The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Elliemae 77]

Congrats. On the silkies.

Update: 7 chicks now and one that I thought was a did is pipped now too

 

[delisha]

Quote: Congrats Peeps! Have a great hatch!
My bator is in the basement so I leave it alone.

 

[kian]

Keeping my fingers crossed for Mumsy! I am so excited for all of you!

 

[Leahs Mom]

I also use the "treat ball" to feed "Johnny Cakes" (Suet or Lard cakes w/seeds & herbs).

 

[rambunctious]

Line breeding..selective breeding..Progeny breeding..pen breeding.....many many names depending on your plans..trap breeding too



Pullet egg





I do not want to bore you with a bunch of egg pictures, but I wanted to share this pullet egg. She has been laying for a week and already her eggs are larger than her sisters(2). These hens are Cornish and Rock and I sure am glad I tried this breeding. I have two more pullets from this breeding that are pretty young yet.

Seriously impressive!!

 

[Bulldogma]

Mumsy - still keeping my fingers crossed the temperature spike didn't hurt your chicks.

Delisha - hooray on the positive news about your hatch (so far) and WOWZA on the Cornish Rock cross egg! I have some Cornish eggs in my own 'bator - and the daddy is either the Cornish roo I have OR a Barred Rock from their old home. It'll be interesting to see what I get!

AND... I just got this email from my good friend who is hatching some eggs for me in her 'bator - chicks are due to hatch tomorrow:

ok, i've got some disappointing news...

your chicks can't count. i've got 1 of the sfh and 3 of the shipped out already, and a bunch more pipped (best i could tell with shells laying everywhere and chicks running amok.)

disappointing i'm sure, because you still have to wait until sunday.

 

[delisha]

when you are trying to improve your "line" do you limit your rooster to one hen (keeping both separated) so you are sure of the parents of each and every egg?

I know who belongs to what egg..My Orps have there own pen during breeding..the rest have there own too

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Well, it was just too cold for me to be beating on pallets with a hammer and prybar. My hands couldn't hold a grip good enough. Oh well, there is tomorrow and Sunday.

 

[rambunctious]

Well, it was just too cold for me to be beating on pallets with a hammer and prybar. My hands couldn't hold a grip good enough. Oh well, there is tomorrow and Sunday.

I feel for my DH, high in the low 30s tomorrow and he'll be pounding away in the barn to work on the coop.

I'll make him his favorite soup to compensate!!

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Quote:
We made it to 42 here, tomorrow is supposed to be close to 50. I can pound as long as over 45, otherwise my hands don't like the vibrating.