing out Marans, and a few Cochins, and .... can't think of the others right now. Oh, and he is hatching me some (rare, he said) Golden Laced Cochins. Most excited about ... I will be getting Coronation Sussex eggs! They should begin laying any day now.

 

[k2chickens]

Quote:
Well, I didn't really pay, "per dozen," as I bought other things also. It was a, "group price." Marans are rather common now, and the price has dropped drastically. I also bought 4 (rare) Light Sussex chicks, 6 growing out Marans, and a few Cochins, and .... can't think of the others right now. Oh, and he is hatching me some (rare, he said) Golden Laced Cochins. Most excited about ... I will be getting Coronation Sussex eggs! They should begin laying any day now.

Wow! This news hit's home with me, check your PM'S

 

[Poco Pollo]

Quote:
Well, I didn't really pay, "per dozen," as I bought other things also. It was a, "group price." Marans are rather common now, and the price has dropped drastically. I also bought 4 (rare) Light Sussex chicks, 6 growing out Marans, and a few Cochins, and .... can't think of the others right now. Oh, and he is hatching me some (rare, he said) Golden Laced Cochins. Most excited about ... I will be getting Coronation Sussex eggs! They should begin laying any day now.

I didn't know Gold Laced Cochins are rare. I hatched a dozen last season because they are gentle and good with kids. After the grand kids went back to school, I sold half and then gave my remaining four to a gal who lost her flock to a dog attack. They sure are pretty, but my DH doesn't see them as "real" chickens.

Who did you say you bought from???? I'm interested to know if he/she ships hatching eggs. I think you'll love your Light Sussex. I had four eggs, two hatched, and they were both roosters. Lovely boys, but I'm looking for girls to keep them company.

 

[kathyinmo]

Here are a bunch of pictures I took, when I toured .... the Light Sussex, Coronation Sussex, Gold Laced cochins, Black Copper Marans, etc ...
Believe me, I did not take enough pictures. I was nearly done with the tour when I realized I had forgotten to snap pictures.

http://s847.photobucket.com/albums/ab31/kathyinmo/Thom Dean 11-28-09/

 

[Poco Pollo]

I just candled my hatch. Of the 12 Salmon Faverolles I've got 8 with veining and 4 that may or may not be clears. It's too early to tell. Of the 18 Cream Brabanters, 15 have veining, 1 was weeping so I removed it, and 2 may be clears, but I'm not giving up on them yet.

I've got Speckled Sussex, more Salmon Faverolles, and some Light Brahama eggs in the mail to me this week. I hope they arrive Thursday so they miss the cold snap expected for tomorrow.

 

[kathyinmo]

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What day are you candleing on? I don't candle until day 10. I have seen too many people with poor hatch rates, and I think part of that is due to excessive handling and juggling them around. I don't touch them until day 10.

 

[Poco Pollo]

I usually wait until day 10. I've been anxious about this hatch because I thought I smelled something from inside the incubator. It turned out that one of the eggs was weeping, and I wouldn't have found it if I hadn't candled the whole group. The stinker/weeper was in the back row.

I don't pick up my eggs to candle them. I have a candling light I bought online from a poultry supply house ($14.00). The light fits gently over the top of the egg, illuminating its contents. It's not bright enough to candle Barnevelder or Maran eggs, but it works fine on eggs up to a medium brown barred rock egg.