You know it’s been a terribly busy day when my first blog post of the day is after 6 p.m. It has been a crazy day. Yes, it involved trips to Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Tractor Supply and McCoy’s . . there may be a need for a new chicken coop.
Remember I said I had found the ad on Craig’s List for the folks who had all kinds of chickens and they deliver to Abilene and San Angelo so I was all prepared to drive to Abilene to meet them but then when I talked them, they were coming here this weekend to visit their daughter who lives here. They told me all the breeds they have available and after research and going back and forth, we decided to get Welsummers. They also had black copper marans baby chicks so I bought five but when we went to get them, they had an extra one so I got six. I was able to put them in with the baby chicks that had hatched so they’ll grow up together and think they’re all brothers and sisters.
Black Copper Marans
I kept wishing I had asked them to bring some Ameraucana hatching eggs. When we met them, I immediately asked if they had any extra eggs. Oh, yes! They had probably 40 dozen or more because they deliver eggs along the way from their home to here and then they were taking the rest of them to an auction . . somewhere near here! Vince and I were like kids in a candy store and here’s what we ended up with:
Hatching Eggs
On the left side, the eggs in the back are Buff Laced Polish. We got all the way home and I told Vince I wish we had gotten some of them and he said “They had those?” I told him yes . . I kept trying to tell you they had the ones with the crazy hairdo on top, so we called the people and they met us halfway and we got the Buff Laced Polish. I’m telling you . . these chicks are going to think I’m their mother because most days, my hair looks exactly like theirs.
Still on the left, side the eggs in the middle are the Welsummers. They’re terra cotta colored with darker specks. In front on the left side are the Silver Ameraucana eggs.
On the right side, the eggs in the back are standard Cochin. We have bantam Cochins and they are so cute and funny to watch. Ours should be blue, black and possibly a partridge or two.
Last, the eggs in front on the right are Mediterranean Anconas, or Italian leghorns. Guess who picked those out . . yep, the Italian head of this household.
The two big incubators are full!
Incubator
There is one empty spot in this one. The turkey eggs are in there but any eggs that haven’t hatched by Monday or Tuesday will be tossed. I have the little incubator set up and as the turkey eggs start to pip, I’ll transfer them to that incubator.
Incubator
I put 6 eggs of each breach into each incubator. The eggs along the left row and the front row are from my own chickens . . either all Dominique or the red hens with the Dominique rooster . . just to see what we get.
Before anyone panics and wants to know what we’re going to do with all these eggs . . we’ll be doing great if half these eggs hatch. Since these are fairly rare breeds, or at least not the run of the mill breeds from the local feed store, I can sell fertile eggs, which means keeping the breeds separate and I’m not sure I want to go to that trouble but we might . . we might just get into the chicken raising business. Or, once they hatch, if there are more than we want to keep, I can sell the babies. There is a pretty good market for the heritage breeds.
For now, I just wait and watch and see what happens in 21 days . . that’s how long it takes for chickens to hatch.
Sherrill says
UHHH, I THINK you’re gonna be busy!! HA
Dottie N. says
Y’all are really staying SUPER busy!! Looking forward to new chicken stories!
Joan says
Can’t wait to see the results!!! Will love seeing pictures of the birds that hatch.
Carolyn S says
Haaa! You guys are so funny like kids in a candy store. I love to follow your journey! All the best, Caro.
Swooze says
So exciting. The eggs you bought today were laid when? It seems they would already be several days along. I am surprised there are still unhatched turkeys. It seems they would have all hatched close together. I guess there was a broad range of days.
JudyL says
For chicken eggs, ideally you would get them in the incubator within 7 days of being laid but the incubation period doesn’t start until they’re in the incubator or the mama is sitting on them. I read that turkeys only lay an egg every 10 days or so. The turkey eggs came from an unreliable mom who had been sitting but couldn’t be counted on to finish the job. Some of the eggs had been under her longer than others so that’s why some hatched sooner. It takes turkeys 28 days to hatch so once they’ve been in the incubator for 30 days, and haven’t hatched, it’s safe to toss them.
Linda H says
Excited to see what develops. I would love to have chickens but can’t do all the work involved … so I’ll live through your adventures!
Cindi says
What was the final tally of chicks and turkeys that hatched?
Rebecca in SoCal says
When you talk of “tossing” eggs, is that literal? Do you toss them into the woods for “critters”, or are they too old, and you probably don’t want to attract any egg-eaters anyway?
Which brings up the garbage question. Having always lived in a city or suburb with weekly pick-up, I just can’t imagine what it’s like not to have that, especially since you can’t burn trash in that drought! My husband is proud of the fact that there’s almost always more in the recycling bin than the trash bin, but that would be difficult to manage rurally, too.
These questions look dumb to me, so I hope you hold with the “no such thing as a bad question” philosophy!
Michelle Harrison says
This is so much fun to read about! I would LOVE to be able to have 5 or 6 chickens, but we are in a district that will not allow it. I bought the chicken farmer magazine on the newsstand for 2-3 years and just enjoyed the pictures and reading about the different kinds and how to make coops. I look forward to YOUR pictures and tales. I hope you have a successful yield and lots of fun!
Karen says
Well, you got me quilting more than I ever used to when I took your class a few years ago. Then you got me knitting to the point that my yarn stash has surpassed my fabric stash! I think I can safely say I’m not going to follow you into the chicken/egg business! But I sure love reading about it. Have a wonderful Mother’s Day!
Mary says
Oh Judy! Buff Laced Polish! I love those Polish! Too funny. Good luck on your eggs, I think you will have much better luck with these, not being shipped and shook up.
Angie says
I would say you are definitely now in the Egg & Chicken business. New coops, incubators and eggs. Good luck with your new venture!
Pat (EagleKnits) says
I never knew there were so many different breeds of chickens until you started posting all the links. I really enjoy reading your posts about them!