Too Early for Feb Hatch-A-Long Thread??

[CluckNDoodle]

I just processed 6 Marans roosters in January. They were about 5 1/2 months old and started crowing about month before that (4 1/2 months). I had planned on doing them the week before Thanksgiving but something came up. If we had done them at that time they would not have been crowing yet.

This was one I almost kept. Changed my mind at the last minute. He was just too loud.
View attachment 2017432

We like ours at 16 to 20 weeks and yes most roosters at that age are crowing
We are not afraid to butcher extras, sometimes the hardest part is deciding who to keep. I wish I could keep more till they were full grown but there is only so much room.
If they do not have anything to offer my breeding program going forward then they can not stay.

I just double checked my math. We intend to process them at 22 weeks (5 months) on 11/23. We actually did them at 29 weeks (almost 7 months) on 1/11. If we'd have done them at 5 months they would barely have started to crow. By that I mean 1-2 rooster would have been crowing for a week or so.

Thanks! See, I would be concerned about cutting it that close since I'm kind of in stealth mode about the cockerels until they're rehomed. It says "no roosters" not "no cockerels" lol. That and I'm just trying to be respectful to my neighbors so my chickens don't become an issue.
I'm definitely ready to move and not worry about any of this anymore though!!

 

[CluckNDoodle]

Hi ShannonsChimkens, I just put 4 eggs in a mini incubator, 3 lakeshore egger X white rocks and 1 unknown brown. Iam not sure how to tell if the eggs are fertilized or not any advice would be helpful, thank you

Here's a helpful link as well.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-beginners-guide-to-incubation.73350/

 

[CluckNDoodle]

I've been admitted to the hospital so all of you better be sharing cute chick pics with me. My Dr said I needed to come in because my oxygen was 81% and I couldn't breathe. My chest was killing me.

Oh my goodness! I hope you're ok!

 

[CluckNDoodle]

My current hatch is over. Three out of four little ones made it. The one that didn't make it was malpositioned with its head between its thighs.

I'm not really happy with how this hatch went. Two out of three didn't seem to be able to externally pip. I helped and the babies are doing really well but it worries me that they weren't able to hatch normally. My last couple hatches were great, no issues with pipping. I got 100% of fertile eggs to hatch both times but the eggs came from a different breeding pen. I've got 11 eggs that are due on the 11th from this same pen that had trouble so I'll pay extra attention to how they do and which girls eggs seem to have trouble or not. I know for sure which girl the egg that hatched well on its own came from. I also know which girl laid the egg of the first hatcher who had trouble and the one who didn't make it. The last one that had trouble hatching could have been from either girl.

Here are the three little ones, two paint silkies and a black silkie. They all figured out how to eat and drink within 12 hours of hatching. There is nothing wrong at all with how they are acting once they got out of the eggs.

View attachment 2017573

I've also got 16 paint silkie eggs that were shipped from a breeder that I set yesterday evening. All have slightly loose air cells but I'm hopeful about them, if I just get one or two chicks I'll be happy!

They's so cute!!!!

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

@FortCluck Rest up and feel better friend. As for the ultrasound jelly guy you should see it as your personal duty to counter his comment with an incredibly loud "It's burns! It's burning me!" See what he thinks of that.

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

Thanks! See, I would be concerned about cutting it that close since I'm kind of in stealth mode about the cockerels until they're rehomed. It says "no roosters" not "no cockerels" lol. That and I'm just trying to be respectful to my neighbors so my chickens don't become an issue.
I'm definitely ready to move and not worry about any of this anymore though!!

They can get obnoxious. People don't realize roosters crow whenever they feel like it. Day or night. This last batch would start up at about 2-3am. When I say I want a quiet rooster that what I'm avoiding. The ones that do the super early morning crowing and then crow all day non-stop. Some just crow a few time to start the day and to announce when there's dangers around. Those are good ones.

 

[starri33]

Last night was day 7, candled my eggs and all 6 are viable, looking forward to a new hatch

 

[Stonewall Acres]

@FortCluck I hope you get feeling better soon.

We have 2 fluffy yellow babies out now & the last 2 eggs have pipped. Hoping these last two decide to hatch during the daytime instead of in the middle of the night like the other 2.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

@FortCluck
We have 2 fluffy yellow babies out now & the last 2 eggs have pipped. Hoping these last two decide to hatch during the daytime instead of in the middle of the night like the other 2.

Congrats! I hope you'll share pictures later!

 

[MarilynHukill]

New babies this morning! 5 so far 1 pipping now. They weren't due to hatch until tomorrow!