What have I done? Hatching and crazy chicken math

[kizanne]

Well I haven't been in this section for a while... But it seems I'm now back and in a big way.


Back in August a lady from an old co-op put out a please for easter eggers. At the time I happened to have about 24 eggs I had saved up and sent them to her for the cost of shipping. She had some black copper marans she was going to send me. Well then her marans slowed down and didn't get eggs. and didn't get eggs.....

In December I went out of town for few days and came back to a broody blue wyandotte who had all kinds of eggs shoved underneath and around her (some I'm sure were not being properly heated). I decided it was time to refresh the flock and let her sit, I still don't know how many but I'm think 12 at a minimum. You know one week after i decided to let her sit those marans started laying and I got like 26 marans in the mail plus I added some large hybrid eggs from my flock to fill my 42 egg incubator.

The last thing I need is 54 more chickens, I've hatched before so I know I won't have that many hatch and then some will be boys but still. Considering I have too many now..... I guess that is why they call it chicken math.


I just stopped by because the broody's clutch should be hatching today, tomorrow or so since I don't know exactly which day she started sitting. This being her first hatch she may not have any survive. I haven't went the broody route often but the last broody I let hatch ended up accidentily stepping on and killing her chicks before they got completely out of the shell. But I'm here at work wondering if there are any fuzzy's waiting at home. Waiting is the hardest.

 

[AmericanMom]

Good luck on the broody hatch!!! Understand about chicken math, started out just wanting to replenish my layers, bought an incubator, got a good hatch rate and have 17 pullets out free ranging with the older adults right now, 7 of which are males and will be meeting the freezer at the end of the month, the other ten should start laying by April, then fired up the incubator five days ago and added 23 more eggs, 18 of which are German new Hampshire I purchased from a poster here... by my calculations I am going to do very well in the meat and egg department this coming fall and that's not taking into consideration one or more of my hens going broody this year

On the list for Turkey eggs once hens start laying but I am sure will find an excuse to hatch more chickens by the end of the year

 

[kizanne]

I wanted turkey but hubby says they are too noisy, we do live in a neighborhood. I keep it down to 1-2 roos when I can. When I'm hatching and replenishing I have quite a few more til I figure out which ones are going to get to stay.

I currently have about 23 birds, lots of variety. I'm going to be going toward a mixed flock of black copper marans, americanas and large hybrid (for meat). I have some blue laced red wyandottes but I'll be going away from them. I don't have the patience for their breeding. I think the only roo I kept was the wrong 'color' and I think he's actually a hybrid cause his comb isn't right even though he's a pretty bird.

 

[AmericanMom]

I wanted turkey but hubby says they are too noisy, we do live in a neighborhood. I keep it down to 1-2 roos when I can. When I'm hatching and replenishing I have quite a few more til I figure out which ones are going to get to stay.

I currently have about 23 birds, lots of variety. I'm going to be going toward a mixed flock of black copper marans, americanas and large hybrid (for meat). I have some blue laced red wyandottes but I'll be going away from them. I don't have the patience for their breeding. I think the only roo I kept was the wrong 'color' and I think he's actually a hybrid cause his comb isn't right even though he's a pretty bird.

Our neighbors are pretty good, except for one, they like to hear the roo's and throw scraps to them and in return during good laying are never without eggs. The one who complains was shut down when I reminded her that we listen to their three dogs yapping all day long. We do have an abundance of roosters right now and yes, all ten are crowing but everyone knows they aren't going to be around for long and both our neighbors will gladly take a chicken for their freezer for the inconvenience.

Raising turkeys in a new venture, one I hope to expand upon.. We don't have enough property for beef and I wouldn't suffer my neighbors through the smell of pork so I raise what I can to help with the cost of groceries.. including the Pullets we have 30 chickens
My first hatch was a barnyard mix, Dominique Rooster with EE's, BA's and a couple sexlinks.

 

[kizanne]

I wished mine saved money but they don't. I raise them to do what I can to ensure what I eat is raised humanly and for myself I appreciate the no antibotics, no GMO, somewhat free range, exposed to sunlight chicken and eggs. But I buy organic feed, so I certainly could buy chicken cheaper at the store (of course not free range organic chicken and eggs).

