The 7th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-A-Long!

[chickendreams24]

EMU Egg update!

I weighed the eggs last week and they have all lost about 15% of their original weight. I had to use a different scale though as I think the first one I used was rounding the weights up to the nearest 50grams which is throwing everything off. I was able to calculate what the original weight of the eggs most likely was using a formula I found online.

In any case, the eggs are rolling along nicely. Sure wish I could candle them, but I'm fairly certain I have viable eggs. When I turn them now I notice that they try to rotate back to the position they were previously in. Based on experience with my chicken eggs, I believe this is because the growing embryo inside weights the egg as it settles which causes it to want to stay in the same position. So, I have to prop them up a little bit to keep them from rolling back. I take this as a good sign that all is well and I have baby Emus in all of my eggs! (just a theory.. lol)

My younger son came in with some duck eggs a few days ago (we have three Rouen ducks, 1 drake and 2 hens) He asked if we could try and incubate the eggs so they are now in our spare incubator! Timing wise they won't hatch on Easter, but what the heck!

We had our chicken coop decimated the day after New Years. A dog got into the coop and gorged on our chickens. We lost all but two. Luckily the dog left the ducks alone and our beautiful Royal Palm turkey flew away to safety. It was a hard blow and the kids were super upset. So when my son asked to hatch a couple duck eggs, how could I say no??

On a sorta semi-sweet note, the night the dog killed our chickens I found one lone egg in the nesting boxes. I heated up the incubator and hatched the little sweetie. We are calling her "Legacy" in remembrance of our lost chickens. Not sure who her parents are, but she looks like our old EE roo and maybe the golden laced hen we had.
She's darn cute no matter what! :yiipchick

So that is the EMU egg update and a little more....

I am fairly certain that Legacy is a pullet. She just has that "look" Time will tell, but I'm grateful to have her no matter what.

I ordered baby chicks from my favorite hatchery and they will ship up to me in Alaska. I've been getting chicks from them for several years now with great results. The feed stores here don't normally sell chicks, sometimes, but usually with no variety. We had some beautiful Cochins, Lakenvelders, Spitzhaubens, Easter Eggers, and more. My favorite little hen, "Suzy" was a Speckled Sussex and she was the sweetest girl. Makes me so mad to think that a dumb dog, that some owner wasn't keeping under control, could kill such a nice little hen. Suzy used to follow me around the yard and beg for food. She even gardened with me pulling weeds and eating the bugs and frogs as we went along...lol, she really was something! I like my chickens, but I really liked little Suzy.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to the new shipment of chicks...and the Emus of course.

Well firstly I'm glad the emu eggs seems to be coming along well can't wait to see the chicks as I've been stopping myself from googling them so they will be the first emu chicks I've ever seen.

Now about your flock, I am so sorry that happened to you that is just awful, our neighbors growing up had a German Shepherd that wiped out nearly all of our flock three times. She'd even get our cocker spaniel to tag team with her and corner the flock of they were out. Idk if you know the dog or not but our neighbor and the dog's owner was a large animal vet and he handed my father a box of rubber bullets and said she comes back shoot her BC he didn't want to have her start killing their flocks, and they were tired of having to replace our birds. Well you better believe when my Dad shot her in the butt with those rubber bullets as she ran away she got the idea and she never chased one of our chickens or anyone elses to my knowledge again.

I'm glad you guys found and hatched Legacy's egg, we need pictures please. I too hope Legacy is a pullet anorderat little chick has no clue how lucky it is, but all of us here do.

Lastly if its okay with you we are getting some speckled Sussex this spring on March 30th and if one fits the name I would like to name her Suzy in honor of your Suzy and maybe if I'm lucky I'll get a sweet little one like you had.
When is your order supposed to come? Mind if I ask what all you ordered?

 

[ToddQ]

Does anyone put leg bands on their chicks/chickens? And if so what kind, size etc.

 

[Cynthia12]

Think I'm going to join in, as long as I can find some eggs! Been crazy temperature swings here in Central New York. I know I can get some Wheaton Ameraucanas locally, but no success in finding non-hatchery, utility bred Wyandottes that I really want.

