they're under her! here we go! (hatches due 6/23)

[fun monitor]

I'm down to 9 eggs as well, Anne.

Why would your eggs have a higher mortality rate because they're tufted? You've piqued my interest.

And I changed the subject line

 

[Anne]

Thanks for changing the title! How weird that we're both down to 9 eggs, after both setting them on the same day, at the same time! We must be on the same wavelength or something.

The gene for tufts is lethal. That's TUFTS, not muffs -- they're totally different. Muffs/beards aren't lethal at all, but tufts are. Any chick that receives two copies of the tufted gene will die before hatching. Some chicks that only have one copy of the gene will die also. If both parents are tufted, more chicks will receive 2 copies of the gene, therefore there will be a higher % of mortality.

Araucanas are tricky.

My next candling will be day # 18 (the 20th). What about you?

 

[Anne]

How are you guys doing? Thought I'd resurrect this post.

After my first candling, I lost another egg -- it just disappeared one day. So my hen is down to 8. I candled the remaining 8 eggs last night, and they all look good.

I'm getting excited, and I can't wait to see what hatches! Every hatch is like Christmas for me. Some presents will be duds (clean-headed/tailed chicks, chicks with wrong skin color or poor type, etc), and some presents will be awesome (rumpless/tufted chicks, golden duckwings with nice coloration, etc)! Someday I'm gonna go out there and find the present of all presents waiting for me -- a beautiful Golden Duckwing cockerel with all the right traits, who will win many a prize at shows!

Hey, you never know, it could happen...

 

[fun monitor]

Well Anne, I'll keep my fingers crossed for some good little rumpless babies for you! That would be fun. And very interesting about the tufted gene. I have a double frizzle and I wonder why he made it through hatching...is the frizzle gene not lethal like the tufted gene? I found a discarded frizzle feather that I'm going to take photos of today - it's VERY weird. Poor little guy!

I don't know what kind of chicks I'll get either. I ordered a bantam assortment of mixed Japanese, Seabrights, Black Rosecomb, Cochins, Polish and the ad says various Araucanas, but I'll bet they're Ameraucana mutts

of course.

 

[Anne]

Unfortunately I know nothing about frizzles -- I'm not sure if they have any lethal genes or not.

As of this morning, I HAVE A PIP! Betcha by tonight I'll have a chick and more pips.

How about you?

 

[robinaggie]

Can I get an update??

 

[fun monitor]

I am proud to announce that I have two baby fuzzies and three pips. One egg is cold so I'm not expecting anything from it. I'm waiting on the remaining four.

OMG this is too much fun.

 

[okiehen]

WOO HOO, things are looking good.
My hen has 5 babies so far, all eggs looked good but 1 at day 11. So I'm thinking we will have a great hatch.

 

[montcapu]

good luck... I can not wait till I am able to hatch some of my own

 

[robinaggie]

Congratulations to all of you - chicks included!