I have many mixes now. I started with some pure black copper marans, barred rocks, delawares, blue laced red wyandottes, americanas, barnvelder and so forth. But I've hatched eggs from them which I don't keep all the flock seperate so. I still have some pures and then I have some mutts. I love them all. I'll be sending quite a few to the freezer as I bring in the black copper marans. But I like my own meat hybrids more then the cornish cross so I have a beautiful large roo right now. He's a hybrid but he is the best roo ever. He treats the girls nice. He won't take treat, he gives them to the girls, he's a quiet boy doesn't crow much. He protects the girls out ranging and at night when they go in the coop he stands guard in the door til about 7:30 or until I shut the door. He doesn't pull their feathers out to mate. He keep other roos off the girls. He's just a good boy. It will be hard to switch him out for a maran when the time comes. He was supposed to be freezer food a year ago but his wonderful qualities saved him from that and sent the pure big fluffy Orphington to the freezer instead. That Orphington was so mean to the girls then he tried to spur my daughter......freezer camp cometh.

 

[AmericanMom]

I wished mine saved money but they don't. I raise them to do what I can to ensure what I eat is raised humanly and for myself I appreciate the no antibotics, no GMO, somewhat free range, exposed to sunlight chicken and eggs. But I buy organic feed, so I certainly could buy chicken cheaper at the store (of course not free range organic chicken and eggs).

I have many mixes now. I started with some pure black copper marans, barred rocks, delawares, blue laced red wyandottes, americanas, barnvelder and so forth. But I've hatched eggs from them which I don't keep all the flock seperate so. I still have some pures and then I have some mutts. I love them all. I'll be sending quite a few to the freezer as I bring in the black copper marans. But I like my own meat hybrids more then the cornish cross so I have a beautiful large roo right now. He's a hybrid but he is the best roo ever. He treats the girls nice. He won't take treat, he gives them to the girls, he's a quiet boy doesn't crow much. He protects the girls out ranging and at night when they go in the coop he stands guard in the door til about 7:30 or until I shut the door. He doesn't pull their feathers out to mate. He keep other roos off the girls. He's just a good boy. It will be hard to switch him out for a maran when the time comes. He was supposed to be freezer food a year ago but his wonderful qualities saved him from that and sent the pure big fluffy Orphington to the freezer instead. That Orphington was so mean to the girls then he tried to spur my daughter......freezer camp cometh.

LOL, If I actually did the calculations I might find right now they don't, buying the incubator and such...
I have good neighbors who throw their scraps out for the chickens and in the summer a 50 pound bag of feed will last almost four months, winter months I am buying 50pds every other month. But I don't buy organic so my cost is lower. I'm anxious to raise the Germans, from everything I have read they are a wonderful dual purpose bird, my SIL also has chickens and we agreed to do a fertile egg swap when her hen goes broody, she has Orpingtons, she wants some EE's so it will work out for both of us.. I also love the barnyard mixes, its always interesting to see what you get.
Our big Roo is also a good protector of the flock, feeds the girls and keeps them safe, have had some issues with his foster Roo's, got a hit on an ad I placed for our silkie cross roo this morning, someone willing to take him...He has been beat up a couple times for wanting to be top Roo.

 

[Farmer Viola]

Wow, that DOES sound like a really good roo! Giving treats to the girls how cute

Remember to calculate shipped hatch rates at 50%! At least that's what I tell my husband to keep him calm!

I have some chicken math going on here too lol... hatched 21 chicks,
re-homed 4, down to 17:
5 blrw's (4 are roos and 1 is a DQ/for sale) of which I keep 2;
4 FBC marans (1 for sure roo, 1 maybe) of which I keep 2-3;
8 Welsummers (2 roos 6 pullets) considering selling all of this breed due to their flightyness, might keep 2,

so even though it looks like I have a lot, I really have about 6 keepers out there....
and THAT is why I needed to order 40 more hatching eggs!! LOL

 

[kizanne]

I actually have been lucky and have had more than 50% on almost all my shipped egg hatches even in my little giant.

I sometimes sell chicks in the spring so I might get rid of a few there if I have a good hatch this time.

I love the math for my husband the whole incubator will only yield 6 chicks (that will make him feel better than the 42 I set).

He also knows how this goes. After one hatch I just need to set a few more because I love hatching and baby chicks so then I'll sell some on craigslist but
sometimes you don't sell them all but hey it pays for feed so I set a few more........ He knows once I turn that incubator on then there will be chicks until May.

 

[kizanne]

arrgggg

Got home didn't see any chicks by my broody. Didn't lift her or anything. Not sure the exact day she went broody so not sure when they are due. But should be by Friday at the latest.

 

[luvmypets]

M

arrgggg

Got home didn't see any chicks by my broody.  Didn't lift her or anything.  Not sure the exact day she went broody so not sure when they are due.  But should be by Friday at the latest.

My chicks were due last Friday and didn't hatch till sunday. Our broody silkie still has more to hatch do far 3/7 really hoping for more. Good luck.