Should I buy eggs or wait it out?

[Wishing4Wings]

Whoops, Brinsea has a very good reputation. People say they are idiot proof, which is why I'm considering one (unless I find a lovely broody cochin). Most of the time you raise the humidity for the last 3 days of the hatch, but it doesn't soften the shells, just keeps the chicks moist enough so they don't get stuck to the shell. They have to be able to move enough to break out. Not sure about Marans eggs, if it will lower the oxygen levels. If you try Marans again, maybe you could ask on a hatching thread or a Marans thread to see if there are special tricks. Let me know, and I can ask on my local thread too. People were complaining earlier about hatch failures for Marans. They were blaming it on the eggs. These guys are serious hatchaholics, seasoned professionals.

So don't feel too bad about your lost chickies, although I totally understand.

I really wanted to take home all the chicks from the death brooder and make them all better. Grace was worth the effort.

 

[Chicken-Man]

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Clindz congrats on Rawley (TBD) I just love those dogs. After reading on breed personalities more, I am going to get a pyraneese instead.
Lindz I just loved your pics! Dozen 2 days in a row, flat awesome!
Scrambles55 It stinks if you have to go and buy eggs, they just don't compare! Unless a neighbor raises them too!
Cheeka I just love your pictures as always! Egg colors are just too awesome.
W4W I am still laughing about the corn lady

SBmom I hope mine continue to pick up laying too, thats awesome!
Gilcamp4 WOW! Great egg count! I freeze a lot of my extra too, and will do more this year.
MC I like the Bourbon Reds. Spanish & Slates are really attractive too, but I have not owned one yet. I rarely hear of aggression other than the eastern wilds.
Main thing is do not hand feed, even treats. I made that mistake with Snoodles and he will peck/grab at my hands now.

Thank you, everyone for the well wishes for my MIL. She is like a Mom to me too, just love her so much.
She is in her 70s, but is being a pure stinker pushing her self so hard. Her PT even told her to slow down!
She is already walking better than she was before the surgery!
Am only a day behind now

still catching up lol!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Saturday was in the 60's..... and melted all the ice........
Outside all day...... the weather was nice.....
Now it's Monday......and to work I must go......
But not before I........move 6 inches of snow.....


Trying to stay positive but that didn't help much. Now to go deal with Roger and her "princess" attitude. She won't be happy about more snow. Oh well.....I'll just take a PIE with me. Have a good day everyone.

Yikes thats a big temp swing!

Quote:

ROGER, really?

poop on the windshields...

I feel for you OK, we'll have that snow for Wednesday morning, the newscaster is already telling us that we will have a difficult commute with roughly 6 inches of snow by 8 am. I'm already bummed out about it... I want to call in sick so bad, but really shouldn't although... I'm not 100%. Mondays are heavy volume and I don't want to dump on someone else... Tuesday is my route inspection, the post master rides along with me... hate that. and Wednesday, the snow.

Ugh.. you need a break.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I am better at dealing with behavior problems. In fact I am a expert at it. I specialize in BR's .As a matter of fact.............forget I said that. Ask somebody else on that one too. What was I thinking....

Quote: Lots of good points.

We got another 6 inches of snow last night. I hope that the girls went out. DH is checking for me. We are headed for a cold snap. In the teens during the day and 0 or lower at night. Come on Springtime!!

We have a snowstorm again tomorrow. another foot they are saying then below zero AGAIN. I am really over it already.

It is 57* here today, and was around there all weekend. Unfortunately, it is supposed to be colder, and be rainy for the biggest part of the week. I wish that it would make up its mind and either stay warm or stay cold (but not frigid!).... This back and forth is driving me crazy! We have had 30-40* temperature differences in a matter of days. Thats CRAZY!

You can't get used to the weather before it is changing again.....

Its been really hard on my younger birds. I have a lil cockerel in the house, he was really looking sickly and weak He has perked up a lot, gave him vitamins, warm FF and mealies.He is staying in the unheated porch so he doesnt get too messed up on temps.

We got a whopping .5 inches of rain yesterday, with real actual drops of rain that went plop plop. Forgot what rain looks like. Now if we can just get the other 95% to get up to normal, things would be good. As it is now, not so great.

The chickens don't mind so much. They get bits of kale from the garden for greens and are happy with that and other yummy treats. Was hoping to get some bantam cochins at the big show I went to a couple weeks ago. Unfortunately, the lady sold out on Friday night. I didn't get there until Sat morning, Fortunately, the lady has many more at home and is happy to sell me some. She is working on a calico and/or confetti project, but has other varieties too. They'll go in with the Seramas. Now just have to decide how many....

So glad you FINALLY got some rain! Thats exciting on the cochins, I really like the breed!

W4W - get a lot!!!

I was just talking to my husband about what I'm gonna do cause I have more chickens than my coop holds. I said I might get a small coop at agway or something. He thought it was a good idea! (Phewee) and then said "we won't make this mistake twice!" I just laughed!!!

Babies come this week! The brooder seems possibly small but I know they fit! I'm just use to big birds now!

DH just rolls his eyes at me! But he gets to do his "thing" too (4X4 trucks) so its all good.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Found out Roger did poop on at least three cars. She is #1 on the "MEAT BIRD LIST" again. still....

