***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[Ksane]

You guys! I've got 2 fuzzy babies from the eggs that I hadn't thought would hatch!!

Cochin/Orloff mix babies.
3 days overdue :-O The one I helped last night and he was out this morning. The 2nd one was pipped when we left at 9AM this morning and hatched by the time we got back this afternoon )))) I didn't kill them all after all, I'm so glad! Hiking the humidity up to the 90's at the last minute worked after all. There's still 3 more and a Cochin/Ameraucana mix in there that I'll just let sit til tomorrow night.
Nana, that sounds just fine to me. I do want that breed, everything I read says how wonderful their personalities are. From what I can tell parent-offspring breeding is perfectly acceptable, it's sibling-sibling that people keep saying should be avoided. I certainly don't know and have extremely limited experience with any of it.

 

[miohippus]

You guys! I've got 2 fuzzy babies from the eggs that I hadn't thought would hatch!!

Cochin/Orloff mix babies.
3 days overdue :-O The one I helped last night and he was out this morning. The 2nd one was pipped when we left at 9AM this morning and hatched by the time we got back this afternoon )))) I didn't kill them all after all, I'm so glad! Hiking the humidity up to the 90's at the last minute worked after all. There's still 3 more and a Cochin/Ameraucana mix in there that I'll just let sit til tomorrow night.
Nana, that sounds just fine to me. I do want that breed, everything I read says how wonderful their personalities are. From what I can tell parent-offspring breeding is perfectly acceptable, it's sibling-sibling that people keep saying should be avoided. I certainly don't know and have extremely limited experience with any of it.

awesome

 

[shelbydog]

Shelby or Kyz, I'll gladly save eggs from the Favs if you want. I've only had 2 chicks that hatched from siblings and BOTH developed that knee/hip problem where their legs grew out to the side. Not spraddle leg, some joint problem.
I do have Spitzhauben eggs saved up from this week. I've saved Araucana eggs, too. Sometimes Araucanas have a problem with fertility because they're rumpless. The Brahma breeder sent me so many extra Brahma eggs and i have Orloff eggs to set also. I just got the Standard Cornish eggs in the mail and don't think I'm going to be able to set them. I'd love it if you'd take those lol they're hatchery quality but would make great big chickens for processing.

I'll pass on the favs for now. I'll take the brahmas and araucanas to free space in your incubator for the Cornish

 

[Sooner]

Congrats Ksane!!!

 

[muesky]

I'll pass on the favs for now. I'll take the brahmas and araucanas to free space in your incubator for the Cornish

There are several breeders that come to the Shawnee show that have bantam favorelles, in blue and black, which is really nice. There are always really nice ameraucanas at the show as well.

Don, do you know how closely related the Del. Bantams are? I'm going to beg Nana for some of their eggs in the future and I'm trying to stay away from real closely related birds. I have this theory that they'll be healthier and stronger by breeding unrelated birds. Do you think there's anything to that? I think you (of all people) would know.
I shall commence to begging lol!

Ok, who said a prayer under their breath for my unhatched eggs? Fess up, someone must have. I just love my big Brown Red Cochin boy, Lillith. He's in with the 7 Orloff girls I got as chicks summer of 2012. Well 5 of those unhatched eggs were from Lillith and his Orloff and I was just sick at the thought that I'd killed them. I wanted them really bad. The one I helped last night is out and drying and another was pipped this morning!! I don't know if either will make it but it's pretty amazing. I wrote everything down and I *didn't set any of those eggs days later. I don't know why I might get 2 out of them 3 days late :-0
So keep praying for Lillith's babies!

To develop a breed you really have to think long term. There are a number of breeds that are endangered because they have been inbreed too much. As I have been studying genetics for my ameracochin project I am working really hard to make sure that I am not breeding related stock. The main reason I started my project was because I love the salmon favorelles but they have been inbreed so much they are a weak bird and difficult to raise because of it.Breeding ameraucanas with to the cochins I get close to what I love so much about the favorelle and a bit more. It will take me about 10-15 years to standardize the breed but when I am done it will be a very viable breed. It takes longer to get the type you want but in the long term you will have much healthier and stronger birds.
Okay I will kindly step off my soap box...

Thanks muesli . Newcastle show Oct 19th

Sorry I will miss the show. Doc and I are going to see his mom next weekend, so we will not be able to make it. Hope your birds do very well!!!!

Hiya's! Carah, Mitzie, Don and Rebecca

It's nice to see some familiar faces posting again

Hi Bill!!!

Good to see you online! I'm happy to hear about your fruit trees and bees. They go well together : )

I'm teaching art at the middle school this year. I'm caponizing cockerels and will have them ready for market this Thanksgiving and Christmas. How's Little Sooner doing?

Well it is definitely home coming week. Glad to see you on the board. Hope you are enjoying teaching at the middle school. This year I am teaching students with multiple disabilities which I totally love. Unfortunately I was saddled with very crappy assistants, other then that I am enjoying the year.

 

[Ksane]

Thanks, Sooner and Mio!
Shelby, nice try :-D I've practically named the Brahma babies already. Countin' my chickens a'fore they hatch again haha!
I can't wait to learn how to caponize. I'm so tired of my girls getting overbred or boys fighting. It'd be nice to be able to nip that in the bud at a young age.

 

[Ksane]

Rebecca, did you see the picture of my big Blue Cochin/Ameraucana a few wks? I love how the traits come together in that mix. Huge body, feathered legs and pea combs. 2 of the chicks I just hatched this week are 1/4 Cochin and 3/4 Ameracauna. I can't wait to watch them grow up.

 

[dgibson]

Ksane they are related, at this time we don't have a choice the gene pool is close there isn't enough of them around if I go back to Kanas ill try and get more same blood but not close. I never cross blood lines , just saying this works for me , outside cross seems to cause to many faults . Didn't really want to get rid of them but I knew the were going to a good place. I'll get more another time

 

[muesky]

Rebecca, did you see the picture of my big Blue Cochin/Ameraucana a few wks? I love how the traits come together in that mix. Huge body, feathered legs and pea combs. 2 of the chicks I just hatched this week are 1/4 Cochin and 3/4 Ameracauna. I can't wait to watch them grow up.

I did not get to see the pics but I know from the ones I have hatched they are really cool. At this point for my ameracochin breeding project, I am breeding for the dominate traits, feathered legs, beards, blue/gray legs, and pea comb. Oh and colored eggs. What I will do is if I have one that has a great beard and and all the other traits I am breeding for I will breed that back to one of the cochins that have heavily feathered legs, etc., etc.,. I have the genetic chart up to 5th generation then things kind of get weird and I have to introduce new bloodlines to keep them all clean. But at this point that will take 3-5 years so I have plenty of time.
It is my hope to go to one of the shows up north and get some new birds and lines from there. Several people have said they have seen some amazing birds (LF cochins) at some of the shows. I think that is going to be my best bet to getting new bloodlines.

I am always hopeful...

 

[mjgigax]

Doing great MJ! How are you doing??
Anyone doing any new stuff lately?
I have fruit treess going, got my first peaches this year. Started honey bees, should have got honey this year but got lazy instead. Meat birds are my new project.

I have Wheaten Ameraucanas and Blue/Splash Marans. I still love my Cochins best but the Marans sure are sweet.