It is funny Renee as once you have the first egg hatch, you wonder why the others have not hatched, so you want to check them. The more I disturb the hens, the more chance of damage, so I fight the urge to check them.

 

I will eventually. If they are not fertile, then I have lost nothing by letting the hen sit on them. If they are fertile, the fact the hen has been sitting undisturbed is a good thing.

Hi Dave, sounds like your off to a great start.

 

 

Any further news on Quiche's feather problem?

Hi Dave, sounds like your off to a great start.

 

 

Any further news on Quiche's feather problem?

 

No news on Quiche. The attempt at breeding is to see whether or not he can actually breed (balance and all) and then after that, if he passes it on.

 

I am really hoping he can breed. If no signs by tomorrow, I might need to cut up some thick dowel to help him and his hen perch more easily. We will see

Yet to candle eggs, but it is important not to rush into things.

 

 

 

 

Good reasons for checking fertility of eggs

 

1.you can stop a hen sitting on infertile eggs for no good reason..........chuck out the duds and let her start again.

 

2. If a nest has only one fertile egg you can move that to a nest of eggs of a similar stage and let the hen start again.

 

3. Consolidate nests............any low fertility nests can be combined with others ( i.e. 2-3 fertiles in one nest put with 2 fertiles in another ) in this way you free up a hen to proceed with a new clutch.

 

I dont believe in letting a hen sit on useless infertile eggs for weeks with no result. Best work out whats going on earlier and make choices.

I understand what you are saying here Kaz, and logically it all makes total sense.

 

However I always come back to the biggest healthiest hen I have ever bred came from a pair that had 4 chicks in the first round but only 1 in the second round, and she was that one. It makes me think that when a chick gets all the attention, they prosper.

 

I will try to candle today. There are some nests that require the eggs to be removed and to let the pair have another go.

 

The question is do I pluck their bums before hand? What can I do o ensure that the same does not happen again? I do not want another nest of infertile eggs.

Yes Dave pluck there bums , cocks more so than hens, makes a difference. do the side feathers too.

Normally a hen won't raise one chick good enough, they seem to do better with around 3 for some reason

so you were lucky Dave.

I put my first ring on today - orange ring DMC 001.

 

Dad is an YF Cobalt Opaline normal and Mum is a Light Green Spangle and this is a big bub.

 

I will candle later after I take the dogs for a walk and do a few other things around the house - hopefully.

 

Normally a hen won't raise one chick good enough, they seem to do better with around 3 for some reason

so you were lucky Dave.

agreed ..............most of them give up before the chick is fully raised when there is only one

Edited September 27, 201113 yr by **KAZ**

Yet both Kiwi and St Jude are two birds who have done this before. Kiwi has passed on, but her daughters hopefully never have to experience it, but they might be like their mum.

You know it is all going too well when nothing is going wrong.

 

Sad day - the first chick to Caesar and his GreyGreen Opaline hen has died of yellowbelly. sad really, but it happens.

Edited September 27, 201113 yr by **KAZ**

Today is the day to remove some pairs, remove some eggs, and create some new pairs. I will update later on what the outcome is.

Good luck with it Dave, I am the same here, have 2 hens that should of laid ages ago and just wasting my top cocks, so I am doing the same as you.

Pair 1 - Caesar and GreyGreen Hen - first hatched chick died of yellowbaby - waiting to see what happens with the 4 eggs remaining

Pair 2 - Twitch and Albino Hen - 2 chicks now and are looking well fed - 5 eggs remaining

Pair 3 - Son of Dumber (RIP) and daughter of Twitch - 1st chick born today both hen and cock spend time sitting on the 9 eggs

Pair 4 - Dumb and Light Green Spangle Hen - they have their first chick born today - 4 eggs remaining

Pair 5 - GreyGreen Cinnamon Cock to Green Hen - hen is checking out the nestbox and cock is trying to mate

Pair 6 - Opaline Grey to a Sky Opaline Spangle Hen - I went to sub out this pair and the hen was in the box. Everytime i go to remove them, she is showing signs. He feeds her, preens and kisses her. She is in the nestbox. I need an egg in the next few days to convince me to leave them alone.

Pair 7 - Grey Cock to an Opaline Grey Spangle Hen - no chicks yet - 6 eggs

Pair 8 - Cobalt Cinnamon Cock to a Sky Cinnamon Hen - eggs removed, both infertile. I will pluck them tomorrow to assist them for round two.

Pair 9 - YF Opaline Sky Cock to a Light Green Spangle Hen - 1 chick goring very well

Pair 10 - GreyGreen Cinnamon Cock to a Double Factor Yellow Spangle Hen - no chicks yet but 5 eggs - fertility?

