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chiques chicks said:
Since my incubator is running for quail eggs...

And since I was savg eggs for someone who decided they want specific breeds, not just cheap to hatch....

Threw two dozen in today, even though the humidity is high due to the quail needing higher humidity (so I'm told). Worst that can happen is no hatch.
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I have found quail to need lower humidity, not higher. Still air I keep quail at no higher than 40% even through hatch. They tend to drown in the shells if it's higher. Add 10-15% at lockdown for forced air.
 
SilkieSensation said:
Quote: i also find the same
if the entire bator is quail ..I wouldn't add an water at all, lockdown water would depend on weather. at this time of year the normal house humidity would be a little to low and it would need a little water/
i had a lot of feed problems when the humidity would run high
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lelisabeth said:
I haven't been on this forum since selling my 4 chickie girls 5 years ago and moving from Massachusetts to Pennsylvania.  Now my husband suggested that we get chickens again, and you can only imagine my excitement... like, I couldn't think of anything else all day!
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Congrats! That would get me excited too!

stake said:
Lab:

The closer you are to a city the better the price you will get and the feed prices are higher too...I am getting $3/doz.....but I think if I really tried to market them I might be able to get $4...(whole foods is getting about $4.5-5.0)
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Agreed. I'm in the burbs, buts it's not unusual to pay $4 a dozen for decent eggs.
 
SilkieSensation said:
I have found quail to need lower humidity, not higher. Still air I keep quail at no higher than 40% even through hatch. They tend to drown in the shells if it's higher. Add 10-15% at lockdown for forced air.
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I tend to dry hatch chickens, my primary breed does best that way.

Seller of the quail eggs said they incubate at 60%.

I trust you guys more. No more water. At least until lockdown.
 
I found out tonight that month old Legbars can jump, fly and run like pheasants! A couple got loose in the basement. At least it wasn't as bad as the quail escapees we had once.

Judging from what my customers want, 2015 is the year of the dark egg layers. Everyone wants on the waiting list for either Welsummers or Marans. If you've got the ability to produce chicks of either one, better start up those incubators.

The cold weather has really put the hurt on egg production, most the breeds are laying at 50% or less, the sole exception being the Rhodebars, they just keep on going. By far the best layers in this cold snap. Many thanks to wingstone for my original stock. Now, if only they would hatch 50% female, This last hatch I set about 50 eggs and got 42 chicks, only 15 are pullets. Maybe next week the hatch will even thing out.
 


I have one Delaware out of my six girls. Got her at Calico, so she's just a hatchery chicky, no special line but boy, she is full of personality. She always jumps for the food - reminds me of a basketball player going for a jump ball. And I am pretty sure she was the last one to stop laying just a week ago. I hope they start laying soon, I actually had to buy !!! eggs this week and will again next week since the Big Guy and I went back on the Atkins Diet.

Anyway, just read the BYC article on rare chickens and they said Delawares are one of them. Does anyone else here have them?
 
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I'm originally from Lancaster County, and now settled in Berks/Chester County (Elverson). With a (very active!) three-year-old son, I think I'm going to need start with pullets this time around. Anyone know of any one in Lancaster, Berks or Chester counties that may be selling started pullets this spring? I'm thinking around April. I'm going to have to visit some mud sales for a coop. Hmmm, now what breeds... (yup, I was browsing all day yesterday at work. window shopping, if you will.)

We only have 1/4 acre, with unfriendly zoning ordinances, so mum's the word. But, coming from a city flock in Springfield, Massachusetts on 1/10th of an acre, I'm a pro at clandestine activities!
 
dheltzel said:
I found out tonight that month old Legbars can jump, fly and run like pheasants! A couple got loose in the basement. At least it wasn't as bad as the quail escapees we had once.

Judging from what my customers want, 2015 is the year of the dark egg layers. Everyone wants on the waiting list for either Welsummers or Marans. If you've got the ability to produce chicks of either one, better start up those incubators.

The cold weather has really put the hurt on egg production, most the breeds are laying at 50% or less, the sole exception being the Rhodebars, they just keep on going. By far the best layers in this cold snap. Many thanks to wingstone for my original stock. Now, if only they would hatch 50% female, This last hatch I set about 50 eggs and got 42 chicks, only 15 are pullets. Maybe next week the hatch will even thing out.
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the couldn't have went to a better place...glad to hear that the are doing well for you....
boys do tolerate the cold better, maybe that goes for the eggs also..
 

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