Should I buy eggs or wait it out?

[lindz8504]

lindz! well done!

Congrats on the eggs and 10 points for the poem!

Thanks guys! The one cochin's eggs are long and skinny... It is the weirdest thing!

Cheeka, Really hoping your girl shows back up! And your "big chicks" are to cute keeping an eye on momma and siblings!

 

[Sallysec]

but but but.....My broody decided she did not want to sit...and the eggs are on their way.....and hubby says I shouldn't rely on her flaky behavior. She has sat for over a month....she didn't want the chicks I hatched...so I got her some eggs....now she gets off the nest...

So what do I do?
I can hand turn ten....in the house.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Cheeka don't beet yourself up to much. I had a frizzle bantam that passed last week. I had tried to reintroduced her to the flock. The next morning she was dead. I blame myself. I hope she is found soon.

So sorry about your frizzle. Its hard on them to be alone too. I do additions every week, but it usually a group of 12 or more so the flock is used to it.
I need to start processing roosters, I am overloaded on boys.ugh.

I got three eggs again today!
None in a nest, but thats Ok!
Bertha left a big, dark brown
Clarabelle's is small and round
Amelia's eggs are quite unique
But who are we to critique?
The only thing that really matters
Is that the eggs do not shatter!

Amelia's egg is on top (buff cochin bantam)
Clarabelle's egg is in middle (buff cochin bantam)
Bertha's in on bottom (Buff O.)

BRAVO!!!

I've decided that this whole early morning thing is for the birds... and nothing good came of getting up at the crack of dawn. No Violet and no chicks (yet) she's glued to that nest so tight I couldn't see a thing, but it's pretty quiet. her overgrown chicks are starting to honk but they still peep too, so it's frustrating to not be able to properly hear... I got about 4 hours sleep... it's gonna be a long day. OK, if the coyote or whatever got a good grip on the first grab, wouldn't it be likely to not see feathers? or if it was able to get her from the head first... I know feathers would get snagged on things that it runs passed, I see no feathers anywhere... but I also have no clue where she might have disappeared from... like front or back or side of the house.

I am so sorry, I know exactly how frustrated you are. My scovy hen huey did come back several days later, I was positive she was gone. My pekin drake, and my scovy hen squawk, not a sign, nothing. its been months now.

cheeka. I am still holding out hope but I am sorry your under this stress.

Jc, I was watching the local news here and I was reading that the state of NJ looked up all the local goat owners and called a few up with a proposal. Apparently only one guy was willing. He brought his goats to a local state park and they created areas for the goats that are fenced off as pens. They are trying to control the poison ivy at the state park with goats. They have signs up saying not to pet the goats because even though they eat it they pass the oils through their skin. People are really happy with them. I had never heard of that and had to share .

I want Turkeys so badly, I keep reading more about them and I want some.

Hope everyone has a good day.

Oh yes, they take out briars, thistle, hawthorn trees, locust a whole list of nasty stuff. They strip the hawthorn and locust down to the wood, pretty amazing. If I am milking one, I don't let her pasture, some of the plants will make the milk taste awful

Turkeys are friendlier than most of my chickens. If I had raised them first, I probably wouldn't have chickens today.. ok, ok.. ya I would

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Got home late tonight and my other BR is spending the night sitting on todays eggs. Lowest bird in the pecking order so I really hope she is going broody. Her bare back needs the relief from the thugs she lives with. Would work out perfect if she is broody.....OH ....she is the Devils sister but totally opposite of her

I bet she will be a perfect broody then!

Quote:
Agreed on all points. I have an owl that took one of my cornish cross before I realized what it was, not a feather shed. But this owl is HUGE and didn't wait for dark either! Really creeped me out.

 

[cheeka]

OK, it's not too graphic... and I've been looking, trouble is, she's a RIR, rust colored... all along the the edges is tall stuff that is peppered with rust colored bits of last years leaves or some weird weed that's dying... so everywhere I look, I have to really look... I've been everywhere 4 or 5 times already and even areas that are unlikely and nothing. She is/was somewhat flighty and did not hang out alone. (except when she was broody) I just haven't found the spot yet. I didn't look for it today, it was too rainy.

well Sally... you can't let the eggs go to waste now, can you??? if I don't get at least one chick from these eggs, I will never use shipped eggs again. I'm winging it here, didn't candle or anything... but the seller had great ratings and her packaging was way over the top... each egg was wrapped in an individual inflatable air cell, and it was double boxed. I'd like to breed from my own stock, but need my older girls to regrow their feathers before putting them with a rooster, no one needs to deal with slashed up backs... so if I have to wait til next Spring... I will have all the girls to choose from...

Penny, a very pretty dark brown EE laid her egg in my hand today, pink (cream) her egg is one of my lightest shades. I didn't know what color she laid. there's still a few I'm not sure of, but it seems that most of the black and white's lay blue, (Olive lays gorgeous green) the partridge reds are mixed, some lay green, some lay cream, and the two red laced blue's lay olive just like Blu, my oldest RLB EE. I'm rambling... I'm pooped

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

but but but.....My broody decided she did not want to sit...and the eggs are on their way.....and hubby says I shouldn't rely on her flaky behavior. She has sat for over a month....she didn't want the chicks I hatched...so I got her some eggs....now she gets off the nest...