Pair 11 - Green Cock to a GreyGreen Hen - the hen has begun round two with round one eggs still in there. There are 9 eggs in there now. If I candle now, then I will risk throwing out the newly layed eggs with the old. I will be careful.

Pair 12 - Green Cock to a Grey/Blue Opaline Dominant Pied Hen - 1 chick and 5 eggs remaining

Pair 13 - Grey Cock to a GreyGreen Cinnamon Opaline Hen - 3 chicks and 3 eggs - excellent mum.

Pair 14 - Captain Jack (Light Green Cinnamon Cock) to an Albino Hen - 6 eggs

Pair 15 - Violet Opaline Cock to a Grey Hen - 7 eggs

 

Garage

Pair 16 - Quiche (GreyGreen Opaline Spangle Cock) to a DF White Spangle Hen - chirping happily with each other and hen checks out the nestbox regularly

You seem so organized!

You seem so organized!

 

The art of illusion is one of the most powerful weapons we have in this world!!!!

Breeding Update:

 

Pair 1 - Caesar and GreyGreen Hen - There are 5 eggs in there - candling later

Pair 2 - Twitch and Albino Hen - 3 chicks now with the first one rung today (DMC 004 12) and are looking well fed - 3 eggs remaining

Pair 3 - Son of Dumber (RIP) and daughter of Twitch - 1 chick - 7 eggs

Pair 4 - Dumb and Light Green Spangle Hen - 1 chick and well fed - 4 eggs remaining

Pair 5 - GreyGreen Cinnamon Cock to Green Hen - hen is checking out the nestbox and cock is trying to mate

Pair 6 - Opaline Grey to a Light Green Cinnamon Hen - I removed the previous hen and have removed the nestbox to give these two a few days to bond, then I will reintroduce the nestbox.

Pair 7 - Grey Cock to an Opaline Grey Spangle Hen - no chicks yet - 6 eggs

Pair 8 - Cobalt Cinnamon Cock to a Sky Cinnamon Hen - Preening and feeding, preparing for Round 2

Pair 9 - YF Opaline Sky Cock to a Light Green Spangle Hen - 1 chick going very well (DMC 001 12)

Pair 10 - GreyGreen Cinnamon Cock to a Double Factor Yellow Spangle Hen - no chicks yet but 4 eggs - destroyed egg infertile

Pair 11 - Green Cock to a GreyGreen Hen - candling to occur today

Pair 12 - Green Cock to a Grey/Blue Opaline Dominant Pied Hen - 1 chick rung today (DMC 003 12) and 5 eggs remaining

Pair 13 - Grey Cock to a GreyGreen Cinnamon Opaline Hen - 3 chicks wiht oldest rung today (DMC 002 12) and 3 eggs - excellent mum.

Pair 14 - Captain Jack (Light Green Cinnamon Cock) to an Albino Hen - 6 eggs

Pair 15 - Violet Opaline Cock to a Grey Hen - 7 eggs

 

Garage

Pair 16 - Quiche (GreyGreen Opaline Spangle Cock) to a DF White Spangle Hen - chirping happily with each other and hen checks out the nestbox regularly

Edited September 29, 201113 yr by Dave_McMinn

You seem so organized!

 

The art of illusion is one of the most powerful weapons we have in this world!!!!

LOL, that's true!

You seem so organized!

 

The art of illusion is one of the most powerful weapons we have in this world!!!!

LOL, that's true!

 

and Reality is 99% perception. So when you consider that Truth is subjective and based on our Perception you realise that the phrase "he only sees/hears what he wants to see/hear" is actually a Fact!

Update time

 

Pair 1 - Caesar and GreyGreen Hen - Chick hatched - red eyes - Caesar is split Ino so this will be a little Lute as Mum is not split blue - 4 eggs remaining

Pair 2 - Twitch and Albino Hen - 3 chicks now with the first one rung today (DMC 004 12) and are looking well fed - 3 eggs remaining

Pair 3 - Son of Dumber (RIP) and daughter of Twitch - 1 chick - 6 eggs

Pair 4 - Dumb and Light Green Spangle Hen - 1 chick and well fed - 4 eggs remaining

Pair 5 - GreyGreen Cinnamon Cock to Green Hen - hen is soon to lay hopefully

Pair 6 - Opaline Grey to a Light Green Cinnamon Hen - I removed the previous hen and have removed the nestbox to give these two a few days to bond, then I will reintroduce the nestbox.

Pair 7 - Grey Cock to an Opaline Grey Spangle Hen - eggs candled and removed.