Quote: I got hacked. I know to sign out when I am busy laying eggs. Won't happen again.
You won't lay a egg again .......right?
ROFL she lays them all!

Sorry friends. I got her cut off from posting anymore tonight. You all don't need her drama........and SHE didn't lay today. Little lair

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

No eggs today, but I did find a frozen broken one next to the feeder. It could be Si's egg.

I do know that it was from one of my EEs. It was a broken frozen egg fart and Si hasn't laid an egg in over a month. She has been hanging out in the coop while the others play under the toy hauler.
Its going to be about 0 degrees tonight. I am worried about the girls. I am sure that they will be fine, but ... I still worry. The coop is small and I am sure that the body heat from the 4 of them will be ok. worry... worry... worry....

Main thing is no drafts. They huddle, and swap places..I watch, go out and check since I worry too!
I just went out to check on my scovies. Most of my eggs are frozen so our pigs are loving that!

Thanks for the kind words. It's just so frustrating and heartbreaking! Poor little things. I was having a bit of a meltdown over it. I will try again, with local eggs, in a few months. But, I want to know what I can do to make it better. The small pores thing makes sense. I am very suspicious they suffocated. I could not tell if they had internally pipped or not. It was a brinsea mini advance incubator. So, would that mean I should increase the humidity even more to soften the shells, or make it less so that there is more oxygen available?

Roger, get 'em! You will not be vanquished! Besides, if OK would have kept you properly occupied with venison and pie, you wouldn't have had time to do whatever it is that I am positive you never did to those cars. If there were some sort of incident (which I am positive there wasn't) it would only be because you were hypoglycemic from insufficient corn and scratch.

We haven't precipitated this year. At all. Treasure those drops! My mother used to call snowflakes "snow stars," I believe mostly to counterbalance and irritate my dad, who had other descriptors for snow.

Oh, and lest I forget

Good Girl, Hattie! Now, it's time you had a little talk with Hecate. She is still being a freeloader.

I normally "dry hatch" but incubation I keep the bators at least 30%. Up it to 70% at lockdown.
This is a fantastic link..SallySunshine has some great tips:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101
I use the info that "worked" for me.

R K Broody wanted to say HI. She posed for this when I took in fresh water this afternoon.



She also wanted you to see her back. Fully feathered.

Thats fantastic! I bet she is so content and warm!

RK is beautiful! amazing how they can recover from all manner of set backs!

Whoops, I sent a FB message to my local friend, should hear from her by morning anyway...

Post Master ride along tomorrow.

I should layer up really good so I don't need to use the heat.

she'll be freezing!

hehehehehe! good idea!

Here is her chics



Notice little BO (once crippled) not missing a beat



Overstuffed BR's and still digging in



Delaware girls are able to compete with BR girls at treat time. They are huge


A pretty happy bunch. Moving them to the bigger coop and run soon. More room over there.

They are just beautiful

Delawares are a very attractive bird!

Here is a new type of chicken math!

+ PIE


=



​

Those are some good looking birds. Very hefty! Do you have any pictures of the roosters? I'd like to see them too.

 

[okallthis4eggs]

W4W- If you remember I started with a dozen eggs....six Delaware and Six BR. 11 out of 12 hatched. Only one was a rooster. He was relocated. I sold one BR and one Delaware pullet. So I now have a perfect four each Delaware and BR hens. All are laying as far as I can tell to who ever asked if they are laying. Getting four or five small pullet eggs a day from these young girls now. Think the first one laid at 19 weeks if I remember corectly

 

[lindz8504]

W4W- If you remember I started with a dozen eggs....six Delaware and Six BR. 11 out of 12 hatched. Only one was a rooster. He was relocated. I sold one BR and one Delaware pullet. So I now have a perfect four each Delaware and BR hens. All are laying as far as I can tell to who ever asked if they are laying. Getting four or five small pullet eggs a day from these young girls now. Think the first one laid at 19 weeks if I remember corectly

Alright so I have moochers! Lol.... I am pretty sure that my marans will lay in the next month or so. I am not sure if the cochins will even lay this year. .. if they do the eggs will have to be the size of marbles. Those girls are TINY! They are even smaller than Clarabelle was. They are about the size the marans were at 10 weeks!

 

[Whoops]

Whoops, Brinsea has a very good reputation. People say they are idiot proof, which is why I'm considering one (unless I find a lovely broody cochin). Most of the time you raise the humidity for the last 3 days of the hatch, but it doesn't soften the shells, just keeps the chicks moist enough so they don't get stuck to the shell. They have to be able to move enough to break out. Not sure about Marans eggs, if it will lower the oxygen levels. If you try Marans again, maybe you could ask on a hatching thread or a Marans thread to see if there are special tricks. Let me know, and I can ask on my local thread too. People were complaining earlier about hatch failures for Marans. They were blaming it on the eggs. These guys are serious hatchaholics, seasoned professionals.

So don't feel too bad about your lost chickies, although I totally understand.

I really wanted to take home all the chicks from the death brooder and make them all better. Grace was worth the effort.

I will have to checkout the hatchaholics thread. Gosh, that is a pretty hen! I hope George is a girl. It would make it all worth it.