South Dakota here

[BrahmaMama]

Congrats on your ebay win, Z! Here's to a good hatch (or hatches

) I'd love to try my hand at some different breeds by hatching eggs...have to see how a couple test runs in the bator go first.

CRW-what a way to go for your chicks-definitely safer then the mail system huh!

 

[chickenranchwife]

I just figure they will be warmer than in the back of a mail truck. This way I can meet Z and have a day to myself. What a ways to travel I know, but shouldn't be too bad if weather cooperates. Is that called despiration? LOL

Z, ducks are fun. I could throw in a duck egg and you could incubate it and surprise your wife! LOL

 

[zchickens]

CRW,
Yes that would be fun. The only question would be -how long could it set before I put it in the incubator. My buff brahma eggs are expected to arrive tomorrow, and the maran eggs a few days after that;; so I should have a full incubator if you come down here (with any luck on day 5 or so). I'm keeping my fingers crossed that my eggs arrive unfrozen

Z

 

[chickenranchwife]

I'm getting them daily, so like the day before or two days before I come down I could set them aside for you. I'm pretty sure my little man is doing his thing, as he's chasing our little female dog around. LOL I'll bring you a few. Not sure how long you have to let them set, you'll have to ask someone who hatches duck eggs. I know it's a different method for duck eggs, but not sure how much more or less humidity, and the temp.

 

[chickenranchwife]

Z, what's the plan? Looks like the weather's gonna hold! You gonna have them ship or you going to get them?

 

[zchickens]

CRW, well it looks like it should be warm enough for the chicks to arrive here okay (forecasted high's in the 30's), and since I saw a box McMurry chicks at the post office (chirping away, not mine however) on Tuesday, I feel fairly confident they should arrive here okay (it was -9 here that moring, should be at least 20-30 degree warmer if the forecast holds, next monday). I hope that this isnt too much of a dissapointment. However one option, if you feel comfortable having them mailed to my address, you could still come down here and pick them up as the shipping time from the hatchery to here is fairly short. I was at the post office because my eggs arrived (unfrozen...

).

I have the eggs in the incubator after a little mishap (didn't have the plastic pinwheel down far enough, so one of the eggs got caught under it and the force of the turner cracked it. Luckily, my wife caught it before the egg broke open and spilled its contents into the incubator...

). The temp is ranging between 99.3 and 100.1 with 43% humidity (had to add water right away, very dry here due to the cold). If you decide that you want to pick them up here, please let me know and I will PM you my contact information.

Z

 

[chickenranchwife]

Z, thanks for the update, I was thinking about calling them to see if they could ship this next week as the weather is so much better. I think I will take a chance and see if they can talk to the PO to keep them warm on the truck. That means I can't sneak you any duck eggs. Yes they are fertile too!

Sorry to hear about the egg, but it coulda been worse, coulda been all of them. Gotta look on the bright side.

 

[zchickens]

They're Hereee!!!!!!

The chicks for MM arrived a the post office in Sioux Falls today (a day early

). All are happy and healthy. The only dissapointment is that the hatchery didn't have any enough golden campines or New Hampshire so I only got 25 chicks instead of 30 (got 3 Buff Orington, 4 Partridge Cochin, 4 Silver Penciled Rocks, 3 Delaware, 2 Houdan, 2 Golden Laced Polish, 1 Buff Laced Polish, 2 Speckled Sussex, One Mille Fluer, and a mystery bantam (extra chick)). Interestingly the chicks go from MM all the way to MPLS and then are trucked to Sioux Falls. According to the shipping sticker I received the chicks only 30 hours after they hatched

Our postal service gets a gold star from me (the driver mention that they put the chicks in the middle of the truck to try to keep them warm). Goes to show that some of the postal people do care

The eggs I received are on day 5, so I am anxious to candle here is a couple of days. Glad that I have some new chicks to distract me

I have some pictures, but can't figure out how to post them

It was a balmy 26 degrees here when I received them. Hope your shipments go as well as mine

Z

 

[chickenranchwife]

Z, I am happy for you. Mine will be here next Monday. Hope the weather holds out for my babies. Upload them on photobucket.com You'll have to create a user name and password, but you can upload them at that location. Good luck. Can't wait to see pics of your babies.

 

[zchickens]

CRW,

See the waiting support group topic under the raising baby chicks forum (page 13) for the pictures. Sadly, one of the mottled houdans died late last night

Z