The American Cemani Breeders Club...open forum

[DCchicken]

Egg cartons.... in the machine... Very smart...
Got Pictures?

I can't take credit for it. Another Cemani breeder taught me that. Just make sure to use a new one each time and cut the bottom off for circulation. Apparently you can also hatch in the egg carton but I prefer to lay them down on their side. I like to see the eggs wiggle as the baby rearranges in the egg just before hatch.

I will take pics in a day or so as I am setting Cemani eggs for the Easter Hatch-Along. I am waiting for several batches to finish up. Hatch already, another egg needs the space.

 

[Chickenwingo]

Yes the r-con pro is the next thing on my list that's for sure. I like the feature were you can ajust how much the eggs turns 90 degrees to 360 degrees.

Wish all people were nice.

 

[Chickenwingo]

Omg people are rufffffff

 

[boykin2010]

There are plenty of NICE Cemani breeder's out there.
Just because a breeder uses "breeders judgment" before selling every chick that hatches (for whatever the price may be) - that shouldn't make them not NICE. Maybe that breeder is more concerned about starting the breed off on the right foot before releasing obvious problems to other unsuspecting potential customers. Problems including: blue or white earlobes, red in the skin or wattles, unpure bloodlines, birds that lay the wrong color eggs... Etc. Etc.

Just my 2-cents...

 

[Steadfast]

I agree that standards are important Boykin,

Sooo,
I have one humble request for all you fine 2014 Cemani producing Americans, who are hatching this year... right now...

Please make sure that your 2014 prices stay very competitive with Greenfire's
So that we, who have to wait to hatch next year, can also command a solid price to make up for any fiscal short falls that come with also practicing "breeders judgment"...

I think we all can agree that a high breed standard is important if we are all to command a just and high profit...

United we stand.


What do you guys think of this suggestion?

 

[boykin2010]

Well I have one humble request for all you fine 2014 Cemani producing Americans, who are hatching this year... right now...

Please make sure that your 2014 prices stay very competitive with Greenfire's
So that we, who have to wait to hatch next year, can also command a solid price to make up for any fiscal short falls that come with also practicing "breeders judgment"...

I think we all can agree that a high breed standard is important if we are all to command a just and high profit...

United we stand.


What do you guys think of this suggestion?

I agree and that's what I've done (although my birds are actually Svart Honas which are very similar.) I've only sold one pair since I imported back in 2012 and I sold them at auction - publicly. The really only fair way to judge the value of a bird.

 

[blackbirds13]

Y'all are to high tech and high dollar for me. I have 2 Hovabator Genesis that I use - one for days 1-18 and the other for lock down so I run them continuously but I don't winter hatch as I brood outdoors. Sometimes if I need to I bring down the old 'Little Giant' to start incubation if I am in overload but never for lockdown as it's a deathtrap. I love my Hovabators and they work well for me. I use a secondary thermometer inside the lockdown one to double check the humidity and temperature with an external monitor. I cannot imagine getting my husband to go for a $600+ bator (I'll have to check Amazon when I get my extra $ this summer). Plus that's 2 tickets to see the folks in Florida. Maybe if my birds ever start paying for themselves I can take that kind of plunge as it looks like a beauty but not practical for me at this time.
I also use egg cartons for hatching with the bottoms cut out. I've had better luck with them than laying the eggs down on their sides. I don't sell a lot of birds or eggs as I've been trying to get my Legbars closer to standard and this year I might let go of more than I ever have but... not yet. I don't like selling birds that are substandard against the SOP, I'd hate for someone to say they got a crap bird from me, plus I have enjoyed watching them grow out and assessing what direction I need to take being that Legbars are so new to the US and that's not really possible if you sell off too many.
I don't think I'll be hatching a ton of birds to sell right off the bat with these either. I think I need to see what I have genetically first. I'll have to decide what I want to do this fall as I don't want more than 3 breeds on hand and only want to overwinter the best of what I have in the Marans and Legbar pens this year.

I too am grateful for the pricing Mike offered and glad I went searching that day here on BYC or I would have missed out.

 

[Randy2010]

I agree and that's what I've done (although my birds are actually Svart Honas which are very similar.) I've only sold one pair since I imported back in 2012 and I sold them at auction - publicly. The really only fair way to judge the value of a bird.

I agree with you both, I'm afraid people are rushing into buying birds that they think are going to be perfect or close to it for cheap and then realize later that they don't meet up to what the breed should be. Like the old saying, you get what you pay for and I sure hope that people don't get burnt from buying from just anyone. Besides being in to big of a hurry, they really need to do their homework on the breed and also on the breeders that they are buying from.

 

[Steadfast]

I am getting 2 roosters and 4 hens.
Do I need to divide my coop into 2 seperate lanes to seperate the roosters with 2 hens each? Or can I keep all 6 together?

Which set up would encourage a better breeding environment?

 

[Randy2010]

I would divide into two groups, one to keep the roosters from fighting, and would give you a chance to see what each pen will throw off good or bad.