The American Cemani Breeders Club...open forum

[Steadfast]

Great advice!
I will take it and give it a go...

Lets see what happens...

 

[Kerstiens]

Hi all - just wanted to "crow" a bit! I have 3 MB pullets and 2 cockerels that I got about April 10 (7 weeks old or so I believe). The hens started laying on Sunday and as of this morning I have 1 doz. eggs. Fertile? Who knows! I didn't candle but will in a few days.

Very exciting!

 

[bluenkimchi]

Hi all - just wanted to "crow" a bit! I have 3 MB pullets and 2 cockerels that I got about April 10 (7 weeks old or so I believe). The hens started laying on Sunday and as of this morning I have 1 doz. eggs. Fertile? Who knows! I didn't candle but will in a few days.

Very exciting!

Exciting, can't to see if they are fertile and hatch out some little black fluff balls.

 

[DCchicken]

Hi all - just wanted to "crow" a bit! I have 3 MB pullets and 2 cockerels that I got about April 10 (7 weeks old or so I believe). The hens started laying on Sunday and as of this morning I have 1 doz. eggs. Fertile? Who knows! I didn't candle but will in a few days.

Very exciting!

Crack several open and look for the bullseye That will tell you if it is fertile. You won't want to incubate pullet eggs anyways, so enjoy the breakfast and answer your own question.

 

[Kerstiens]

I'm not all that sure I can tell the bullseye; whether it's lack of experience OR bad eyes or both, I'm just not confident to know what I see.

Please - educate me! Why not hatch pullet eggs? And what age pullet/hen do you wait for to incubate/hatch?

Thank you!

 

[DCchicken]

I'm not all that sure I can tell the bullseye; whether it's lack of experience OR bad eyes or both, I'm just not confident to know what I see.

Please - educate me! Why not hatch pullet eggs? And what age pullet/hen do you wait for to incubate/hatch?

Thank you!

If you search on BYC you can find pics of the bullseye. You may have to turn over the yolk to see it (use a spoon). It will only be the size of a needle but it should be very clear as it will have two rings.

Pullet eggs are small as the pullet is just getting her reproductive cycle in sync. Pullet eggs can have more incubation, hatching, and genetic issues. If the chicks do hatch, they can deformities in the eyes and legs. I made that mistake when I was first starting out. It can be painful to see a deformed chick.

Just give it a month or two and the size will increase. Remember you want quality, not quantity with this breed. There is no reason to rush.

 

[Kerstiens]

Thank you very much for the info! It's good to know.

 

[DCchicken]

Thank you very much for the info! It's good to know.

No worries. I made the mistake of hatching every egg my first Cemani pullet gave me. It ended with sadness. Half of them hatched with leg problems. The other seemed to have suppressed immune issues. They were so tiny it was very obvious that it was too early. All but one died. The one that survived is blind in one eye and I have to carry her in to the coop each night. So I waited until the eggs were normal size and then had perfect hatches and healthy chicks.

I saw the same issue with my Marsh Daisy pullet eggs. I think this is probably why so many people have problems hatching shipped Cemani eggs. Many breeders rush to sell eggs to try to make money. But the pullet eggs seem to be more vulnerable to shipping, at least in my experience. Best to wait and let the pullet work things out.

 

[Kerstiens]

OK - I cracked 4 so far (probably all I can bear to do just this minute! This is the same photo unretouched and converted to black and white with contrast boosted. I THINK at least the center right egg (at 3:00) is fertile? Your thoughts???

 

[DCchicken]

OK - I cracked 4 so far (probably all I can bear to do just this minute! This is the same photo unretouched and converted to black and white with contrast boosted. I THINK at least the center right egg (at 3:00) is fertile? Your thoughts???

Top left two: unclear but probably yes.
Bottom right two: definite yes.

Now put those eggs to good use and make a cake to celebrate.