The 6th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-a-long!

[chicken pickin]

nice guinea!!!

 

[mlm Mike]

Don't forget to enter the contests!

Contests!

Contest #1: Guess How Many Eggs Will Be Set!
To enter, go here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...-eggs-will-be-set-2015-easter-hatchalong/0_50

Contest #2: Random Posting Contest
3 random dates and times have been chosen. If your post is nearest to the secret time, you win!
Winner #1: SoManyHats

Contest #3: Photo Caption Contest #1
To enter, go here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...al-byc-easter-hatch-a-long/0_50#post_14819326

Contest #4: Easter or Hatching Fictional Short Story Contest
To enter, go here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...y-fiction-contest-2015-easter-hatchalong/0_50

Contest #5: Broodies and their Babies
To enter, go here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...ir-babies-contest-2015-easter-hatchalong/0_50

Contest #6: Natural Egg Photo Contest
To enter, go here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...egg-photo-contest-2015-easter-hatchalong/0_50

Contest #7: Cutest Baby Fowl
To enter, go here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/955900/contest-7-cutest-baby-fowl-2015-easter-hatchalong/0_50

Contest #8: Funniest Chicken Picture Contest
To enter, go here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...y-picture-contest-2015-easter-hatchalong/0_50

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Mottled Houdans arrived this morning

OMGosh! Look at the one with his mouth open like a baby robin!! lol They are adorable. Love them!

 

[karenerwin]

The lighter colored chick that is sort of off by itself is the one that I had to assist in hatching. It is lighter in color, doesn't have the black legs or black beak. I don't know if that is due to the assisted hatch (maybe it needed more time?) or just a chick that isn't up to standards.

 

[Joshua G]

The lighter colored chick that is sort of off by itself is the one that I had to assist in hatching. It is lighter in color, doesn't have the black legs or black beak. I don't know if that is due to the assisted hatch (maybe it needed more time?) or just a chick that isn't up to standards.

I like your idea of using an aquarium as a brooder.
I have one that is mainly a "dust collector" right now, but now that I've seen your post, it has a purpose once again!

 

[Happy Chooks]

We are saving guinea eggs for set day

Mottled Houdans arrived this morning

Oh gosh, they are too adorable!

 

[karenerwin]

Here are 3 of the Black Penedesenca chicks that hatched on Feb 27 & 28.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Here are 3 of the Black Penedesenca chicks that hatched on Feb 27 & 28.

Cuties, congrats!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

The lighter colored chick that is sort of off by itself is the one that I had to assist in hatching. It is lighter in color, doesn't have the black legs or black beak. I don't know if that is due to the assisted hatch (maybe it needed more time?) or just a chick that isn't up to standards.

It's not up to standard. I started getting some of those last summer when I lost 5 flocks to mink and hatched every egg available. I even cut eggs out of dead hens to try to reserve some of their genetics. I know they weren't crossed with anything cause I only had Penedesenca roosters and didn't hatch white or green eggs. (the only other layers I had) Sometimes off colors from past genes show up. To resurrect the breed, they had outcrossed a bit in Spain and after they arrived in the US, I suspect some breeders were less than careful if they either didn't love them or just didn't use due diligence.
I identified a hen that was putting out some of those colors and I culled her but one or two of her daughters with proper color probably survive today in my flock. I'm going to start trap nesting in the next month or so to identify where it's coming from.

Greenfire never imported these but this is something I read on Greenfire's website that applies to these birds too.

"What You Should Expect. You should expect birds that reflect the fundamental attributes of the breed. You should not expect a cosmetically perfect bird. In fact, you should expect to find some defects in virtually every bird you raise. Just as every child is not destined to become a supermodel, every bird is not destined to win ribbons at shows. Only a tiny fraction of chickens conform to their breed standard in all respects. We do not represent that every bird we sell is show quality or is flawless. You should receive birds that can be the foundation for a breeding program that with enough time and skill can produce show-quality birds. You should also realize that the rarer the breed, the more likely you are to encounter problems related to inbreeding. For some breeds and varieties that we sell, the global breeding population consists of fewer than a dozen hens. We cull for obvious defects like crooked toes, but low fertility, low egg production, low disease resistance, and other challenges are not uncommon with extremely rare breeds. If you encounter these challenges when the birds become adults, you will need to address them with your own breeding plan. "

I had been pretty successful to get the correct feather, leg, earlobe and egg color and the right bird shape and correct comb but all these problems arose last year.
With the mink attack, the total US population was probably cut by a quarter.
Did I say I hate mink and Walmart? My family has had chickens within a mile of here since the 1870s and never had a mink attack.
Walmart is building a store about 300 yards as the crow flies upstream from here. They cut down about 80 acres of old forest along the creek. Shortly thereafter the mink arrived at my house.
If you want to try some more, I'll give you a few eggs at the end of the month.

I like your idea of using an aquarium as a brooder.
I have one that is mainly a "dust collector" right now, but now that I've seen your post, it has a purpose once again!

The only problem I would see with an aquarium is ventilation though in a pinch in extremely cold weather, I've used almost any container available.

 

[LPeaslee]

"Ok, who did it, everyone check your shorts!" LOL