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

[Beekissed]

How old are the meaties?

They are 4 wks tomorrow. The only reason..and I do mean the only reason...I kept this injured chick and tried an experiment on him is that he is the single biggest meaty chick I've ever seen in my life. He was twice the size of the others and I so wanted to see that bird come to the finish line...I think I could have finished him out~even with my slow growth and free ranging methods~at around 13 lbs by 10 wks.

The Cochin broke this chick's leg with a single flogging at the feed trough and I was doing an experiment with splinting that leg to the body. These meaties have such a fast metabolism and they heal so quickly~I swear they are like the Wolverine!~that I was wanting to see if that bone could knit quickly as well. Just a nursing thing....I love a good experiment, as you all well know...though I never advocate lay persons trying to do home doctoring on animals when they have severe injuries like this~I usually always advise to cull.

Should have taken my own advice.

 

[LindaB220]

Well, it's been a looong journey. I'm so glad that you have such a lovely hatch. I'm looking forward to many more. The set up might not be the same (broody hens) but you'll have lots. A wonderful experience just being able to observe. You are the original trail blazer. At least in our time ..

 

[Beekissed]

Meat chick has been culled. Second blonde chick was moved to the brooder and settled right down for a nap. All the chicks up there are thriving well at this time. This new one is peeping WAY too much, if you know what I mean. He's under the heating pad and by now should be resting and drying off, but he's just lying there peeping...a lot. I'm thinking he won't make it and I'll be surprised if he does.

Ordering 5 ducklings from Meyers today, sexed ducklings, one drake and four hens. Will thin down the adult flock to subtract for the addition. Chicken math must always equal the space one has available for healthy growth and socialization of the flock.

 

[foxvalleyfarm]

The last Hootie is still in the egg but a claw is hanging out....she seems too weak to make it out of the shell and it's really hard to not help as she's been at it for two days now.  I'm ready for this hatch to be done and the experiment over so I can clean up, take the pics, write up the conclusion of this extremely non-scientific process. 

When last I checked last evening, all the Hooties are thriving and blending in well with their brooder mates.  Can't hardly keep my hands off those ducks!!  They are so incredibly beautiful, their feather quality is like touching a mink and they are as light as down.  They are twice the size of the chicks but seem to weigh less.  I'll get good pics of them today so you can see their cute little selves. 

I love my 2 ducks. And for the first week they done weigh anything and are cool to the touch and ubber soft. Then bam.... weight and warmth. My Luke was my bubby while u was sick. He slept cuddled up to my neck. I'm so sorry to great about your duck and meatie but Im excited for you to be getting more ducks. Luke is an Ancona BTW. Have y'all seen pics here?

 

[Beekissed]

No! Please post them!

What did you like about the breed that caused you to choose them?

 

[foxvalleyfarm]

Luke is the black and yellow one. He's an Ancona duck. Sasha is a mixed breed goose. And Darkwing is a mixed breed duck.

I chose Ancona's because they are critically endangered, lay 270+ eggs s year, and if I ever wanted to process them mature similar to Cornish x, market weight around 9 weeks an the same amount of food as other breeds. Plus they are so pretty and come in all kinds of colors.

 

[Beekissed]

WOW. Those are good reasons! These Khakis won't be good for meat as they only mature out to 4-5 lbs and at around 5 mo. But they are supposed to lay around 320 eggs per year and you can't find many chickens that can do that. I'll have the WR culls for meat, so I'm not too worried about that aspect and the extra male ducks and female culls will also make tasty meals for Mother and I.

I'll have to look into those Ancona ducks and read up on them. Thanks for the pics!

 

[foxvalleyfarm]

If you decide you want some let me know. I have 28 eggs in my bator. I won't be keeping them all. I think they get to 7-9 pounds by a few months.

 

[Beekissed]

Thank you! That is a kind offer! But I've had a poultry explosion here and am figuring out ways to downsize right now. I am going to sell Fat Cochin, the two BAs and one Del, along with most of these Hootie chicks...will keep only the two largest ones, one blonde and one dark.

Will process my old mama hen in June along with the CX birds. That should bring me down to 6 ducklings, 4 RIR chicks, 2 Hootie Hatch chicks, 2 WR hens, 1 NH hen, 1 Delaware hen, and 1 WR roo. That will bring me down to 17 birds on the land, simplify my life greatly and won't overload my time, my space and my patience.

 

[foxvalleyfarm]

I understand. I have to get rid of most of my adultish birds to make room for the project I have in mind. Im tired of going through so much feed so the meaties have to go. Im going to keep one hen for a while and see how she lays