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My, my, my, you guys sure have been busy today! Lol think I had about 10 pages to read. Loving some of the information you guys are putting out. Also so jealous of the SS chicks! <3 They are my favorite also. I am planning to get more of them this year, just not sure where from. Anyone going to have any chicks for sale? Right now I have 4 of them.
 
I haven't been posting much... Not much going on. I am still hatching - but the fertility and hatch rates are still bad. Less than 50% fertile and 30-80% hatch rates. The Sportsman is still shrink wrapping my chicks. I am baffled that I haven't heard more issues about this - I am sure I am not the only one. Yes, I have my humidity up. Usually around 65% but I have had it up to 75%. I took out more plugs for more/better air transfer, too. I am not ready for so many chicks - it's to cold - so about 25% of the ones that do hatch die anyways. They keep squishing each other. -le sigh- I need to put a 3rd light in the brooder so they can spread out more.

On the topic of hatching...
I have Wheaten Marans eggs on the way. These birds are from Cottage Hill lineage and lay some super dark eggs! I am eggcited!
I also contacted a lady about Sweetgrass Turkey eggs. She's asking an insanely low price per dozen and I told her I would like 2 dozen when they start laying.

Otherwise, not much going on. Just hanging in there and reading as much as I can on the forum - and that isn't much. Seems to be 80+ new posts when I check. Hope all are doing well through all this snow! I hear the 40's are coming next week!
 
Reyvaughn said:
I haven't been posting much... Not much going on. I am still hatching - but the fertility and hatch rates are still bad. Less than 50% fertile and 30-80% hatch rates. The Sportsman is still shrink wrapping my chicks. I am baffled that I haven't heard more issues about this - I am sure I am not the only one. Yes, I have my humidity up. Usually around 65% but I have had it up to 75%. I took out more plugs for more/better air transfer, too. I am not ready for so many chicks - it's to cold - so about 25% of the ones that do hatch die anyways. They keep squishing each other. -le sigh- I need to put a 3rd light in the brooder so they can spread out more.

On the topic of hatching...
I have Wheaten Marans eggs on the way. These birds are from Cottage Hill lineage and lay some super dark eggs! I am eggcited!
I also contacted a lady about Sweetgrass Turkey eggs. She's asking an insanely low price per dozen and I told her I would like 2 dozen when they start laying.

Otherwise, not much going on. Just hanging in there and reading as much as I can on the forum - and that isn't much. Seems to be 80+ new posts when I check. Hope all are doing well through all this snow! I hear the 40's are coming next week!
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Yeah I saw that too. Still getting pretty nippy at night but I see a light at the end of this long dark cold tunnel finally. 40's will be glorious!
 
Yes I heard that about the weather also. I can't wait! All this snow and ice is driving me nuts! I have chick fever but, I have no bator to do the eggs in. Sigh.... My birds are hardly laying anymore. Most of them are going on 5-6 yrs old now.
 
PAchickenlover said:
Yes I heard that about the weather also. I can't wait! All this snow and ice is driving me nuts! I have chick fever but, I have no bator to do the eggs in. Sigh.... My birds are hardly laying anymore. Most of them are going on 5-6 yrs old now.
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I'll be setting eggd later this week if you need some chicks in a month or so. I can ship, but if you only want a few they ship better at a few weeks old.
 
heatherscooby77 said:
Yes vicki it is very dissappointing. They will actually stop laying. If you want chickens that will lay longer you need to go with a heritage breed. If you get your chicks from a hatchery, even if they are not the hybrid egg breeds, most of them lay pretty well. It still is not for a long period of time. For example, I have a SLW hen from a breeder. She is 7 years old and still lays. A hatchery SLW would have quit after 3-4 years probably. So if you want your girls to make you breakfast, and lay longer. I would recommend getting chicks from a breeder.
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I bought my chickens from a guy who buys his stock from a hatchery in Ohio, I forget the name, I think it starts with a M but not sure. Oh well, I'll keep the girls whether they lay or not, they are all so sweet....lol My oldest gals will be a year old soon, I believe March. The newest gals were hatched in October & they are laying now too. I have 2 buff orpies, 1 glw and 1 black australorp so far, want to add some golden comets and at least 1 slw eventually. I can only have 8 or 9 total ever because of local regs.
 
vicki5112 said:
heatherscooby77 said:
 


Yes vicki it is very dissappointing.  They will actually stop laying.  If you want chickens that will lay longer you need to go with a heritage breed.  If you get your chicks from a hatchery, even if they are not the hybrid egg breeds, most of them lay pretty well.  It still is not for a long period of time.  For example, I have a SLW hen from a breeder.  She is 7 years old and still lays.  A hatchery SLW would have quit after 3-4 years probably.  So if you want your girls to make you breakfast, and lay longer.  I would recommend getting chicks from a breeder.
Click to expand...

I bought my chickens from a guy who buys his stock from a hatchery in Ohio, I forget the name, I think it starts with a M but not sure.  Oh well, I'll keep the girls whether they lay or not, they are all so sweet....lol  My oldest gals will be a year old soon, I believe March.  The newest gals were hatched in October & they are laying now too.  I have 2 buff orpies, 1 glw and 1 black australorp so far, want to add some golden comets and at least 1 slw eventually.   I can only have 8 or 9 total ever because of local regs. 
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That would be Meyer Hatchery. Their birds are usually pretty healthy. I order from them often. I have a friend who lives about 20 minutes from them. She goes in & gets surplus chicks right from the store part of the facility for a pretty good discount. Then I meet up with her to get my shsre of the birds so we don't have to worry about shipping stress & nasty weather conditions.
 

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