The 4th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-a-long

[Bama1]

I love it! You should enter it in the Natural egg contest.

I've got these two other pics entered. It was so difficult picking just two to enter.

And this is my 500th post! Now in two weeks when I meet the "member for 6 months" requirement I can UPGRADE to a Platinum membership.... So egg-cited!

 

[mlm Mike]

A turkey hatch, where do you get the eggs from? I'd love to join in on this one,

I got mine for this hatch from flocksalot from the BYC buy sell trade forum under other poultry. All 15 eggs were developing when I did a quick candling around day 7.

 

[ozexpat]

Favor, could some quote that duck chart link, ya'll are talking about, I scrolled back and tried to find it but couldn't and I'd really like to take a look at it.

from www.metzerfarms.com

Duck Breed Comparisons​

Breed​

Temperament​

Weight (1)​

Egg Prod. (2)​

Mothering​

Bluish Eggs​

Egg Size (3)​

Fertility (4)​

Black Swedish Calm 5 - 6.25 # 130 - 180 /yr. Fair 20 % 80 - 90 grams 85 %
Black Runner Nervous 3.25 - 4 # 100 - 180 /yr. Poor - Fair 70 % 65 - 80 grams 84 %
Blue Runner Nervous 3.25 - 4 # 100 - 180 /yr. Poor - Fair 70 % 65 - 80 grams 84 %
Blue Swedish Calm 5 - 6.25 # 120 - 180 /yr. Fair Less Than 5 % 80 - 95 grams 85 %
Buff Calm 5 - 6.25 # 130 - 180 /yr. Fair 20 % 80 - 90 grams 85 %
Cayuga Calm 4.75 - 6 # 130 - 180 /yr. Fair Less Than 2 % 75 - 90 grams 83 %
Chocolate Runner Nervous 3.25 - 4 # 100 - 180 /yr. Poor - Fair 75 % 65 - 80 grams 86 %
Fawn and White Runner Nervous 3.25 - 4 # 100 - 180 /yr. Poor - Fair 35 % 65 - 80 grams 86 %
Jumbo Pekin Very Calm 9 - 13.5 # 140 - 175 /yr. Poor Less Than 2 % 90 - 100 grams 85 %
Golden 300 Hybrid Layer Average 4.5 - 5.75 # 200 - 290 /yr. Fair 5 % 75 - 90 grams 93 %
Grimaud Hybrid Pekin Calm 8 - 12.25 # 150 - 200 /yr. Poor Less Than 2 % 90 - 100 grams 89 %
Khaki Campbell Nervous 3.5 - 4.5 # 165 - 210 /yr. Good Less Than 5 % 75 - 85 grams 87 %
Mallard Calm 2.25 - 2.5 # 60 -120 /yr. Very Good 70 % 65 - 75 grams 90 %
Pekin Calm 7 - 13.5 # 140 - 220 /yr. Poor Less Than 2 % 90 - 100 grams 89 %
Rouen Calm 5 - 7.25 # 140 - 180 /yr. Good 35 % 80 - 95 grams 87 %
Welsh Harlequin Very Calm 4.5 - 5.5 # 150 - 200 /yr. Good Less Than 2 % 75 -85 grams 75 %
White Crested Nervous 6 - 7.25 # 100 - 130 /yr. Poor - Fair Less Than 2 % 80 - 90 grams 83 %
White Layer Average 4.5 - 5.75 # 200 - 290 /yr. Fair 1-2 % 75 - 90 grams 93 %​

(1) These are the weights of our breeders during lay. For maximum egg production, their weight has been controlled.
(2) The lower numbers are if no artificial lights are used, the upper numbers are if artificial lights are used to
maintain 17 hours of light during lay.
(3) One ounce = 28.5 grams
(4) This is the average fertility we get from our breeders during an entire season of lay (35-45 weeks of lay).
(5) The American Livestock Breed Conservancy ranks most poultry breeds on how rare they are.
For more information, go to www.albc-usa.org.
(6) Summary of comments from waterfowl judges that have visited our farm.

Breed​

APA Class​

Foraging Ability​

ALBC Status (5)​

Our Show Quality (6)​

Flying Ability​

Origin​

Black Swedish Medium Good Watch Average None Germany
Black Runner Light Very Good Watch Average None Indonesia
Blue Runner Light Very Good Watch Average None Indonesia
Blue Swedish Medium Good Watch Average None Germany
Buff Medium Good Threatened Average None England
Cayuga Medium Good Threatened Excellent Color, Good Type None USA
Chocolate Runner Light Very Good Watch Average None Indonesia
Fawn and White Runner Light Very Good Watch Average None Indonesia
Jumbo Pekin Heavy Fair Abundant Good for Meat Classes None China
Golden 300 Hybrid Layer N/A Good No Rank Not Shown None Metzer Farms
Grimaud Hybrid Pekin Heavy Fair No Rank Meat Class Only None France
Khaki Campbell Light Very Good Watch Fairly Good Type Maybe England
Mallard Bantam Very Good Abundant Too "Chunky" Very Good Native to North America
Pekin Heavy Fair Abundant Meat Class Only None China
Rouen Heavy Good Watch Not For Exhibition Maybe France
Welsh Harlequin Light Good Critical Above Average None Wales
White Crested Medium Fair No Rank Excellent Breeders None Holland
White Layer N/A Good No Rank Not For Exhibition None Metzer Farms​

 

[chickenpooplady]

I've got these two other pics entered. It was so difficult picking just two to enter.

