Peeps in Europe!

[abpatchy]

Guys... I don't know if I would call it stupid... but I definitly feel that way. And saddened that I just threw the whole rooster away.

From my last hatch I had 2 roosters that were good enough to grow up to see if they are breeding material. One of them decited that one of his waddles didn't need to grow properly. Of course he was the dominant rooster of the two (they were sharing a stall and run). And since he was the dominant rooster he was bigger.... and getting a lot bigger than the other one. He was keeping the good rooster down. So I butchered him Friday morning. My husband built this removeable cone holder for me. Now I can butcher on my own. So cool...And there is room for another cone if I ever want to work with two.
But anyways.. here I was butchering that rooster... I was starting to take off his feathers... when I saw what looked like maggots on his wing. Eeeeww!!! And they didn't want to come off either! I pulled but it felt like they were just holding on for life. My husband and I dicited we didn't want to eat that rooster... and I just threw him away. He would have made a nice roasted chicken too! He was a good size.
I was a little worried about my other animals so I sent the picture of the rooster to a couple of breeders....by the time I finally got an answer... it was too late... I had thrown him away.... guys.. those "maggots" are new feathers!!! I did not realize they were so soft until later...
Yes, I learned something... but it's still sad that he had to give his life for nothing.

 

[Erba]

Sorry to hear that, but you live and learn.

Yes it would be great to get three hens. I incubated this time at a lot lower temperature, to see if it worked better for me. I normally incubate at 38.2 but these were more like 37.2 to 37.5 on average, so it might be something to do with that, and they all hatched 2 days late, maybe Light Sussex roosters need it warmer, who knows? So that means at least one of my Light Sussex roosters will be here for the longer. haul..lol My own eggs should be hatching next week, so we will see what I get from them. I also incubated them at a lower temperature.

 

[abpatchy]

Sorry to hear that, but you live and learn.

Yes it would be great to get three hens. I incubated this time at a lot lower temperature, to see if it worked better for me. I normally incubate at 38.2 but these were more like 37.2 to 37.5 on average, so it might be something to do with that, and they all hatched 2 days late, maybe Light Sussex roosters need it warmer, who knows? So that means at least one of my Light Sussex roosters will be here for the longer. haul..lol My own eggs should be hatching next week, so we will see what I get from them. I also incubated them at a lower temperature.

Yes... it's all a learning experience!

Have you checked your temperature with an extra thermometer? Sometimes they are off...
Little chicks!! Good luck with yours!!!
Now that they are grown I wish I could hatch again! But I have to start even later in spring next year. At exactly 5 month mine started to lay eggs (a couple of them) their comb is big and red. I didn not expect this from such a large bird. For show they need to be right around the first egg (or should be) because they are at their best. The first show, if it happens, is October 31st... long time until then. Again... learning experience. did a lot of that in the last year.

 

[Erba]

Have you checked your temperature with an extra thermometer? Sometimes they are off...

Yes I have calibrated analog thermometers, I never did trust digital ones. I did the test again and yup same result with the chicks! Can't wait to try it on my own chicks when they hatch and join the others in the brooder. My Sussex have always started laying around the 18th week mark, so a little earlier than yours. Are yours considered a dual breed?

 

[abpatchy]

Yes I have calibrated analog thermometers, I never did trust digital ones. I did the test again and yup same result with the chicks! Can't wait to try it on my own chicks when they hatch and join the others in the brooder. My Sussex have always started laying around the 18th week mark, so a little earlier than yours. Are yours considered a dual breed?

wow.. 18th week!!! I didn't expect mine to lay yet.. I have Bielefelder from February 15th and they're not laying yet.
Yes, mine are considered a dual breed... but are a little bit more on the "meat" side.
Sussex were on my list as well, when I was trying to decide what breed I wanted. But the Sulmtaler roosters did it for me...

 

[Erba]

Well be glad you didn't choose Sussex, they are a pain to find although to be fair, I should have driven up to Villingen-Schwenningen to get my first birds from the breeders there, if I had only known they even existed...(I got the breeders book from the show in Freiburg) But like I said, you live and learn. A guy in Schliengen is selling hens for 18€ a hen, but honestly his birds don't look like they should. I spent 40€ on the 20 eggs I ordered and with the 3 I got it was actually cheaper that way. The other problem with buying live birds is you always get something coming in with them. My first birds came with mites, I took care of it and haven't had it since. Buying hatching eggs and being able to introduce them to the flock at an early age, with no worries they will get something from each other, is also a reason I prefer to hatch my chicks myself.

 

[Erba]

Here they are, already getting their wing tip colour. Amazing how fast they grow.

 

[abpatchy]

Well be glad you didn't choose Sussex, they are a pain to find although to be fair, I should have driven up to Villingen-Schwenningen to get my first birds from the breeders there, if I had only known they even existed...(I got the breeders book from the show in Freiburg) But like I said, you live and learn. A guy in Schliengen is selling hens for 18€ a hen, but honestly his birds don't look like they should. I spent 40€ on the 20 eggs I ordered and with the 3 I got it was actually cheaper that way. The other problem with buying live birds is you always get something coming in with them. My first birds came with mites, I took care of it and haven't had it since. Buying hatching eggs and being able to introduce them to the flock at an early age, with no worries they will get something from each other, is also a reason I prefer to hatch my chicks myself.

oh so cute!!!! I can't wait to have chicks again!! But yes, they do grow so fast!!! When I look at my roosters... 5 month old... and they look grown... they are huge! 5 month ago they were these little yellow fluff balls. Enjoy them!!!
Have you tried looking for different breeders? Contact the Sonderverein http://www.sv-sussex.de/neu/index.html ...they might be able to give you more addresses to work with. Sometimes taking a trip to pick up eggs is worth it. Combine it with an outing or sightseeing.
This year it is hard to get chickens and decent hatching eggs anyways. Everybody is getting chickens... either because they always wanted to and finally had the time to build the coop... or because of the corona situation.

 

[abpatchy]

Well be glad you didn't choose Sussex, they are a pain to find although to be fair,

Well... I have been known to drive 5 + hours to Austria to pick up new chickens.
And then decide they are no good and got rid of all their chicks and I want to sell the hens.

You could always breed Sundheimer...

 

[Erba]

My own light Sussex, back up plan eggs are now on day 18 and I just locked them down...only five because like 6 weren't even fertile! I think she played hard to get with the boys. And a couple just stopped developing. They are due on Thursday so if they hatch on time, they will be exactly one week younger than the shipped egg chicks. So excited!