Redinator's First Hatch-Along w Bonus Broody: And Everything Thereafter

[redinator]

He's beautiful!

Did he look anything like this at 5/6 weeks? Wondering what mine may look like later.

He looked a bit like a snowy owl. This picture was from 5ish days old:



These were a little over a month ago at about 8-9 weeks old

He'll be 13 Weeks on Tuesday.

 

[ChickenChick46]

He looked a bit like a snowy owl. This picture was from 5ish days old:

View attachment 4226691

These were a little over a month ago at about 8-9 weeks old View attachment 4226687View attachment 4226688

He'll be 13 Weeks on Tuesday.

Aww! He's a handsome boy! This is mine at a few days old.

 

[redinator]

Aww! He's a handsome boy! This is mine at a few days old.

OMG . . I'm missing the fluff

My friend is bringing me back my incubators when he brings the Jersey Giants to trade for the RIR.

I also have a whole mess of eggs I can't bring myself to eat

 

[ChickenChick46]

OMG . . I'm missing the fluff

My friend is bringing me back my incubators when he brings the Jersey Giants to trade for the RIR.

I also have a whole mess of eggs I can't bring myself to eat

Whoa!!! That's a ton of eggs! Are you gonna hatch some more?

 

[redinator]

Whoa!!! That's a ton of eggs! Are you gonna hatch some more?

I'll see how things go with Jersey Giants before I make any decisions, but most likely. I'll probably do small batches, 6-8 eggs, since the chicks may need to be kept in longer if the weather gets too bad.

I have 5 incubators that I haven't used yet (I loaned them out before I had a chance to test them), so I want to put them through their paces on a smaller scale.

 

[ChickenChick46]

I'll see how things go with Jersey Giants before I make any decisions, but most likely. I'll probably do small batches, 6-8 eggs, since the chicks may need to be kept in longer if the weather gets too bad.

I have 5 incubators that I haven't used yet (I loaned them out before I had a chance to test them), so I want to put them through their paces on a smaller scale.

Oh wow that's awesome! I'll be asking your thoughts before I buy mine.

 

[redinator]

Oh wow that's awesome! I'll be asking your thoughts before I buy mine.

My biggest piece of advice I can offer so far . . . get one that has a battery backup option.

This is the one I have high hopes for, but I haven't used it yet: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DWMRHYPF?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_29

 

[ChickenChick46]

My biggest piece of advice I can offer so far . . . get one that has a battery backup option.

This is the one I have high hopes for, but I haven't used it yet: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DWMRHYPF?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_29

Yeah I definitely will. I remember when the power went out on you during your hatch. Not fun.

 

[redinator]

So much happened this weekend. I'll start with 'bad' news . . . actually more of a relief. Taz was . . . uh . . . handled . . . and is resting in the fridge. Don't worry I won't add a picture for that.

I handled the culling better than I thought I would. My friend, Adam, watched while I did the majority of the work and he stepped in a few times when I got too close to 'things you don't want to cut open and ruin the meat'. I think one or two more times with guidance and I'll be able to handle any future culls myself. Thankfully there aren't currently any chickens on 'the list', but we'll have to how the flock dynamics change.

The 5 RIR pullets and two Phoenix game bantams were traded for my newly acquired Black Jersey Giants, which are in a side yard during quarantine. 1 Cockerel and 3 pullets, roughly 15-16 weeks old. The two pullets with the darker faces are calmer than the cockerel and the red faced pullet. I had Daisy in with them on leash and she seemed curious, but not predatory (thank God). This bodes well for the possibility of adding grown laying hens if I need to in the future.



In other news I have my 5 incubators back and that whole stack of fertilized eggs Taz and the RIRs left behind, lol. To hatch or not to hatch?

 

[ChickenChick46]

So much happened this weekend. I'll start with 'bad' news . . . actually more of a relief. Taz was . . . uh . . . handled . . . and is resting in the fridge. Don't worry I won't add a picture for that.

I handled the culling better than I thought I would. My friend, Adam, watched while I did the majority of the work and he stepped in a few times when I got too close to 'things you don't want to cut open and ruin the meat'. I think one or two more times with guidance and I'll be able to handle any future culls myself. Thankfully there aren't currently any chickens on 'the list', but we'll have to how the flock dynamics change.

The 5 RIR pullets and two Phoenix game bantams were traded for my newly acquired Black Jersey Giants, which are in a side yard during quarantine. 1 Cockerel and 3 pullets, roughly 15-16 weeks old. The two pullets with the darker faces are calmer than the cockerel and the red faced pullet. I had Daisy in with them on leash and she seemed curious, but not predatory (thank God). This bodes well for the possibility of adding grown laying hens if I need to in the future.

View attachment 4227768View attachment 4227769

In other news I have my 5 incubators back and that whole stack of fertilized eggs Taz and the RIRs left behind, lol. To hatch or not to hatch?

I'm sorry about Taz, but I totally get it. You just can't have that kind of stress. Your new birds are so pretty!