Our first hatch of spring 2009 - RIR and some mixed ones! (PICS)

[bowhunter]

Here are some pics of our first hatch for the spring of 2009.
Mostly our Rhode Island Reds, some Barred Rocks crossed with our RIR roos and also a couple Buff Orps and GL Wynandottes mixed in for fun.
We set 36 eggs, pulled 10 quitters by day 18 from the bator, had 7 no shows that were almost fully developed and one unfortunate that pipped but died.

Now we have 18 chicks bouncing around in the brooder in our basement.

I was happy to see that the RIRxBR cross is as easy as they said it would be to sex at day old. The male has a white dot on the back of his head and the 4 pullets are all black.

Anyways, this first hatch was just an experiment being so early in the spring and all, we were pleased to get 50% hatch this early.
I cleaned up the Hovabator after the hatch and also fired up a homemade unit my son helped me make last week. We are gonna set our next bunch of unsold eggs before they get too old.


Here's to spring!

 

[gabrielle1976]

I have never heard about that sexing thing in BR , Im not shure I would put to much store in it unless I tested it out a few dozen times to make shure ..

 

[havingfun]

Congrats

on your hatch. This is my first time as well. When do you give up on the unhatched eggs. I had 10 hatch at day 19 and its now day 22 with no more signs of life.

 

[cackle]

Congrats on the hatch. We had a broody hen hatch out some BR/RIR mutts and you are right it is easy to telll the difference. I had heard about the dot on the head but did not realiz the male would have light colored legs and the female black legs.

 

[Suess hens]

Quote:
The BR RIR cross makes a black star with the sex link trait of the white dot on the back of the head of the little boys.
I have to setting right now that I am hoping will hatch. Would like them to not have a dot on their heads, but I will accept anything that pops out of those eggs!
Congrats on the hatch!!!

 

[bowhunter]

Quote:
I had most of my chicks hatch on day 20 and only four on day 21. My average temperature may have been a bit on the high side. I suspect that with a lot of your hatch on day 19 that you might have been a tad warm thru the set too?

With that early hatch any eggs left in the bator are likely quitters now.

I always sneak a peek to confirm and of course learn as much as I can about this crazy hobby.

A word of caution - It may smell if you open your eggs up now!

Have a great night...