Chicken breeding, watch this space.

[carolann]

My OH bought me an incubator for Christmas and this weekend I shall be putting down a batch of eggs. They are from Light Sussex Hens and the Cock is a Rhode Island Red. I shall take some pic's of how it all works if anyone is interested. Its the first time that I have ever done anything like this before and I know that we have some chicken lovers on here so watch this space. TTFN for now.

[oldmoleskins]

Consider it bookmarked!

OM.

[Chuckles]

Brilliant Carolann something I'd love to do but space is an issue. Will really enjoy keeping up with the goings on Like OM, thread now Bookmarked ;D

[Amo]

Can we all be surrogate hatchers with you??? ;D

[JennyWrenn]

Oh cant wait for the photos

Just love that cluck cluck sound they make

My Aunty had chickens - my treat would be to collect the eggs each day

Oh happy memories

[carolann]

I'm happy that you like this idea everyone. Last weekend OH and I split the hen house and separated the Sussex and Rhodie from the rest of the gang. I was reading in my book that the Sperm from the male can live in the female for about 2 weeks just waiting to fertilize the next egg, but Eric this is his lordship

is the only cock that has been running with all the hens. These are his girls

Eric hates me cause the girls run to me for feeding and treats (bread) so I have to carry a small stick with me when I go in as he will go for me. Just behind the nest boxes on the left wall we are building a brooding shed which will be connected to to this shed but will house the little ones when they come out of the incubator, I will post a pic later on today when we have put the floor joists down, they are built but are in another shed and they are too heavy for just me and OH to lift into place. This next pic is of George who is a pure bred Wellsummer Cock

he is running with the rest of the flock.
This is Spud who was born 24 weeks ago and is now in with all the big girls.

she is one of Eric's off spring I think that they are called Goldline from the Sussex/Rhodie cross. She has 3 sister and they where all in the small GH (the one you can see through the window on the right) till they where old enough to be put with the others. Ignore all the cobwebs but the chicken seem to like catching spiders and the dangly bits keep them happy so I just leave them. I clean the house out twice a week but boy can they s##t ;D I will post some pics later today and explain what will be happening. TTFN

[JennyWrenn]

Oh I am 10 years old again - thank you for posting such lovely pix <MASSIVEGRIN>

[carolann]

At 2pm the afternoon 41 eggs where put into the incubator,

I have had it running for 3 days to make sure that the temp and humidity where correct before I put the eggs in.

all marked and ready for going in.

all snug as a bug in a rug, now all we have to do is check everything which I do every 2/3 hour during the day and pull out the lever to turn the eggs 3/5 times a day, after about 7 days all the eggs will be candled to see if they have a chick in them if not then they will be taken out and thrown away and in 18 days they should start to pip, then the humidity will be upped to 75% + then they should all start to hatch out. They will be sexed linked which means that the males should be white and the females will be buff.

[purplejulia]

You have your hands full now Carolann! Loved looking at all your photos.

My family kept chickens in the 1950s when eggs were still rationed, but I am too young to remember.My brother, who was only a toddler, spent all his spare time in the chicken house. When we moved in 1955 we weren't allowed to keep chickens in Surbiton!

Keep updating news and photos.

[JennyWrenn]

Oh looking at your wallpaper I have a roll of that spare somewhere if you want it

I bought it when I had my first Afghan as it shows an Affie and an Old English

sorry to go off your thread a tad ;D

You seem very organized tho have to say

[carolann]

Thanks Jen but it was my daughters bedroom when she was younger, she has now moved into the bigger bedroom across the hall and we are going to re-decorate when we get around to it, as OH says its on mi list
I'm glad you are all enjoying this thread but not much will be happening for a while now but if anything does I shall report it in ;D TTFN

[jean]

Thank you carolann its great to see such happy hens

[Amo]

Great thread Carolann! I feel like an Aunty already. ;D

[Missredhead]

oooh...how exciting....

have bookmarked this so that I don't miss anything ;D

[Jasmine]

I wonder how many chicks you'll end up with Carolann. How exciting!

