Silverudd's Blue

[FoodFreedomNow]

Those eggs are so pretty!
I had SB eggs shipped, I got 9, 1 was clear, 1 quit around day 14, and 7 went into lockdown. 6 of those hatched, the one that didn’t we found was upside down in the egg and must have drowned at pip or something. So I had pretty good success. The Marans I hatched at the same time were 7 days in shipping and I got 1 out of 8 to hatch. And 6 Bielefelder out of 11- but they were all Roos! So I tried again with the Bielefelder and Marans. And had only 3 of 14 Bielefelder to hatch but thankfully all pullets lol so it’s really a toss up with shipped eggs I guess.
I really want to try some bcm and SB crosses when these all get old enough, and I plan to get some more SB eggs but I’d like to find some first import, I saw Alchemist farm has them again but I don’t know if California to Michigan would work for eggs or chicks

Thanks! I really do think SB eggs are among the most beautiful chicken eggs.

Congrats on your hatches! It does seem to be a bit of a roll of the dice with shipped eggs...especially with so many variables. I'd still give it a try if you find ones you want, and just be mindful of the weather (and fertility may be higher in spring). The only egg to hatch out of the dozen shipped from a neighboring state (3 hour drive away) was a pullet, and I think she's from GFF first import lines based on her appearance, particularly her dark eyes. The drawback, though, is that the eggs she hatched from were quite porous, so I'm glad to have second import lines, too, to hopefully contribute less porous shells and more hatching vigor. I've been researching the two GFF imports and came across discussion on here about first import suspected inbreeding-related issues, like susceptibility to respiratory illness due to immune suppression. Also more info in post #5 in this thread. I was set on getting more first import hatching eggs, but these gave me pause.

I'm looking forward to seeing how my SB x BCM chicks grow out. I'd post on the Olive Egger - Isbar x BCM thread, but it's been idle since 2017. Maybe time to start a new one..?

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

I'll be setting SB and SB x BCM eggs in the next day or two...they'll be laying by summer!

 

[chickenpolo]

Thanks! I really do think SB eggs are among the most beautiful chicken eggs.
so I'm glad to have second import lines, too, to hopefully contribute less porous shells and more hatching vigor. I've been researching the two GFF imports and came across discussion on here about first import suspected inbreeding-related issues, like susceptibility to respiratory illness due to immune suppression. Also more info in post #5 in this thread. I was set on getting more first import hatching eggs, but these gave me pause.

I'm looking forward to seeing how my SB x BCM chicks grow out. I'd post on the Olive Egger - Isbar x BCM thread, but it's been idle since 2017. Maybe time to start a new one..?

Yes I’ve been reading about the differences in first and second import, and mine come from second import but they seem to have dark eyes which I’m happy about. I like the appearance of the first import, but not the immunity issues- that’s why I was interested in Alchemist farms because they had stopped selling them due to those things but have been able to find birds to breed to theirs that are still first import but have improved the Hatchability and immunity in their flock so they are offering them for sale again-(that’s what it says on their website) so I was really interested in trying to get some!
I hope your hatches go well! I think maybe you should revive those old threads or start new ones! I love to see pics of the crosses. And the SB!!

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

Yes I’ve been reading about the differences in first and second import, and mine come from second import but they seem to have dark eyes which I’m happy about. I like the appearance of the first import, but not the immunity issues- that’s why I was interested in Alchemist farms because they had stopped selling them due to those things but have been able to find birds to breed to theirs that are still first import but have improved the Hatchability and immunity in their flock so they are offering them for sale again-(that’s what it says on their website) so I was really interested in trying to get some!
I hope your hatches go well! I think maybe you should revive those old threads or start new ones! I love to see pics of the crosses. And the SB!!

Clearly, you've already done your research. Hope your new SB eggs hatch well, too, and I look forward to seeing your pics in the future!

I'd like to link to the earlier posts on that OE thread, so maybe I'll just revive it and see what happens...will tag you when I post there.

 

[BluebirdHomestead]

I'll be setting SB and SB x BCM eggs in the next day or two...they'll be laying by summer!

I’m setting some SB and SB x BCM eggs next week! Didn’t think about how they’ll start laying this summer.

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

I’m setting some SB and SB x BCM eggs next week! Didn’t think about how they’ll start laying this summer.

Nice! My SB pullets started laying at about the 5 month mark (which was fabulous) and I believe the BCM started at around 6 months. Can't wait to see their eggs!

 

[BluebirdHomestead]

I just hatched 6 SB a few weeks ago, so I have a long time to wait to get my own eggs lol but here is a pic of the eggs mine hatched from- they are in the middle carton( they were prettier in person)they are second import birds. The other 2 cartons have BLACK COPPER MARANS, (with a couple cream legbar and welsommer eggs mixed in)and Bielefelder eggs View attachment 1991589View attachment 1991590

This is a genius way to get more than 27 eggs in a incuview...did you hand turn them?
I have an incuview on the way along with 12 eggs from eBay and 18 I’m getting locally. I’m thinking I might keep the shipped eggs upright for a bit depending on their air pockets...maybe all of them so that I can fit all 30 until some don’t show development. Glad I saw your post!

 

[chickenpolo]

This is a genius way to get more than 27 eggs in a incuview...did you hand turn them?
I have an incuview on the way along with 12 eggs from eBay and 18 I’m getting locally. I’m thinking I might keep the shipped eggs upright for a bit depending on their air pockets...maybe all of them so that I can fit all 30 until some don’t show development. Glad I saw your post!

lol yeah somehow I had more eggs then the incuview would hold, I had them in cutdown egg cartons for the first 6 days, and just tilted the whole incubator side to side about 5 times a day by putting a block of wood under one side then switching it. After that I took them out of the cartons and put them all on the floor of the incuview and hand turned them 5x a day. Some of the marans and Bielefelder eggs were real big so I never could use the Turner with that hatch lol. and I had 28 go into lockdown (23 that I knew were viable, and 6 marans eggs that I never could see into bc they were too dark)and had 21 chicks hatch. I just happened to have a great hatch that time with a surprisingly good hatch rate from my shipped SB! They added a pretty splash of color to that hatch. I hope you have great success with your incuview!

 

[BluebirdHomestead]

lol yeah somehow I had more eggs then the incuview would hold, I had them in cutdown egg cartons for the first 6 days, and just tilted the whole incubator side to side about 5 times a day by putting a block of wood under one side then switching it. After that I took them out of the cartons and put them all on the floor of the incuview and hand turned them 5x a day. Some of the marans and Bielefelder eggs were real big so I never could use the Turner with that hatch lol. and I had 28 go into lockdown (23 that I knew were viable, and 6 marans eggs that I never could see into bc they were too dark)and had 21 chicks hatch. I just happened to have a great hatch that time with a surprisingly good hatch rate from my shipped SB! They added a pretty splash of color to that hatch. I hope you have great success with your incuview!

Wow that’s amazing!!! Too cool. And thanks!

 

[BluebirdHomestead]

I have a egg color genetics question for all of you about SBs. Do they carry 2 blue egg genes (OO)? I’m trying to figure out if all the F1 chicks from a SB x Marans cross will lay olive or if some will just lay brown. I don’t totally get how the green egg genetics work since it’s so unusual. I have my mind wrapped around blue, brown and white but the pieces aren’t clicking in my brain about how the SBs breed true for green eggs.