***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[emtdeb2001]

hey Okies, my little mottled cochin hen started laying today and I would love to hatch out a couple of babies from her, do you think that my egg would be ok in the garage until she lays a couple more? I think that it would be to warm in the house and the sun room changes temp and warms up due to the windows in the day time. Any suggestions are appreciated. I haven't had any hatching experience since I was a kid and we used to hatch them out.

 

[Poco Pollo]

Evening, Okies.

I decided to put one of my ginormous hens into the fridge today. (The spell checker thinks that's okay

) She's a cornish X I bought at an auction. She had respiratory problems when I first brought her home, so she had a week of antibiotics and then I put her on layer pellets, yogurt, and greens. She gained two pounds on that diet, and I was afraid that if she didn't end up on the table soon, she'd need a walker or a crash cart. I mixed a gallon of brine and had to use a Tupperware flour keeper for overnight in the fridge. 8 lbs. 12.6 oz. She might as well be a turkey. Keeping the cornish X broilers for a little while was an interesting experiment, but it's capons for me from now on. I want my birds to be able to move around, hunt bugs, and enjoy being chickens.

 

[jcatblum]

Deb- I think the garage would be to cold to put eggs in. Just set them in a sad place in your house, where they can't get knocked over or eaten. (have you checked to see if they are fertile?). Also turn them daily while you are collecting them. I don't always remember to turn, but if they were in a nest they would be getting turned.

Good luck hatching!

 

[Sooner]

Deb I would also keep them in the coolest place in your house, if you put them into an egg carton you just have to turn the carton. I believe the general rule is you can keep them up to 10 days before the hatch rate starts to drop.

POCO that is one big hen!!!

let us know how she tastes!

 

[fairwindminishetland]

You can put a thermometer near where you want to put them and check it and then maybe put them in your porch room at night if it's going to be too cold in the garage...just try to keep them under 60 degrees and you can use a book to tilt the egg carton back and forth through the day if you've got one...Good luck and happy hatching!

 

[Sooner]

Lil'Sooner is drying birds for her upcoming show this weekend~ I offered to wash if she would dry, funny that she thinks she got the good end of the deal. I am done with all three & she is still drying the first one!

Where is everyone? Its cold out there!

 

[fairwindminishetland]

Now that's a plump chicken...Have you eaten this variety before...it sure looks like it would bake up to perfection!

 

[emtdeb2001]

Thanks for the advice all. Ok dumb question, how do I tell if they are fertile? When I was a kid we just put them in the incubator and hoped they hatched! I would like a more scientific method if possible. LOL

 

[Sooner]

If you do a serch there is what you call a bullseye......Let me see what I can find.

Here's one with a picture
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/618918/bullseye-in-egg

This one has better pics & will be helpful
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/16008/how-to-tell-a-fertile-vs-infertile-egg-pictures

 

[hoog]

Can I share my tip for today.

When chopping veggies to give to your chickens if they include jalopeno peppers, don't blow your nose during the process or just after!!!!!!

(smiley not meant for mad just to demostrate how my face feels right now)

@Kassaundra I learned that going to the bathroom, as a guy, right after cutting peppers isn't a good idea either.