Poultry Talk Ontario (pto.ca)

So the farrier and his broodys are at it again for 2020. Spring will be coming soon.

I broke Peachy in early Jan, and it lasted over a month. It will be mid March when she hatches, so we will chance it that it doesn't get brutally cold. She is so dedicated to being a mom, its hard to deny her (and me) that pleasure. Got some eggs from the neighbor, hatchery red X with a brown leghorn rooster. Should make a decent layer cross.

Who else is either setting a broody or loading the incubator?

Just bought a used Hovabator 1690 with auto turner, extra hygrometer and thermometer, and heatlamp, feeders, etc for a brooder...even had all the manuals for everything for $150.00 Good deal I think. I'm too impatient as my broodies didnt start until June last year. I may set a small batch this weekend to test fertility and to get the hang of the incubator, with hopes to reload it full of BBS Ameraucana to hatch the week before Mount Forest Fur & Feather.

Just a curiosity, do you have extra light in your coop? and what breed is Peachy? (I also have a Peach who did 2 hatches last year, and she's freindly so I get to handle her babies without getting pecked like crazy! lol)

Yes, light on a timer, have had all winter, giving them about 14 hrs a day.

Peachy is probably 1/4 exchequer leghorn and the rest other stuff. Lays a fairly brown egg, medium size or a little more. Last year I think it was three broods, but maybe only two as they didn't start til later. Very dependable setter, has never broke on me. I expect she will do three broods this year. She lets me handle her babies, just some quirring and scolding. Hers I can always get to eat from my hand as she doesn't warn them off. First day or two, she takes from my hand and drops in front of them then decides its too much work and just lets them get their own from me.

On my 3rd hatch....just sayin'

Kbr42 wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 27, 2020 3:06 pm

On my 3rd hatch....just sayin'

Of the year? Incubator or broody? How many per hatch? What breeds? Tell us more.

Farrier1987 wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 27, 2020 3:40 pm

Kbr42 wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 27, 2020 3:06 pm

On my 3rd hatch....just sayin'

Of the year? Incubator or broody? How many per hatch? What breeds? Tell us more.

Yep, of this year. Feb 1st, 6 silkies, incubator and Broody raised.
Feb 29th, 11 silkies are in lockdown in my incubator, broody awaiting her chicks.
March 16th, there are 21 eggs, shipped silkies and showgirls. No broody yet, I'm sure that will change

This is Peachy, she was off the nest eating breakfast, terrorizing the rest of them for a few minutes. Then back on the nest. You see the yellowish on her neck? Sort oaf a peach coloured blush, was how she got named Peachy.

DId she come from Jans eggs? SHe looks a lot like my best broody girl, Sister, who came from Jans eggs.

No, homegrown. I would guess about 1/4 exchequer leghorn, you see the black feathers here and there, I don't think so, but she might have been one that sat those mailed eggs from Jan.

That darn Peachy. And darn me. She is always so good, I didnt put her into one of the maternity boxes Two days ago, she got off to eat and got back on the wrong nest, so we lost that set.

Woman at Leamington has some BCM's and I am going over this morning to get 8 eggs. So I will put her in confinement. Didnt want to lose the set, but I am pleased to be getting some BCM eggs. As everyone here knows, I just raise mutts, but I do like egg colour, so this works pretty well, get outside eggs from someone.