Toad Raising.

[Karen523]

I have some good news!

After a couple of terrible hatches, by people on here, I decided to try hatching them here again and selling the chicks instead of the eggs,

I put 10 eggs in almost 3 weeks ago, I moved them to the hatcher today 9 appear viable and moving!

WooHoo!

 

[duluthralphie]

i got 3 toad eggs today..

2 were not in the nest box...

 

[ChcknNurse]

I'm sure there's some info out there.  I don't want to hijack the thread with egg experiments.  But the eggs I hatched with 1 rooster had gotten so cold a few were frozen and discarded due to cracks.  I think the theory is that normal refrigerator temperatures are fine.  Just remember it will not sex change the eggs, just kill off the majority of rooster eggs.

I wouldn't risk these eggs either, of course. But, a breeder of Orphingtons gave me dozens to hatch for a couple years back. When I arrived, she pulled them from the fridge with a few weeks old dates on them. I had 85% hatch. I'm sure if I used only my Brinsea and not the LG, I would have had near 100%.

 

[cracrzy4chicks]

I wouldn't risk these eggs either, of course. But, a breeder of Orphingtons gave me dozens to hatch for a couple years back. When I arrived, she pulled them from the fridge with a few weeks old dates on them. I had 85% hatch. I'm sure if I used only my Brinsea and not the LG, I would have had near 100%.

 

[memphis]

Ralph...just curious...about Toads roosting. Can they hop up on a roost, do you use a ramp? What size roosts do they use...2x8's....LOL!

 

[duluthralphie]

They can hop up on a roost about 18 inches high. I use 2x4's for roosts.

They will bow under the weight of a bunch of toads.

They are not real jumpers though. The wings are way too small to be any good for flying.

 

[duluthralphie]

My 9 eggs turned into 5 chicks. I might have misplaced 3 meaning they jumped their tray and fell into another tray.

I have 6 trays in my hatcher and once in a while a silly bird changes trays. I am not selling anything that might be a toad.

The 5 I have firmly identified are going to MnCHickMom and her kids. Her Daughter might enter them in the fair against the CX's!

 

[MNChickMom]

Just went to pick up our chicks. We are doing the same as Momof3+twins, we plan to weigh weekly. I believe they were hatched Saturday so my first set of weights will be at 2 days old. My control group will be Speckled Sussex. (Well maybe the SS hopped into the box as we were getting the Toads boxed up. )

Tonight I started them on 22% Medicated chick start.

T= Toad
SS = Speckled Sussex

T- Purple = 57 grams
T- Red = 50 grams
T- Blue = 52 grams
T- Yellow = 58 grams
T-Green = 56 grams

SS- Purple = 38 grams
SS-Yellow= 41 grams
SS-Green = 33 grams
SS Blue = 35 grams

Based on comb development and size my 2 kids and I both think T-Yellow is MALE. That is the only one all 3 of us agree upon. Stay tuned for pics.

 

[MNChickMom]

Sorry about poor lighting. It was dusk when we put them in the brooder.

 

[duluthralphie]

I was stabbed by a toad today.

Instead of writing the story out here is the lnk to where I told it.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1052702/surviving-minnesota/22560#post_18396237

I am not writing it again, too much work..