Simulated Natural Nest Incubation~Experiment #1 So it begins....

[Beekissed]

Bee, you know I lost 2 chicks now. It looks like both of my Delaware roosters are gone. I have 2 white rocks with the rounded tail and 16 with the little sticking out tail. So 16 pullets. I didn't really need the delaware roosters because I'm going to use the white rock and delaware pullets with one of my New Hampshire roosters I'm getting from Sandhill. One of the delaware pullets is small and frailer so she may not make it. Not much good luck with that breed (Meyers) . But with the New Hamp I should have some really good red sex links. The small fridge that was in Aimee's grooming shop died and I think I may try to find someone to make me an incubator. (Or I'll do it myself with a heating pad)

I didn't know that, Linda...I'm sure sorry!

At least you have the WR roos, though, and that's a good thing! Are you going to use them for breeding to your WR pullets at all?

 

[aussie pete]

couldn't find last hatch paperwork ,but another light sussex breeder on a aust poultry site recorded his 7 day old LS chicks @ 45 grams

so my fatties r ok at that as 12 hrs old lol

 

[Beekissed]

couldn't find last hatch paperwork ,but another light sussex breeder on a aust poultry site recorded his 7 day old LS chicks @ 45 grams

so my fatties r ok at that as 12 hrs old lol

I should say so!! But then, your birds are a hunk a hunk of burning love anyway! They are some big ol' birds. That's the way WRs are as chicks and adults...they are just hands above all the rest on sheer weight and bulk.

 

[foxvalleyfarm]

Is that common with hatching?  That kind of deformity?  What could have caused it? 

Idk. I'd have to ask someone else. I've never seen it.

Lookin Good there Fox! Wishing You the BEST~!

Thanks. We have a baby!!!!!!!!!.

Everyone meet Zeo! It's my very firs chick as an adult!!
It is currently going all over the hatcher.

IT HAS FEATHERED LEGS ON ALL TOES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(PS for the vid pm me. I only have it as a text.)

 

[BCMaraniac]

@foxvalleyfarm Congratulations!!!! What kind of chick??

 

[BCMaraniac]

I just got home and we have 1/2 ducks, 1/1 LF, and 4/5 bantams piped and working on zipping. The other duck has been behind the whole time but is very active. The last bantam wasn't moving and the veins were all good. So I out a small hole in the top of it and I still didn't see anything. Yes I know it's only day 20 but I kept opening it and found that it was deformed... It had 1 nostril and its eyes were gigantic. Sadly I didn't get a picture before we buried it.

On a funny note my dh is mooing to then and it's making them pip faster. It really is. I have a very short video of it. In fact 19 is almost all the way it because of it.

Sorry to hear about your chick. I candled eggs last year and for whatever reason one of the eggs did not look right. So I pulled it, and opened it. Here is what I found:




That is an exposed brain....I have no idea what caused.

 

[LindaB220]

I didn't know that, Linda...I'm sure sorry!

At least you have the WR roos, though, and that's a good thing! Are you going to use them for breeding to your WR pullets at all?

We'll see the quality a little later. I do want to breed but I may have to get better birds. At least a cockerel. Who are yours coming from? Not Kathy again? I'm not sure about the next batch. I've got 5 SR White dorkings, Blue Ameracaunas, Lt Sussex , New Hampshires and 5 assorted heavies. This first year will let me know what I want to concentrate on. Others will just be for eggs or selling at POL

 

[Beekissed]

We'll see the quality a little later. I do want to breed but I may have to get better birds. At least a cockerel. Who are yours coming from? Not Kathy again? I'm not sure about the next batch. I've got 5 SR White dorkings, Blue Ameracaunas, Lt Sussex , New Hampshires and 5 assorted heavies. This first year will let me know what I want to concentrate on. Others will just be for eggs or selling at POL

No, mine won't be coming from Kathy this time and I'm not sure if the offer is still open for them as it's getting late in the breeding season, but they are coming from the best source possible for that breed. I'm shocked and humbled that they've even been offered. That's why this experiment means so much to me....I really needed it to succeed as a viable way to hatch eggs so that when I use it on quality eggs, I won't be wasting them with a poor method of hatch.

 

[foxvalleyfarm]

@foxvalleyfarm
 Congratulations!!!!  What kind of chick??

It was from a barnyard mix but looks like a bantam Cochin of some kind. I'm in LOVE!!!!

No, mine won't be coming from Kathy this time and I'm not sure if the offer is still open for them as it's getting late in the breeding season, but they are coming from the best source possible for that breed.  I'm shocked and humbled that they've even been offered.  That's why this experiment means so much to me....I really needed it to succeed as a viable way to hatch eggs so that when I use it on quality eggs, I won't be wasting them with a poor method of hatch. 

Thank you Bee. And that's thanks to my awesome phone.

 

[normanack]

. . . . . Everybody seems to be getting into the Legbars and I can honestly say this is the first year I'd ever heard of this breed.   What attracts you to the breed the most?

They're autosexing, meaning sexable as day-olds -- and this trait is passed down through the generations; they lay pretty blue-green to blue eggs at a decent layer-bird rate; they have a small crest which I find amusing; and I like their coloration. Mine are sensible birds, neither flighty nor overly friendly.

Negatives: extremely expensive, still a lot of variation in conformation and coloration, can be difficult to find locally.

Edited to shorten quote and add some more info