And this is my 500th post! Now in two weeks when I meet the "member for 6 months" requirement I can UPGRADE to a Platinum membership.... So egg-cited!

I like those too! That is my favorite contest! Congrats on your 500th post!

 

[ozexpat]

and for those tempted by goose season............

Compare Goose Breeds

Breed​

Temperament​

Weight (1)​

Egg Prod. (2)​

Ave. Fertility (3)​

Mothering​

APA Class​

Weeding​

African Noisier 12.5 - 15.5 35 - 45 /yr. 85 % Good Good
Buff Goose Very Calm 14 - 16 25 - 35 /yr. 65 % Good Medium Good
Brown Chinese Noisier 9 - 10.5 30 - 45 /yr. 85 % Poor Light Excellent
Canada Very Quiet 9-12 13 - 16 /yr. 95 % Very Good Ornamental Excellent
Embden Calm 15 - 20 35 - 45 /yr. 80 % Good Heavy Good
French Toulouse Calm 15 - 18 35 - 50 /yr. 85 % Good Good
Large Dewlap Toulouse Very Calm 18 - 25 15 - 25 /yr. 55 % Fair Heavy Below Average
Pilgrim Very Calm 13 - 15 20 - 25 /yr. 60 % Good Medium Good
Roman Tufted Calm 11.5 - 14 20 - 30 /yr. 70 % Good Light Good
Sebastopol Calm 11 - 13.5 13 - 18 /yr. 45 % Poor Medium Good
Super African Noisier 16 - 20 20 - 30 /yr. 75 % Good Heavy Below Average
Toulouse Calm 14 - 16 25 - 30 /yr. 80 % Good Good
Tufted Buff Calm 13 - 15 20 - 30 /yr. 75 % Good Good
Tufted Toulouse Calm 15 - 18 35 - 50 /yr. 80 % Good Good
White Chinese Noisier 10 - 15 45 - 55 /yr. 88 % Poor Light Excellent​

(1) Adult breeder weight. For maximum egg production, we do not allow them to become overweight.
(2) Assuming all natural lighting.
(3) Average fertility over the course of a season.
(4) Average circumference in inches from one end to the other end and back.
(5) The American Livestock Breed Conservancy ranks most poultry breeds on how rare they are.
For more information, go to www.albc-usa.org.
(6) Summary of comments from waterfowl judges that have visited our farm.

Breed​

Egg Size (4)​

ALBC Status (5)​

Flying​

Origin​

Our Show Quality (6)​

African 9.25 Watch Maybe China
Buff Goose 9.25 Critical Low USA Good
Brown Chinese 8.75 Watch Maybe China Good
Canada 9 Abundant Excellent Native to North America N/A
Embden 9.75 Abundant Low Germany Above Average
French Toulouse 9.5 Low France
Large Dewlap Toulouse 9.5 Watch None France Good
Pilgrim 9.25 Critical Low USA Good
Roman Tufted 9 Critical Low Italy Good
Sebastopol 9.25 Threatened None Central Europe Good
Super African 9.5 Watch None China Good
Toulouse 9.5 Watch Low France
Tufted Buff 9.25 Low USA
Tufted Toulouse 9.5 Low France
White Chinese 9 Watch Maybe China Below Average​

​

 

[ozexpat]

I've got these two other pics entered. It was so difficult picking just two to enter.

And this is my 500th post! Now in two weeks when I meet the "member for 6 months" requirement I can UPGRADE to a Platinum membership.... So egg-cited!

great photos.

what does platinum membership give you?

 

[Bama1]

great photos.

what does platinum membership give you?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/byc-memberships-help-support-backyardchickens

 

[ozexpat]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/byc-memberships-help-support-backyardchickens

i have a few months to go...........

 

[arcountrychick]

Just candled my eggs. I pulled 11 that were either infertile (9) or showed a blood ring (2). I didn't have much hope that my blue wyandotte eggs were fertile so that was 5 eggs. Also, there were several eggs that I purchased that do not appear to be fertile that I left in the bator until mid-week--holding onto any chance that they are fertile and I'm just bad at candling. So I might be pulling 8 or 9 more

But, being the optimist that I am, I'll still have two dozen chickies in a couple weeks! Thinking about saving eggs this week and firing up the other bator next weekend. Can you say "addicted"???

 

[RedIII]

Happy St. Patrick's Day! I just candled and 4 out of 5 eggs are developing! I don't think my white leghorn egg was ever fertile because it is completely clear. One of my easter eggers has a red line around the egg. Is this a blood ring?




You can see the embryo at the top near the air cell and then the red line at the bottom. There are also veins in between the embryo and the red line. The line is also the strongest on this side. On the other side it weaves a little and is harder to see. Sorry I know this picture is not the best. Thanks!

I had a few of mine looking like that at day 7 or so. I was worried sick, it made me sure that they were dead. I left them under my broody, though, and two have come a long ways and are still going! (knock on wood) The third did quit, but it was one that has some cracking at one end.

I've got these two other pics entered. It was so difficult picking just two to enter.

And this is my 500th post! Now in two weeks when I meet the "member for 6 months" requirement I can UPGRADE to a Platinum membership.... So egg-cited!

Love the pictures! I really like the shamrock one, too. Cute!