She said/He said Who's right? Who's wrong? No one!

[RubyNala97]

Somvabetch.

Found a property we like that is zoned agricultural-residential and allows farming.  We are currently in a residential property that does not allow agricultural usage, and file Schedule F to maintain commercial farming status for protection under the Michigan Right to Farm Act.  

Because we are currently commercially farming, despite EXCEPTIONAL credit and income that meets tests to support well in excess of what we want to buy, lenders don't want to back a loan, even on a property that has no tillable land, no livestock facilities, essentially nothing that makes it suitable for a "farm" (though it will support our backyard poultry, even a steer or horse).

I've spent the day contacting lenders, now going back to the VA to see if I am eligible...

The VA may back the loan up and offer you zero down. Good luck!!

I keep two roos in one pen, they are fine.  Both are good roos, but different crosses.  I don't have any trouble with two.  One has learned his place and while he has a harem within the population, he does not cross his line.  The big guy makes sure of that.

I'm planning on keeping two Roos in the same pen, as well.

I had a horrible day at work.  I hate it when work gets in the way of my BYC time! 
SC, you are probably already gone for the evening, but you can bring the old SC back when you see this... not much new to add really.

4 of 4 silver duckwing OEGBs hatched - 100% that is!! Yes!
1 of 1 silver sebright (although I just found out its not pure... oops)  100%
5 of 6 black tail buff Japanese - which is excellent considering they carry a lethal gene - I think 83.33% is pretty darn good!
My parade ruiner is the golden sebrights.  8 of 13.  I didn't mention this before, because I chose to lock it down anyway, but I cracked one egg when I took the rails out.  I hoped it would make it and I left it in because it deserved a chance.  But it died.  My bad.  I still have the 3 in the Brinsea, and one has internally pipped and is still alive, but I think it is shrinkwrapped.  I made an air hole, but hubby says after he culled my slipped-tendon baby, he won't do it again.  So I'm more inclined to let this one die in shell if it can't get out on its own.  I set at 10pm, so I "plan" to give it till 10 tonight.  I highly doubt it will make it. 

So overall, I guess I'm shy of your parade percentage.  I'm sorry.  You can bring the old SC back and smack me for not meeting your quota!  But I'm pretty happy about the hatch and the Brinsea anyway.  (I still think the BTBJ's are parade worthy on their own!)

you did awesome!!! Now you have babies to grow out over winter. Sounds like a great hatch!!

Well hooray for everything but the 5 golden sebrights that wouldn't come to the party!

e e e e e

Here's my kind of parade, just people running around like crazy. (At least they are in sync!)

I loved it!!

Started a small clutch in the incubator on 8/29; no water, temp about 99 according to two thermometers, RH unknown 'cause I had no hygrometer. Hygrometer/thermometer arrived two days ago; RH was only 30% & air cells were about the size of a dime, so I added some water. RH went up to 60% overnight, but temp dropped to 95.6. Been adjusting it ever since. RH has been holding steady @ 60% for last 12 hrs. Managed to get the temp. back up to 97.6 so far...this is day 13.

I'm open to suggestions at this point. Afraid to take water out for fear of a drastic temp. spike. Inclined to leave well enough alone @ be prepared for a delayed hatch.
Any ideas?

Walnut pretty much nailed it. How much water did you put in? Is the water shallow or deep? Definitely calibrate the hygrometer.

 

[rossfam06]

I vote yes! She deserves a parade!!

 

[RubyNala97]

I vote yes! She deserves a parade!!

X2, yes

 

[rossfam06]

Thank you! That will work!

So much for blue. I just pulled the air cell off. Its still chirping, but not really trying to get out....
And new big coop is on the agenda this weekend for the lavenders at camp, if the weather cooperates!

Hahahahaha disregard my last about you turning more blue!!!

 

[scflock]

Well, in case you can't make a parade, how about a smack down?

24 turkey eggs set refrigerated up to 4 weeks at 34F

8 viable at 10 days

5 made it to week 3

2 were alive at lockdown

2 hatched unassisted in the Eco 20 and are healthy, happy buggers.

I can't do a smackdown for low hatches, that's just adding insult to injury.
Why were they refrigerated? Did you do that knowing that you would be holding them for a while before incubation?

I vote yes! She deserves a parade!!

X2, yes

2 yays so far. I'm not voting since I'm the parade master, unless in the event of a tie

 

[RubyNala97]

I have good news!! There is this small farm in NJ, that I found on brinsea's website (believe it or not) long before I ever hatched. Beautiful silkies and only 3 hours away. I wanted my very first eggs from there. When I contacted the woman she said she incubates what her girls lay but I could stay in touch. So every other month I shoot her an email (she's really nice). But she never has any extra eggs. Last night she messaged me that her incubator is full and her girls laid 11 eggs yesterday. She said if I wanted them, she'd collect whatever was laid this morning and send them out by lunch time today!!! So I have eggs coming!! e

 

[WVduckchick]

My feeling on this is that if the chicks are meant to hatch, they hatch in the Brinsea. Most I have assisted were culled later. I don't even check for life any more when I shut down

I semi-agree, but I did assist 2 that are doing perfectly. I think it depends on the reason for the assist. One was zipping the wrong end, but in the proper direction, so I knew he was just backwards in the shell. I think he just ran out of room in the pointy end, so I helped finish the zip, and peeled of the stuck membrane. The other zipped such a wide line, his leg pushed out and was having trouble rotating with a leg out, so I helped it finish zipping and it was fine. I can't tell which 2 they are now.

Hahahahaha disregard my last about you turning more blue!!!

Bahahahaha I was about to say "read on!" Sadly, this one isn't going to pull through. I removed the rest of the air cell, and put some Vaseline on him, and got some of the membrane out of the way, but he never has tried to push out. It looks like proper position, but I can't tell for sure. I turned off the bator at 2:30 am, but he was still breathing when I left for work. I have read several "trash can" hatches lately, so I left him in the bator, but I expect he will give up soon.

 

[OldMissionChick]

What is the most important thing about the eggs you choose for the incubator?

 

[WalnutHill]

Ok, there are a few different ways to look at this:
18/24 is 75%, but the cracked egg should never have been counted, so 18/23 is 78%. Considering you drove over 2 hours to get the eggs, I think some leeway should be given in the "shipped" category. 75% is still a great hatch, and I know 85% is the hatch rate for unshipped parades, but a 2 hour drive for untested eggs is a new variable

Ok, now for the "creative" math:
By breed, 100%+100%+83.33%+61.5%= 344.83%
344.83/4= 86.2075. Over a point over parade qualification

If we go purely by breed, then you get two parades: One for the OEGBs and one for the silver sebright. Add those two 100% hatches to the black tailed Japanese, and that pulls the three breed average to 94.44%, and that equals three parades. Assuming those lazy goldens drop the averages of two of those breeds below 85%, I still owe you the third parade.


It's up to you and the thread. I won't throw it if you don't want it, but the numbers don't lie

Strike up the band!

 

[scflock]

What is the most important thing about the eggs you choose for the incubator?

For me, I want the ones that are the most naturally clean, normally shaped, and freshest possible