[Dutchy]

ow that is sweet though for the life of me I would not know what to do with them if all make it into fluffy creature with beady eyes.
And yes this thread is now bookmarked ;D

[carolann]

Well fingers crossed we get mostly females which will be going into the flock, any males will go to market ;D. The temp in the spare bedroom has been very cold so I have wrapped the incubator in some sheets to try and keep the temp steady, it seem to be working as the temp as only gone up .5 of a degree. I have been moving the eggs 3 to 5 times a day so I hope everything is going OK with them. On Saturday we will candle the eggs to see which are fertile then I shall let you know how many eggs we have left.

[Missredhead]

I can't wait....this is sooo exciting.

[carolann]

Tonight I will be candling the eggs to see which have got anything in them, I will report on how many we have and how many we have to throw away. its not a lot. I have a little box which is just big enough for the torch to sit in but it needs a hole cutting in the front the size of an egg so that the light shines through. TTFN

[Missredhead]

good luck Carolann

[carolann]

Thanks MRH. Going off what the book tell you OH and I candled the eggs, he said that it was too early really but we did it anyway. About 80% look like they have something in them but we will do it again next weekend to be sure, we have not taken any eggs out but will do it next time we candle them. It quite difficult to tell, some look more developed (darker inside than others) and the air sacks seem to be all sizes so not sure if Humidity is correct or not but I have tried to get it as it says in the incubator manual same with the temp. Every 3/4 days I have to fill the water tray up with warm water. Well thats all for now. TTFN

[Barbara]

This is sooooooo exciting Carolann, I feel part of it, what with your chicks and OMs bees.

[Missredhead]

sounding good Carolann.......

I look forward to the next installment

[Mr Grinch]

I love chickens. I only have three Bantam's at home but all of this reminds me of my time as a kid.

Brilliant.

James

[carolann]

Good evening and welcome to the next installment of the chicken breeding program i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/grin.gif we have just 7 eggs out of the 41 with nothing in them which is not bad really, so next weekend they should start to hatch out. OH and I have been busy all this week making the brooding room, daughters boyfriend has wired and plumbed it up today, all we have to do now is put the wire mesh partition up inside then it is all set for the little ones to move into. Here are some pics of the progress through the week.

This is where it is being built.

floor started.

sides up

Roof sheets on.

View inside, we have put a double glazed window in the side you can see.

This is where the door is.

View down the side.
I will takes some more pics tomorrow of the finished shed.

[Dutchy]

Good grief that is one big home for the little ones.
I bet they will love it.

[Chuckles]

Well a possible 34 is fab Carolann, well done. Love the brooding room it looks great, don't you just love it when things start to come together it's making me all clucky ;D

[carolann]

It does look very big but its only 12x8 and there is a walkway which will be between the 2 sheds and the chicks will grow ;D. I will take some more pics today to show what we have been doing so far. I have to go to the corn merchants today and get some food, feeders and drinking fountains so that we will be all set for the little ones arrival, oh and go to the market and get a couple of mop heads so that they can go under them at night as if a mother is with them. I'm getting excited and scared hoping that nothing goes wrong, I am reading my books most nights but nothing seems to be sinking in yet. After tomorrow I shall stop turning the eggs so that the little ones dont get confused as to which end they should pip out of first also I will lower the temp a bit and up the humidity more, I should be able to hear them chirping in the shell, will let you all no if I can hear them. TTFN

[Barbara]

Mop heads, did she say mop heads. ;D well you live and learn.

[carolann]

Well the brooder house is finished, took a few pics so you can see what we have been up to.

the gate to stop Eric and his girls from coming around the front of the shed.

One of the windows, daughters boyfriend is getting us some more.

the partition all finished.
I need to go to B&Q and get something to make a ring area for the chicks, so that it will keep them near the heat lamp but also round so that none get stuck in the corners.