Redinator's First Hatch-Along

[Chickadee7790]

I'd love to participate as well if you have more eggs that need claiming. It'll be a while before we try to hatch any, so I'm living vicariously!

 

[redinator]

I'd love to participate as well if you have more eggs that need claiming. It'll be a while before we try to hatch any, so I'm living vicariously!

None have been claimed yet. I'm waiting until I candle on day 7 and remove any non-starters before numbering and naming them.

 

[redinator]

Anyone have suggestions for taking good pictures while candling?

I tried with my last batch, but juggling the egg, flashlight and cell phone was a bit more than my nerves could handle, lol.

 

[ChickenChick46]

With the mixes I have and the Ayam Cemanis there's a good chance all of the chicks will be black, lol.

I did have RIR cockerel in the yard as well, but the older boys seemed to keep in line, but you never know. I recently sold him since he was a bit too amped up for my taste.

That seems to be what I hear most about RIR males. I also have been reading that a lot of people get RIR cockerels from Meyer Hatchery as the Homestead Helper free chick. If that's the case, dude might not be with us very long. I'm not wanting a feisty or aggressive cockerel running around.

 

[Slothinc]

Following! I have always wanted ayams, that is so exciting!

 

[redinator]

Following! I have always wanted ayams, that is so exciting!

I'm still in my "trying out different breeds" part of my chicken keeping journey.

In the yard I have: 10

4 BYM (2C,2P), 1 BO Pullet and 5 RIR pullets in the yard. I'm not a fan of the RIRs, but I'm keeping them until the new batch is old enough to go out with the males. The Reds remind me of a tempermental house cat . . . you can pet them, but only on their terms and if you don't pet them just right you'll get a peck, lol.

In the brooder I have: 26

4 week olds: 8 Black Sex-Links, 1 Cinnamon Queen (Hoover's version of a Red Sex-link), and 8 Bantams > 1 Self Blue Old English Bantam, 4 buff/red cochins, 2 game bantams (not sure which specifically yet) and 1 Black Tail White Japanese Bantam

3 week olds: 3 Blue Laced Wyandottes, 1 EE, 1 Blue Jersey Giant, and 4 Buff orpingtons

And before you ask, no I'm not completely insane, just a little nuts.

I plan to sell some, then I'll be splitting the rest up with a friend of mine. I live in a hurricane prone area and he has had issues with predators in the past. We decided to split them up so if one of us gets wiped out neither of us have to start from scratch. He doesn't like raising and breeding for chicks and I can't get enough of them, so it's a win win, lol.

 

[Slothinc]

I'm still in my "trying out different breeds" part of my chicken keeping journey.

In the yard I have: 10

4 BYM (2C,2P), 1 BO Pullet and 5 RIR pullets in the yard. I'm not a fan of the RIRs, but I'm keeping them until the new batch is old enough to go out with the males. The Reds remind me of a tempermental house cat . . . you can pet them, but only on their terms and if you don't pet them just right you'll get a peck, lol.

In the brooder I have: 26

4 week olds: 8 Black Sex-Links, 1 Cinnamon Queen (Hoover's version of a Red Sex-link), and 8 Bantams > 1 Self Blue Old English Bantam, 4 buff/red cochins, 2 game bantams (not sure which specifically yet) and 1 Black Tail White Japanese Bantam

3 week olds: 3 Blue Laced Wyandottes, 1 EE, 1 Blue Jersey Giant, and 4 Buff orpingtons

And before you ask, no I'm not completely insane, just a little nuts.

I plan to sell some, then I'll be splitting the rest up with a friend of mine. I live in a hurricane prone area and he has had issues with predators in the past. We decided to split them up so if one of us gets wiped out neither of us have to start from scratch. He doesn't like raising and breeding for chicks and I can't get enough of them, so it's a win win, lol.

Sounds like the perfect plan! I need to find a friend like that who wants to take all of my extra birds from hatching Your bantam babies sound sooo adorable!

 

[redinator]

Sounds like the perfect plan! I need to find a friend like that who wants to take all of my extra birds from hatching Your bantam babies sound sooo adorable!

The bantams were SR Assorted

I Love Love Love the Cochins, they're like feathered puppies, 2 of the 4 are frizzles and so far look like they're all pullets.

The 2 game bantams (I think one is a cockerel) are feral little devils. I'm pretty sure I could release them into the wild and they'd survive purely out of spite, lol. I have to net them to get hands on them then they scream bloody murder. Some chicks just refuse to be tamed, lol.

The Self Blue is the tiniest little cockerel a bit feisty but settles once he realizes you're not trying to eat him. His wings are longer than his body, lol.

The Japanese bantam has a bit of spunk too, but nothing like the game bantams. So far it looks like a pullet too.

ETA: The two bantams are named Flash and Dash if that tells you anything, lol.

 

[redinator]

While we wait: a short video I like to call it chickamonium . . .

Ignore the floor it's a patchwork of washable rugs and the carpet was ruined by my dogs well before the chicks came along. I shampoo it in between batches of chicks, but it'll never be stain free again and I'm ok with that, lol.

Every time I think about getting new carpet my dogs come in with muddy paws, or dry themselves on it after a bath, then I remember why I haven't bothered.