Pair 8 - Cobalt Cinnamon Cock to a Sky Cinnamon Hen - Preening and feeding, preparing for Round 2

Pair 9 - YF Opaline Sky Cock to a Light Green Spangle Hen - 1 chick going very well (DMC 001 12)

Pair 10 - GreyGreen Cinnamon Cock to a Double Factor Yellow Spangle Hen - no chicks yet but 4 eggs - destroyed egg infertile

Pair 11 - Green Cock to a GreyGreen Hen - candling to occur today

Pair 12 - Green Cock to a Grey/Blue Opaline Dominant Pied Hen - 1 chick rung today (DMC 003 12) - going to be a Dommie pied like Mum and 3 eggs remaining - 2 infertile eggs removed

Pair 13 - Grey Cock to a GreyGreen Cinnamon Opaline Hen - 3 chicks with oldest rung today (DMC 002 12) and 3 eggs - excellent mum.

Pair 14 - Captain Jack (Light Green Cinnamon Cock) to an Albino Hen - 6 eggs

Pair 15 - Violet Opaline Cock to a Grey Hen - 7 eggs

 

Garage

Pair 16 - Quiche (GreyGreen Opaline Spangle Cock) to a DF White Spangle Hen - chirping happily with each other and hen checks out the nestbox regularly

 

 

Pair 1 - Caesar and GreyGreen Hen - Chick hatched - red eyes - Caesar is split Ino so this will be a little Lute as Mum is not split blue - 4 eggs remaining

 

 

Caesar is from Cec Gearings famous ino line

I kind of wish i had a bigger shed with more breeding cages are there a number of other pairs I want to put down.

 

There is an Olive Cock that I would like to pair to a GreyGreen hen. Both birds are John Hewitt bred birds and they were paired previously producing some very good chicks. I am going to assess the pairs on round two and go from there. Unless the DF hen produces at least one little one this year, she is out of the breeding cycle altogether.

Update time

 

Pair 1 - Caesar and GreyGreen Hen - 2 chicks now - one red eyes and one black eyes - 3 eggs remaining

Pair 2 - Twitch and Albino Hen - 4 chicks now with the second one rung today (DMC 006 12) and are looking well fed - 2 eggs remaining

Pair 3 - Son of Dumber (RIP) and daughter of Twitch - 1 chick - 6 eggs

Pair 4 - Dumb and Light Green Spangle Hen - 1 chick and well fed - 4 eggs remaining

Pair 5 - GreyGreen Cinnamon Cock to Green Hen - hen is soon to lay hopefully

Pair 6 - Opaline Grey to a Light Green Cinnamon Hen - Now the hen has stopped trying to find a way out she might start bonding with the cock

Pair 7 - Grey Cock to an Opaline Grey Spangle Hen - eggs candled and removed.

Pair 8 - Cobalt Cinnamon Cock to a Sky Cinnamon Hen - Preening and feeding, preparing for Round 2

Pair 9 - YF Opaline Sky Cock to a Light Green Spangle Hen - 1 chick going very well (DMC 001 12)

Pair 10 - GreyGreen Cinnamon Cock to a Double Factor Yellow Spangle Hen - no chicks yet but 4 eggs - destroyed egg infertile

Pair 11 - Green Cock to a GreyGreen Hen - old eggs to be removed tomorrow.

Pair 12 - Green Cock to a Grey/Blue Opaline Dominant Pied Hen - 1 chick (DMC 003 12) - opaline grey dommie pied hen I think - just like her Mum, means Dad is split blue.

Pair 13 - Grey Cock to a GreyGreen Cinnamon Opaline Hen - 3 chicks with second oldest rung today (DMC 005 12) and 3 eggs - excellent mum.

Pair 14 - Captain Jack (Light Green Cinnamon Cock) to an Albino Hen - 6 eggs

Pair 15 - Violet Opaline Cock to a Grey Hen - 7 eggs

 

Garage

Pair 16 - Quiche (GreyGreen Opaline Spangle Cock) to a DF White Spangle Hen - chirping happily with each other and hen checks out the nestbox regularly

Pleased you have some chicks Dave, I hope the others hatch you and survive.

I know what you mean about not having enough cages. even though I am sure

I have more than you but there is always more that you want to pair up.

Really Dave you can only have as many Breeding Cabinets as you have time to look after everyone. And you lead a very full and busy life so I think perhaps less is more in your case

Really Dave you can only have as many Breeding Cabinets as you have time to look after everyone. And you lead a very full and busy life so I think perhaps less is more in your case

 

I disagree Renee. There is an old saying that says "If you want something, you will make time for it". My restrictions are space, not time.

 

So whilst I am sure that your comment above was genuine, the "less is more" argument in my case is utter rubbish. Sorry. That is just the way it is here.