The Heritage Rhode Island Red Site

[chixmix]

We collect eggs all week and set them all at once every Friday. Works great for us, this way we will be there all weekend to enjoy the hatching in 21 days. We have a big incubator for days 1-18 and 4 little giants just for hatching(18-21), so we never have issues with space.

I would suggest to set eggs before they are 10 days old to ensure better hatch rates.

 

[RedRidge]

I use several little giant incubators to set eggs from different pens in every 5 days. I move them on day 18 to a Brinsea Octagon for lockdown/hatch (the Brinsea can only hatch 24 at a time but holds the humidity better than the others). I only set eggs from one pen at each setting so I know for sure which pen the chicks are from, so the other pen's eggs are held at room temp until the next setting.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

This question has probably been asked and answered but I'll ask again, I have three pullets that have started laying, do I save the eggs and put them in the incubator or do I put them in the incubator asap so the eggs won't get old and become infertile? And how do I incubate them properly if the eggs are put in in different days? If there is a link for this would someone kindly point me to it?

I recommend collecting for at least 5 days at a time but 6 works better, unless you have multiple hatchers. With only one hatcher incubator, eggs set on a daily basis, makes lockdown nearly impossible.

To store eggs for hatching I use the tilted egg carton method and change the tilt 3 times a day. Keep the eggs cool but not cold a basement works well or a room with an exterior closet that stays n the cool side.

 

[bluebirdnanny]

Just some photos of the young Nelsons. Their color is coming in deep, rich and dark, and their legs are a wonderful yellow with horn staining. Color even stood up to a flash as about 3'. Wonderful birds. Just delightful. I'll pose them one of these days. But this next week promises a return of another arctic polar vortex thingy coming down from across the border. Bob was right about the Nelsons being a good choice for northerners. They don't even blink at sub zero weather. But… They do uptake their calories though.

We have three lines. We have some Kittle birds from long ago. They need work as the previous owner of the line paid no attention to selective breeding for 10 years. They are egg layers, but their type needs a lot of work. I believe we mayl see improvements this year on this venerable old line. We also have a few birds from Ron Fogle. Big, gorgeous birds with some of the best type you'll ever see on a Red. Finally, we have the Nelsons from Jim. I took Ron's birds down to the boy's farm in So. Kentucky. I'll be heading down there next month and we'll breed them. I don't know how well they'd do this far north, but they'd likely adjust if given a year or two. Up here, at my place, I'll focus on the Nelsons. Going to be working with a nearby partner and hope to add another cooperative partner next year. It's going to take a cooperative of folks, working together, to do justice to these strains and these wonderful old Reds.

I'm still in on this right Fred? I know I will be small scale to mess with but... with your guidance I expect great success!

3 out of 4 of my eggs from my RIR have hatched this morning. The last is pipping. 2 out of 3 mutts hatched too, the third did not make it.

Here is a pic of my first hatchling of 2014. People don't think Heritage Reds go broody. Glad my Underwoods don't know that. So far I have had 3 setting eggs. Penny

I recommend collecting for at least 5 days at a time but 6 works better, unless you have multiple hatchers. With only one hatcher incubator, eggs set on a daily basis, makes lockdown nearly impossible. To store eggs for hatching I use the tilted egg carton method and change the tilt 3 times a day. Keep the eggs cool but not cold a basement works well or a room with an exterior closet that stays n the cool side.

Wishing you a lot of healthy hatches this next year Sally.

 

[bluebirdnanny]

Penny I forgot to comment on your girls! They are beautiful. Nice Underwood colors. Glad you have broodies. That is the best way I think to raise the young ones. We'd talk but already decided to do the Nelson line with Fred.

 

[Rancher3535]

This question has probably been asked and answered but I'll ask again, I have three pullets that have started laying, do I save the eggs and put them in the incubator or do I put them in the incubator asap so the eggs won't get old and become infertile? And how do I incubate them properly if the eggs are put in in different days? If there is a link for this would someone kindly point me to it?

You can do either way ... if you put them in one by one you will have chicks hatching everyday and that becomes a total disaster to me. I suggest that you collect them for a period of 7 days and then set once a week. I set on Sunday moving them to the hatcher on Friday and they are usually finished on a Monday. Store your eggs in a cardboard carton at a 45 degree angle and rotate them at least twice a day. Make sure your room is not to warm or to cold. The room I store mine in is pretty constant at 60. I would think 50-60 would be a good temp. I turn mine every time I go into the brooder room which is usually 3 or 4 times a day.

Hope that helps!

Rob

 

[Fred's Hens]

For those of you who get your first true bred Reds this year, I thought it might be interesting to see what maturity does to the coloring. Do not be too concerned when you see your chicks in the bright sunshine when they're young. At least with the Nelsons, it took some time for their more adult color and feathering to come in.

On a warm October day. 7 weeks old, perhaps.




Yesterday, at 20 weeks



Up close, even with forced flash on camera

 

[immyjay54]

For those of you who get your first true bred Reds this year, I thought it might be interesting to see what maturity does to the coloring. Do not be too concerned when you see your chicks in the bright sunshine when they're young. At least with the Nelsons, it took some time for their more adult color and feathering to come in. On a warm October day. 7 weeks old, perhaps. Yesterday, at 20 weeks Up close, even with forced flash on camera

They are looking super nice Fred.

 

[immyjay54]

As I was trudging through the snow and cold wind this morning to take care of the chickens, I heard a strange faint noise coming from the building where my Resse birds are that I got from Matt1616. The closer I got the more noise I heard. I sit down my bucket of hot water and opened the door and oh my goodness, what a site for sore eyes. The birds were all up on the perch except one of the boys I guess he was the leader. They were singing Sweet Home Alabama. ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha. I guess they are really getting sick of this weather and wishing they were back where they came from. Oh my goodness, please forgive me Lord for this little lie but I thought that may lift some spirits. LOL
Jimmy

 

[RedRidge]

As I was trudging through the snow and cold wind this morning to take care of the chickens, I heard a strange faint noise coming from the building where my Resse birds are that I got from Matt1616. The closer I got the more noise I heard. I sit down my bucket of hot water and opened the door and oh my goodness, what a site for sore eyes. The birds were all up on the perch except one of the boys I guess he was the leader. They were singing Sweet Home Alabama. ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha. I guess they are really getting sick of this weather and wishing they were back where they came from. Oh my goodness, please forgive me Lord for this little lie but I thought that may lift some spirits. LOL
Jimmy

And even though we are having record lows with wind chills below zero, mine are singing Rocky Top...
apparently TN on it's worst weather day is warmer than IL.