The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[delisha]

Okay. Now you mentioned that you were letting the eggs "attach air cells".

How did you do that?
How do you know it has happened?

This air pocket is not attached

You know it has happened when you candle your eggs. You don't see the air pocket.The best way is to put the eggs in an egg carton and do not move them. Blunt end up. Hopefully gravety will let them settle, with the air pocket in the correct position.

This is a correct placement of an air cell. You can visably see the air pocket in the blunt end.

Correct air pockets are essential.

The chick uses moisture in the egg to grow and develop. They need the air to get ready to hatch.

 

[JeffOeuf]

I have a few chickens (d'uccles , EE's) who can fly straight up to the top of the coop like a Harrier jet, but they don't ever go over my netting.

That's good to know. I have a couple that think they're quail...they get a good running start and then fly with a flurry. Mine get high up in the trees, but do it one branch at a time. When they come down it is hard to tell how much is gravity and how much is "flight". I worry about them clearing a 4' fence when tomatoes are on the other side, so I'm glad to read that yours won't try it.

 

[Bulldogma]

I leave for Hawaii on Tuesday for 8 days(won a trip to the Pro Bowl) and am scared to think how many posts I will have to wade through. Gonna try and keep up as much as I can on my phone, but seriously, it is Hawaii.

Lucky you!!

A hawk got my Wyandotte today. She was a loner. The others were all over hiding under things. Wish that bird would choose another hangout.

So sorry for your loss!

 

[Bulldogma]

Some pictures from my flock's first snow:




Ginger - my first girl to lay, was also the first to venture out. Took the others a while to get up the courage!

 

[delisha]

Quote: Delisha

-How long to you let them set in the cartons?
-After letting them set, do you candle them to see if it has become stable?
-If they don't become stable in a short period of time, when do you decide that they won't become stable?

I set them in the carton for the first 3-12 hours, than transfer them into the incubator. I do not turn them until most are attached. (I have mine in the egg turner compartment) I will plug in my incubator today, and turn the egg turner on after tomorrow, reguardless of how many are left to attach. I will mark the ones that are not attached, and at day 7, I will mark the air cell with a pencel. I have more eggs arriving today. These will not go into the incubator until tomorrow. I will mark them the same way. I am worried about these eggs arriving today because no warmer was put in. I think I will have frozen eggs.

 

[delisha]

lol
Your birds are liking the snow experience..cute

 

[kian]

Those are great photos BDM! Beautiful birds too.

 

[Mumsy]

Some pictures from my flock's first snow:




Ginger - my first girl to lay, was also the first to venture out. Took the others a while to get up the courage!

HOLY CARP! These pictures are beautiful! You could use any one of them for a winter month cover shot in a calendar.

 

[veryberry]

I actually have Bertha, Martha, and Fannie (but Franny instead of Fannie) as well. Hehehe. I like Doris though!

Here are some more from my family history Edna, Irma, Imogene, Reba, Hazel for the ladies and Ezra for the boys.

 

[aoxa]

Here are some more from my family history Edna, Irma, Imogene, Reba, Hazel for the ladies and Ezra for the boys.

Have Edna too, but I like Irma & Reba Thanks!