So what do I do?
I can hand turn ten....in the house.

Sounds like you need an incubator. I only had one... NOW, I have 3 LGs and a chickbator

I just never have enough room! Next year will be a sportsman cabinet.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

cheeka, (and anybody else who's considering heritage breeds) there is a good thread going about breeding to the SOP, which means heritage. Some the more experienced breeders on BYC are contributing and there is lots of great practical info and theory. I'm about 30 pages in and they are "studying" one breed at a time. When they got to the rocks (#2) I though about how cheeka wants to start some good BRs and they mention specific breeders, so thought you might be interested.

I've learned all sorts of cool things like what a crow headed bird looks like and how to recognize a pinched tail, squirrel tail, and scissor wing. Good reading and has convinced me that in the future, as my hatchery girls pass on, I will be replacing them with more carefully bred stock.

It's at least worth checking out the Plymouth Rock section. CSU - Chicken State University- Large Fowl SOP
OK, I haven't got far enough to see if they've done RIRs or Delawares.



Mustacheio and I finally tackled the ground cage for the new girls. He got to run the power tools! Almost done, just need to figure out a practical top as the cage is 4 x 8'.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

but but but.....My broody decided she did not want to sit...and the eggs are on their way.....and hubby says I shouldn't rely on her flaky behavior. She has sat for over a month....she didn't want the chicks I hatched...so I got her some eggs....now she gets off the nest...

So what do I do?
I can hand turn ten....in the house.

Reliability is the big problem with broodies, especially unproven ones. They are on a hormone cycle, and it's set to last a little over a month - enough time to lay the clutch and then sit for 21 days. My Ameraucana went for over 2 months with no sign of stopping and got super skinny, then went in for a second round the following month. Both time I broke the cycle by putting her in an old wire-floored rabbit cage, up off the ground, out in the light. The light will help regulate the hormone cycle. Took three days each time, even though she would sneak back on the nest at night. Her half sister made a half-hearted attempt that only lasted a couple of weeks.

Maybe you can ask around and see if someone close by has a loaner incubator (or loaner broody).



OK, if your timid BR gets truly broody, she may develop some new found courage and rise in the ranks. The Ameraucana I've been talking about was second lowest before her broody stints and has moved up considerably. She even attacked the dog, who was suitably intimidated. Nothing like raging hormones to get you a little respect.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Update on my sweet little doeling Sophie.. new pic



Talked to both prior owners. sent pics over to them, and got the same answer. NO WAY my lil Sophie is a pigmy cross. She is way too big and heavy. Her markings/color are nearly perfect. Sugar's prior owner/breeder has an Oberhasli buck and we are all convinced it was him, she will be stopping by to look at Sophie. Her buck is unrelated to both of my "adult" goats, so Sophie can be bred to Bocephus next spring also. No way am I selling her, I have already had several msgs after I posted she was born. She is my first baby goat, and Sugars too! I wanted 2 milkers, so I am just tickled to death.
I found Embden and African geese also. I need one of my DDs to help with pics so I can post. Had to go with goslings, the embden are better managed if they imprint, can be pretty aggressive. I am buried in guinea, had a huge hatch this week from swapped eggs. Am down to using 2 incubators now. finally slowing down for the year

19 eggs today!

So if she had been half pygmy, then not good for milking? Because she'd be too short?

What a darling and glad you will keep her. Your first grandkid!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote: Hehe yes, my first!

They actually are dubbed a "mini-oberhasli" when crossed with pigmy. Theres also mini-nubian, nigerian dwarf (sp?) and a few other breeds that are becoming popular. I wanted small originally, but went with a full sized goat since we eat so much cheese and yogurt. Now I will have the 2 does I was planning, so we are all set. Cant wait to start making... wait for it...Goat cheese!

cheeka, (and anybody else who's considering heritage breeds) there is a good thread going about breeding to the SOP, which means heritage. Some the more experienced breeders on BYC are contributing and there is lots of great practical info and theory. I'm about 30 pages in and they are "studying" one breed at a time. When they got to the rocks (#2) I though about how cheeka wants to start some good BRs and they mention specific breeders, so thought you might be interested.

I've learned all sorts of cool things like what a crow headed bird looks like and how to recognize a pinched tail, squirrel tail, and scissor wing. Good reading and has convinced me that in the future, as my hatchery girls pass on, I will be replacing them with more carefully bred stock.

It's at least worth checking out the Plymouth Rock section. CSU - Chicken State University- Large Fowl SOP
OK, I haven't got far enough to see if they've done RIRs or Delawares.



Mustacheio and I finally tackled the ground cage for the new girls. He got to run the power tools! Almost done, just need to figure out a practical top as the cage is 4 x 8'.

Awesome, dont forget pics