 

[Cynthia12]

I would like to be entered, as my previous entry was not put in. I am now just hatching chicken eggs,.

 

[pjnbill22]

Does anyone put leg bands on their chicks/chickens? And if so what kind, size etc.

We have recently banded chicks at 10-14 days old. We chose the 4" zip ties and it was very easy to do. We are new to raising chickens (our families had chickens when we were kids) and we were a little concerned that the other chicks or the chicks themselves would obsess over the new bands, but after checking each other out, they pecked at their own bands for the first few minutes, and haven't seemed to notice them since.
Good luck! :yiipchick

 

[Wickedchicken6]

Quote:
Lol...you're right...it WAS a dang long post !

(I was going for thoroughness)

The suspected frozen egg that had a crack down one side did not develop at all.

The egg I dropped and smashed/cracked the small end had already begun to develop and the embryo was clearly visible. The embryo stayed alive for about 4 days, definitely longer than I expected.

I should add that the contents of the smashed egg quickly began to atrophy at that point and death occurred for the embryo. Those two eggs were the first ones to be taken out of the incubator.

 

[Wickedchicken6]

Awesome to see more people joining!! Welcome!!

This chick popped out a full day before being due and before any other chick.
I was shocked when I stopped to check and he was bootin' around in the 'bator.




We were only an hour away from a lady who breeds heritage poultry when we went for hubby's knee last week. So I managed to connect with her that day on super short notice...and bought these two cartons of eggs.

I specifically picked her because of her biosecurity measures. And, well, I took in 4 purebred Silkie roosters last fall from a wonderful lady who couldn't keep roosters. These roosters are from this breeder. I've been very happy with these roosters.

Top carton is 5 eggs from her hybrid olive egger (based from her Isbars I believe) and 7 Vorwerk
Bottom carton are a mix of Sussex, Australorp, Red Cuckoo, Icelandic, Bantam Cochins, a Bantam Wyandotte and a red Jungle fowl.

I'm SO excited!!

They travelled well on the way home, they've rested, air cells look good...and I'm hoping to get them in by tonight once I disinfect the incubator.

That chick matches your fingernail polish! And LF Vorwerks? Oh my gosh, those are rare. I've always loved Vorwerks, but you mostly find bantam.

I hadn't thought about the polish matching! It's total coincidence, I put the polish on about the 8th, way before the hatch. That's kinda cool though.


I've never seen or heard of Vorwerks. But I didn't realize they were rare. Although now that you mention it, their eggs were one of the pricier eggs...lol!
After reading her description of their temperament, I thought they sounded like they would fit in nicely with my flock. It's nice to hear that you are familiar with them AND love them! Helps ease my mind...lol.
I love the eggs...SO easy to candle! And I like that they've been laying Jan/Feb. Between the Vorworks and my EE's...I should have steady eggs all fall/winter.

"IF" I'm successful at hatching some of the eggs, I want to see how the different breeds do against each other. I thought it would be the quickest way to make decisions on which breeds to bring into the flock to outcross.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

Does anyone put leg bands on their chicks/chickens? And if so what kind, size etc.

I just use the little bands that the kids use to make those band bracelets. They work out great for the first few weeks. I do need to go check on my babies legs, now that they're getting older to make sure the band's are still fitting week. Everyone says about the zip ties so I may have to invest in some of them for when they're in the in between sizes.

 

[chattery41]

I just use the little bands that the kids use to make those band bracelets. They work out great for the first few weeks. I do need to go check on my babies legs, now that they're getting older to make sure the band's are still fitting week. Everyone says about the zip ties so I may have to invest in some of them for when they're in the in between sizes.

Make sure the rubber bands aren't too tight. It will cause their foot to die and their toes to fall off. And yes, sadly, i'm speaking from experience. When i change to zip ties i leave a 1/4 inch or so when i trim them and when they get to the point where they need to be changed i just slide a fingernail file into the end and push down the tab to stretch it out some.

 

[Sally Sunshine]