The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[armorfirelady]

Red ridge it don't hatch so can't help you.

I am jealous of the pictures and there is NO SNOW ........rain and temps in 40s the last 2 days but I still see more snow than grass :/ Girls are digging up their walkway scratching for goodies. Nothing of course to eat but at least they are out. Sure wish more snow would of melted so they could scratch thru the garden.

But on a good note it was almost 515 before they roosted tonight so that means the days are getting a little longer.

 

[Sally8]

I know we touched on this topic before but I have a BCM that frequently has blood spots in her eggs. I thought I had gotten rid of her last summer but I'm plagued with it again. I only hatched a few of BCM eggs that turned out to be hens so it's possible that this is just one of her offspring as I was told not to hatch from a hen noted for the blood spots. as it continues down the linen. I still use the eggs but I like sharing and showing off the darker colored egg and blood in an egg grosses people out. Are BCM noted for blood spots or do I need to continue to weed out this particular line? I only have 3 BCM hens but unlike most of you, I don't know who lays what. As soon as I have the room to separate them to find the culprit, I will. Thanks, sue

Can the roo ever have any input in this?

 

[ki4got]

Question of the day... How many days old have you consistently set eggs successfully?
I have had no trouble with eggs up to 10 days old but have never tried to hatch eggs older than that. What are everyone's experience with pushing this envelope? I'm talking eggs collected daily but stored in temps between 50-70 degrees.

I've incubated eggs going on 30 days (some more) and have many of them hatch. some were even shipped but hatch rates weren't as good...

 

[chicalot]

I know we touched on this topic before but I have a BCM that frequently has blood spots in her eggs.  I thought I had gotten rid of her last summer but I'm plagued with it again.  I only hatched a few of BCM eggs that turned out to be hens so it's possible that this is just one of her offspring as I was told not to hatch from a hen noted for the blood spots. as it continues down the linen.  I still use the eggs but I like sharing and showing off the darker colored egg and blood in an egg grosses people out.  Are BCM noted for blood spots or do I need to continue to weed out this particular line?  I only have 3 BCM hens but unlike most of you, I don't know who lays what.  As soon as I have the room to separate them to find the culprit, I will.  Thanks, sue

Can the roo ever have any input in this?

I've noticed blood spots in my BCM eggs too. It doesn't bother me but my husband doesn't like it. I've seen him eat worse things!

I set my first eggs the other day to be incubated! I hope I dont mess it up and hope they're fertile.

Someone was asking about cow udders freezing (sorry, I'm too lazy to scroll back)... I've never heard of or seen frozen udders, but being in south central KY, winters are rather mild here. Cows are tough. We had a calf born just as that bad cold was moving in last week and mom and baby did great out in the pasture.

 

[aoxa]

Question of the day... How many days old have you consistently set eggs successfully?
I have had no trouble with eggs up to 10 days old but have never tried to hatch eggs older than that. What are everyone's experience with pushing this envelope? I'm talking eggs collected daily but stored in temps between 50-70 degrees.

Did fine up to 14 days. After 2 weeks I don't usually bother. This time I did just to see. I started collecting eggs right after I set the first batch, so they went up to 3 weeks being held and anything over 14 days just didn't develop.

 

[armorfirelady]

Snow melted enough so I could shovel a path into the veggie garden. Girls were VERY happy.

Heard the hawk but didn't see him. Girls heard him as well but decided to stay out and keep an eye to the sky.
Edie finally doesn't stick out like a sore thumb like she does the rest of the year

 

[Leahs Mom]

Interesting article about storing eggs at room temperature and egg washing.... aren't you glad you don't have to worry about these?

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/12/07/refrigerating-chicken-eggs.aspx#_edn2
http://www.realfarmacy.com/why-do-you-keep-refrigerating-your-eggs/#CffS3up7zHoBCJpY.01

​

 

[Scott H]

I've read that before...very interesting.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

I'd be interested in studies that "measure" the damage done to the cuticle of the egg by various cleaning techniques, from dry brushing, sanding, rinsing, scrubbing, etc. The language about that damage in these articles is usually pretty fuzzy.

 

[armorfirelady]

When I was in Spain I was surprised to see eggs not refrigerated (pre chickens) now I never put them in the fridge. Or wash them ........

I have decided Stella is a little to big for her britches. She has been jumping the gate all day. Just now she jumped on the gate with Lily standing on the other side (they can see the dog on the other side) I called Lily to me and Bear who was in the yard. They sat on the deck with me as Stella came up to the deck to visit as she made her way to the flower gardens. She best not encourage the others to follow her. The funny part is she only does of when she sees someone out or hears a door or the garage fop door open. Guess I need to work on the dogs leaving the hens alone :/ Lily should be the easiest but Bear has a high predator drive. Squirrels are non existent in my yard lol

Just passing thru........