Should I buy eggs or wait it out?

[okallthis4eggs]

We really have been given a bad name.

 

[okallthis4eggs]

We really have been given a bad name.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Here are some babies

They look great! Love the babies

I was feeding the gang this morning, and saw that several girls had poop on their backs. IDK what was going on last night/this morning, but they were apparently under the roost.

Did I mention that I got an egg yesterday? My first in over a week (when I got one egg that day)? I had to buy a dozen eggs today. It was horrible!! Even getting them half price (.85) didn't make it easier. How am I supposed to eat them??

YUK i know, store eggs gag me. That is odd they were under the perches.

Hi All!

Congrats on the eggs and the new chickens. Sorry about all the snow. You guys are not getting a break this winter!

I had a most disappointing hatch. I put up 13 eggs (maybe that is why). 5 were AM, 3 were CL, 2 were either the BR or the OE (which lay pink eggs), and the last 3 were either the NHR, Delaware or Buckeye. All 5 of the AM eggs were duds, I opened them and they didn't seem to be fertile. 1 CL and 1 pink egg were fully developed but didn't hatch. 6 hatched but two of the chicks have splayed legs (which I am on my way down to fix). All covered by one of two AM roosters.

Some issues I think may have contributed:

All hens are under 1 year old (8-10 months old)
Roosters are the same age (8-10 months old)
I candled them daily (which I have done on previous hatches with no issues) but I think I should not have had a cool down programmed if I was going to candle them.

So, I am wondering if anyone else has any thoughts, or suggestions to improve the next batch. I really want more blue egg layers. I could wait another month and try again. I do have some sort of Marans rooster now in with the remaining AM roo, but he is only 6 months old. Not sure if the fertility issue with the AM was the roo or the pullet.

The Blue Copper Marans I bought are finally laying, army green eggs! I guess they are really OE's. I am getting 1 chocolate egg every couple of days from a Black Copper Marans, but I don't know which one is laying yet. Talk about an egg hunt with these girls! They are laying under the stairs, on top of the cabinets, in the horse stalls, behind the lawn mower, all sorts of places! I am getting about 15 a day from 20 possible layers (some new layers in that number) Maybe the number will increase as I find all the hiding places!

All the new chicks are black with some lighter colors as well, and of course I didn't mark any of them to show who came out of what egg! It is all for fun anyways.

Ugh, so sorry to hear the hatch wasn't so good. Winter seems to have a huge effect on their chicks.
Younger parents may have some play in it. I did notice more splayed legs in the early months of hatching (feb) last year.
All my breeding adults then were under a year old. I had a lot of issues with my EE chicks early in the year too.
For us, they are not able to get what they need free ranging in winter, so I try to add it by fodder and treats like live mealworms.
I think diet will play some on it too, try adding ACV to the water if you don't already. Vitamin supplements seem to help too.
Olive eggers are a big deal here, thats great!
Bunny my EE is a seasonal layer, she starts to lay late january and stops early fall.
Her first chicks had wry neck, cross beak, several splayed. I stopped hatching hers quite a while.
Later in the summer, they were all perfect. I kept 3 of her girls, and giving them to my 2 rhodebar roos.
I have 2 BCM hens I will also put in that pen. Hoping for some great EE/OE layers by fall!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote:
Its the light and the temps. I have about 30 hens, probably more at POL. -0- eggs today.
My pekin have even stopped

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote:

Na. Mabel knows she is special. Now you ROGER... hmmm
Did you ever give dads credit card back?

 

[SullyD]

Thank you for all the words of wisdom!

I did check SOME of the eggs for fertility prior to hatching. Must have missed the AM eggs. I will be checking them out in the future! The CL/AM eggs that hatched, the chicks have the splayed legs. Eggs were almost an XL, so I think there was enough room to move around prior to hatching. I noticed today that most of the chicks have beards! I am also supplementing their food with PIE that has lots of goodies and added protein. Living in Florida, there is lots of fresh produce available. The farm stand I am selling my eggs to gives me a bucket of spoiled produce every week, and they pay me for the eggs! They are charging their customers $4.50 a dozen. (They are paying me $3). Unfortunately the farm stand closes for the summer. That will be when I get 2 dozen a day and I will be begging people to take the eggs! I will try to get some pictures of the olive eggs. I love the coloring. Very dark green. All the colors are making for a beautiful carton of eggs.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Thank you for all the words of wisdom!

I did check SOME of the eggs for fertility prior to hatching. Must have missed the AM eggs. I will be checking them out in the future! The CL/AM eggs that hatched, the chicks have the splayed legs. Eggs were almost an XL, so I think there was enough room to move around prior to hatching. I noticed today that most of the chicks have beards! I am also supplementing their food with PIE that has lots of goodies and added protein. Living in Florida, there is lots of fresh produce available. The farm stand I am selling my eggs to gives me a bucket of spoiled produce every week, and they pay me for the eggs! They are charging their customers $4.50 a dozen. (They are paying me $3). Unfortunately the farm stand closes for the summer. That will be when I get 2 dozen a day and I will be begging people to take the eggs! I will try to get some pictures of the olive eggs. I love the coloring. Very dark green. All the colors are making for a beautiful carton of eggs.

Would love to see the colors!
Come summer, that's when you put out a sign selling your farm fresh eggs!
I give away a lot in the summer to family. I only ask they save me their egg cartons throughout the year

I also freeze several surplus for baking in the winter, omlettes and scrambled eggs.
We ran out early so I will be freezing a lot more this year!

 

[Whoops]

Ahhhhhhh, to get up in the morning and shower, flush, wash, all those glorious, civilized things. Plus, the velociraptors got their first batch of fodder today. They ripped right into it. Doubt they will reward me with an egg, though. But, when I opened the run door for them, Hattie, the wannabe rooster psychochicken that attacks me, squatted. I thought something was wrong with her at first. Her comb does have hints of pink, but it's nothing like the Barred Ones blood red crown and wattles. I think it's just part of their cruel taunt, like when Hecate goes into the coop and sings to herself while Hattie stands guard.

 

[Whoops]

Yeesh, Hattie raced across the yard just now to get to me to squat. Maybe she will beat the Barred One to this laying business? I am a little suspicious that she is laying and Hattie is eating the eggs, but it seems like there would be shells or something left. Anyway, I bought them a present today - some ceramic eggs. Maybe it will put the idea in there heads, and also discourage them from eating eggs? I showed them the ceramic egg, and them pecked at it. This does not seem like a good sign. . .

 

[lindz8504]

Hopefully they aren't eating them Whoops!

Definitely want to see egg and chick pictures Sully! WOO HOO, Fluffies!!!!!

I took my guys some more sprouts out today... They were BOSS and millet (thanks Cheeka!) The millet sprouts so easily and it is pretty! Cheeka you have to try it! If you think they go after the seeds, you should see them go after the sprouts!!!!



Clyde got out of the dog crate on accident today. Evidently his days in "Jail", made him rethink his fighting attitude. He has spent the day running from Blue, and flying the coop! LOL..... Unfortunately, "Jail" hasn't improved Rogue's attitude, and he started picking on his 'cell mates'. So, the younger Marans boys are back out with everyone else, and Rogue is in solitary! 5 days til freezer camp......