The Pita Pinta Asturiana

[PetRock]

Hi!
I think you gave me an even split of eggs, half from Zorro and half from Poncho. Of the ones that made it to lock down, 65% were Zorros. However, of the eight chicks that hatched, it was evenly split! 4 from Zorro and 4 from Poncho. Go figure! And 2 each in the incubator, 2 each for Penny the Broody, (although she has all 14 PP and Marans chicks now). Here are some photos:
Sweet baby


Penny hatched 8 total chicks and I gave her the other incubated six as well. 8 PP and ix Marans (Splash and Blue)


"Admittedly not great at math, Penny couldn't shake the feeling that she had several more children that Wednesday morning when she awoke..."

Very cute!!! It's a good thing that chickens can't count! I have 2 Langshan pullets who sat on 5 Pita Pinta eggs together. 3 hatched but 1 died. It was probably stepped on by one of the giant mamas. They hatched 2 days after my last Pita PInta and Maran chicks from your birds hatched. I thought about giving the incubator chicks to them but they are first timers. I didn't want to risk it after finally hatching some Maran chicks. The other Langshan pullet who has 2 chicks is not the best mother. So, the Twisted Sisters just have the 2 little chicks and my 5 PP plus 3 Maran chicks remain inside in the brooder. Decisions, decisions... I have given almost all of my PP eggs due to hatch next Fri to broodies. Now to find separate places for all the different groups. Dog kennels sure come in handy!

 

[PetRock]

Hi Debi,

I candled 6 of the eggs. I could not see anything, yet. Also, did not weigh because my digital scale needs to be calibrated. I definitely will have all together by day 7. We were out today and tonight, so all eggs were put in later than I wanted . Set in the incubator, 9:00 P.M. EST, April 17, 2015.

You ordered a candler with your incubator, didn't you? I've been candling the eggs from the top to check the air cells and check for veining. I used to use a high power flashlight but I finally decided to order an egg candler to see if it made a difference. I would love to have the Brinsea Ovascope but it is too pricey. I ordered this one off of Amazon and I'm very pleased with it. I could even see in the dark Maran eggs from Dawn.

http://www.amazon.com/Magicfly-Brig...F8&qid=1429368654&sr=8-1&keywords=egg+candler

 

[PetRock]

The last egg was not hatched or pipped tonight so I pealed it open...and found a barely alive chick. It is in the incubator and I am waiting to see if it will recover. It looked normal but is weak.

How is it doing this morning? My last hatch, I had 3 Pita Pinta hatch toward the end of day 21 and 3 more hatched on day 23. It's the first time that I've had such a gap and I was concerned about the late hatchers but they seem to be fine. I was concerned that they had pipped but wouldn't make it out of the eggs. They all 3 hatched during the night with no help from me. Big sigh of relief!

 

[ronott1]

How is it doing this morning? My last hatch, I had 3 Pita Pinta hatch toward the end of day 21 and 3 more hatched on day 23. It's the first time that I've had such a gap and I was concerned about the late hatchers but they seem to be fine. I was concerned that they had pipped but wouldn't make it out of the eggs. They all 3 hatched during the night with no help from me. Big sigh of relief!

The chick was too weak and did not make it.

I gave it a chance though. I try hard not to help them to increase vigor.

 

[PetRock]

The chick was too weak and did not make it.

I gave it a chance though. I try hard not to help them to increase vigor.

It's always sad to lose one even if it is probably better. I've lost several chicks this week due to inexperienced broodies. One girl smashed a soon to hatch chick and the egg with the chick was stuck to her breast when she went out for her R&R. So, sad!

 

[ronott1]

It's always sad to lose one even if it is probably better. I've lost several chicks this week due to inexperienced broodies. One girl smashed a soon to hatch chick and the egg with the chick was stuck to her breast when she went out for her R&R. So, sad!

Yes it is sad to lose them. It was a very good hatch though. Only one out of the 7 that developed did not make it and it actually did hatch.

 

[dldolan]

Very cute!!! It's a good thing that chickens can't count! I have 2 Langshan pullets who sat on 5 Pita Pinta eggs together. 3 hatched but 1 died. It was probably stepped on by one of the giant mamas. They hatched 2 days after my last Pita PInta and Maran chicks from your birds hatched. I thought about giving the incubator chicks to them but they are first timers. I didn't want to risk it after finally hatching some Maran chicks. The other Langshan pullet who has 2 chicks is not the best mother. So, the Twisted Sisters just have the 2 little chicks and my 5 PP plus 3 Maran chicks remain inside in the brooder. Decisions, decisions... I have given almost all of my PP eggs due to hatch next Fri to broodies. Now to find separate places for all the different groups. Dog kennels sure come in handy!

Thanks Ron and Debi! Penny is a first timer, but unlike some broodies I've had in the past, she seemed totally dedicated to the eggs. I stuck the first incubator Splash Marans chick under her while "her" chicks were hatching, and that went great. So, I brought up the other six incubator chicks I'd already inoculated, took her chicks out, gave her the incubator babies, then gave her back "her" chicks one at a time as I inoculated them. She was pretty mellow about it! My sister went up to see and Penny midly attacked her...until treats were provided. Then Penny calmed down. A food-motivated girl after my own heart! I lost chicks to a un-dedicated Ameraucana broody once, so try to be really cautious as well.

Yes, I pick up (and scrub clean) old dog kennels, lamp tables (I usually hinge one side to get in there), or small dog houses that the roof hinges up.

 

[Henthused]

You ordered a candler with your incubator, didn't you? I've been candling the eggs from the top to check the air cells and check for veining. I used to use a high power flashlight but I finally decided to order an egg candler to see if it made a difference. I would love to have the Brinsea Ovascope but it is too pricey. I ordered this one off of Amazon and I'm very pleased with it. I could even see in the dark Maran eggs from Dawn.

http://www.amazon.com/Magicfly-Brig...F8&qid=1429368654&sr=8-1&keywords=egg+candler

Hi Debi,
I have the Brinsea Ovascope. It candles from the bottom and I didn't want to put the large end of the egg down! The candler is very strong, and the egg can be turned round and round during the process, and I didn't see any air cells in the eggs from you or from the local Easter Egger Breeder. The local breeder suggested that I don't worry, because it was just too early to see the air pockets. Luckily I didn't see any out of place, either.
Maybe I will check again before 7 days. Not sure if I should?

 

[PetRock]

Hi Debi,
I have the Brinsea Ovascope. It candles from the bottom and I didn't want to put the large end of the egg down! The candler is very strong, and the egg can be turned round and round during the process, and I didn't see any air cells in the eggs from you or from the local Easter Egger Breeder. The local breeder suggested that I don't worry, because it was just too early to see the air pockets. Luckily I didn't see any out of place, either.
Maybe I will check again before 7 days. Not sure if I should?

I am looking forward to seeing how they do! I just picked up a Brinsea Eco incubator off of Craigslist. I wish that it was an Advance with digital readouts & controls but I'm excited to have a Brinsea to play with. Now if I can just get the temperature adjusted correctly. All 3 of my thermometers read 110 after the incubator ran for a couple hours.

 

[PetRock]

Here is Trinket with her Pita PInta babies. She has 6 but 1 went under her by the time I got back with my camera. She is 1 happy mama and so easy to deal with. I love this bird!