"Springing in the Chicks" 2016 April Hatch-a-Long Hosted by Mike & Sally

[mlm Mike]

Quote:

 

[Cynthia12]

Oh my goodness..he was pretty much ok with it. We have an area that we can keep the chickens out so we could have a swimming pool for them filled up off and on.

If, I were to get ducks, I would want the muscovy, the one that isn't loud. But, I don't like that big orange thing on their faces, but discovered that some don't have that..and I found this color..do you call it chocolate in duck color?! Love this brown one!!!!!!!

 

[Cynthia12]

Man, if I get a couple, I would have some learning to do. What kind of nest boxes..because I would have girls..hmmm.. they don't crow!!!!!!!!!!
I could have a boy, and a girl..and hatch some cute babies!!!!!
Only the boys have that big orange, right?

 

[BantyChooks]

Oh my goodness..he was pretty much ok with it. We have an area that we can keep the chickens out so we could have a swimming pool for them filled up off and on. If, I were to get ducks, I would want the muscovy, the one that isn't loud. But, I don't like that big orange thing on their faces, but discovered that some don't have that..and I found this color..do you call it chocolate in duck color?! Love this brown one!!!!!!!

AHHHHH I MUST HAVE THAT CUTE FACE!!! Look how round and squooshie it is!!! Sorry- ALLS MINES!

 

[mlm Mike]

Man, if I get a couple, I would have some learning to do. What kind of nest boxes..because I would have girls..hmmm.. they don't crow!!!!!!!!!!
I could have a boy, and a girl..and hatch some cute babies!!!!!
Only the boys have that big orange, right?

I don't know anything about Muscovy other than they are supposed to taste good.

 

[Penny Hen]

I live by that rule as well. I killed all my quail eggs and four chicken eggs for the ehal.

I feel you. I killed my pre Ehal hatch of Orust, Twentse and Neiderrheiners. But my Ehal is popping A&M quail now because I learned and changed some things.

 

[mamahmendez]

Thank you! Yes, we got out incubator from my in-laws; it's from the 1950's and apparently pretty hard to find. It isn't as fancy and convenient as a Brinsea but I'll take it.
What are you hatching?
I see that you have beehives in the background- my husband started keeping bees a few years ago. I have yet to don a veil and inspect the hives with him but I'd like to at some point. The chickens are more of my thing at this point in time!

I looked for an older incubator and couldn't find the one I wanted. I collect vintage sewing machines so I thought an older one would be right at home here. I settled on the Brinsea 20 Adv. Basically, I feel like that commercial from the 90's "Just Set It and Forget It!".

We started with 18 farmers market eggs, 6 are fertile, and 12 Microfarm eggs, all appear fertile. I candled an egg tonight for my kids, they missed it last night, to see the eye and the chick move inside the shell and my 6 yo son was blown away. The Microfarm eggs are mixes of Barred Rock, Welsummers, Easter Egger and Australorp with a Barred Rock roo. It has been fairly uneventful the first 13 days except for 2 eggs kinda exploding during our egtopsy. We barely tapped them and they just cracked right open everywhere. Thank god they didn't smell and weren't disgustingly oozy. I am excited to say the least but they are all adopted to other homes.
I am incubating Ancona duck eggs next. FINALLY! I bought the incubator for the duck eggs.

When will these chicks hatch and MOVE ALONG already. I mean.... all these pics of these cute Ancona ducks that it seems everyone is hatching on this thread. Waiting, waiting, waiting.

I am just starting beekeeping; picked up our first Nuc tonight I was told there are approx 10,000 bees in that box! They were calm today when I opened their box. I actually transfer the Nuc frames into the hive boxes in the morning. Bees are either LOVE IT or HATE IT. There has been no indifference in the responses I get when I tell people we are beekeeping.

 

[mamahmendez]

Oh my goodness..he was pretty much ok with it. We have an area that we can keep the chickens out so we could have a swimming pool for them filled up off and on.

If, I were to get ducks, I would want the muscovy, the one that isn't loud. But, I don't like that big orange thing on their faces, but discovered that some don't have that..and I found this color..do you call it chocolate in duck color?! Love this brown one!!!!!!!

Congrats!!! I don't know what the official color is but i LOVE that chocolate duck. Good pick for sure!

 

[firedragon1982]

@watermelon you come this way???

what colors? @firedragon1982 I dont know what a Golden neck duccle is either woman!! lol

Anconas are lovely!

The Ancona is a hardy, adaptable, all-purpose duck. It is an excellent layer, typically laying 210-280 white, cream, or blue eggs yearly. The Ancona also grows relatively quickly, and produces high quality meat that is more flavorful and less fatty than that of most Pekin ducks. Anconas are well suited for situations where they can forage for some of their food and are capable of eating large "banana" slugs. "They make excellent pond or yard ducks since they tend to stay close to home, do not fly under normal conditions and are large enough so that they are less likely to be preyed upon by winged predators. Typically they have moderately calm temperaments and make fine pets." (Holderread, 2001)

Golden Neck D'uccle is kinda like a Mille Fleur pattern w/o the black, and they are a little lighter on the carmel/gold coloring. @TJChickens can you post a pic or two for Sally?

Also, Silkies I got were paint and black/paint splits. Ordered 12, got 14....

 

[Cynthia12]

I don't know anything about Muscovy other than they are supposed to taste good.

Mike! No tasting! Ya hear?

Oh man, that's the first time I've had to slap someone in a long time. See what ya made me do?!?