TAJ Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 (edited) So this is the situation, only 4 table birds left to go - they could go any time now, really should have gone a month ago. That will live two empty eglu's, plus an empty incy and brooder cage. We are also one egg layer down as one died yesterday So obviously I need more hatching eggs don't I? I will get from Wernlas (when these breeds are back in lay), but was thinking there are so many breeds I want, but haven't got the room for all I want if I just got 1 egg of each of the ones on my wish list it will be pot luck what hatches and the females I get to keep. So far my potential list includes RIR, Buff orp, Lavender Araucana, white silkie, blue silkie, black pekin, & silver penciled wyndotte. So my real problem is do I mix them all in the incy, or do I stick to eggs more of the same size? I know bantam eggs are usually 18 days, compared to 21 for the others. Tracy Edited April 14, 2010 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 I'd have thought the only problem you might have is the relative humidity at the end of the brooding process as you will have to hoik any hatched bantams out before the "big uns" are ready, though as long as you were quick & the outside temp wasn't much lower than the incy the risk would be negligible................I have no experience of incy hatching and only one broody hatch so I could be talking out of my hat !! Good luck with whatever you choose Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom123 Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 Only some bantams hatch on day 18, mine hatched on day 22 so I wouldn't let that stop you getting bantams You could always set the bantams a day or two later. I'd go for a mix Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted January 31, 2010 Author Share Posted January 31, 2010 Only some bantams hatch on day 18, mine hatched on day 22 so I wouldn't let that stop you getting bantams You could always set the bantams a day or two later. I'd go for a mix I think you mean later for the banties as they take less time - but that is a great idea - I have a RCOM20 pro so it does the stopping turning and change of temp automatically at 18 days, so if I set the smaller eggs 1-2 days later than the others they would all arrive around the same time. A great plan - thanks Tom. Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 Mix sounds like a good idea Setting the bantam eggs 2 days later is what they do at the farm if they're using just the one incy (usually have 2 incy's going and a hatcher), and they normally hatch within a day or 2 of each other - I was told that once one hatches the cheeping spurs the others on to pip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 That sounds exciting! You could add the banty eggs a couple of days later but I've not had a bantam egg hatch on day 18 before Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 My Ancona hatched on day 18 but she's LF Most of mine seem to arrive on day 20 or 21, both bantam & LF. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted January 31, 2010 Author Share Posted January 31, 2010 ...and it looks like I will be passing Wernlas early March, so I think I better get on the phone Tuesday when they open (closed Mondays) to place an order. Any ideas on hatch rates from Wernlas? If you remember I expected about 50% from my posted meat bird eggs and got 11 out of 12 - OH would not be happy for that 'mistake' again Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 Wernlas have strong healthy birds and as you are collecting I would expect a decent hatch rate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 ...and it looks like I will be passing Wernlas early March, so I think I better get on the phone Tuesday when they open (closed Mondays) to place an order. Any ideas on hatch rates from Wernlas? If you remember I expected about 50% from my posted meat bird eggs and got 11 out of 12 - OH would not be happy for that 'mistake' again Tracy Wernlas are not taking orders on hatching eggs yet I know as I have spoken to them this week Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted February 1, 2010 Author Share Posted February 1, 2010 ...and it looks like I will be passing Wernlas early March, so I think I better get on the phone Tuesday when they open (closed Mondays) to place an order. Any ideas on hatch rates from Wernlas? If you remember I expected about 50% from my posted meat bird eggs and got 11 out of 12 - OH would not be happy for that 'mistake' again Tracy Wernlas are not taking orders on hatching eggs yet I know as I have spoken to them this week I can be patient - I ordered my Wernlas girls in Jan last year and waited until April till they were all sexed and ready to be collected, so plenty of planning time - the trouble is I will just keep adding chicks to the list until I can place an order! Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 Hi Tracy, I once had 3 eggs from Wenlas. I had...a Cobar, A Partridge Cochin & A Buff Wyandotte egg. They were all fertile. The Cobar & Cochin hatched & the Wyandotte gave up near the end. The 2 chicks were both boys. My sister found a home for Bumble the Cobar & I still have the ' mighty Boon' Cochin. I think their egg quality & fertility rates are excellent, as they have about a 3hens : 1 cockerel ratio per breed. They know everything about each breed too. I can't recommend them enough. I have heard that Wyandottes on a whole are quite hard to hatch in an incubator - I don't know how true that is. I want to get a partridge cochin female this year, as a girlfriend for 'Boon' - I'd call her Mills as in ...Mills & Boon. Good luck. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 I have heard that Wyandottes on a whole are quite hard to hatch in an incubator - I don't know how true that is. I had 9 buff laced Wyandotte eggs in the incy last year and none of them hatched. These eggs looked awful, thin mottled shells, and it's no surprise none of them hatched. Most were clear but some died later on. A friend had 12 silver laced Wyandotte eggs, only one hatched and thankfully it was a girl but he then had the rigmarole of finding another day old chick to keep it company He's got a SL cockerel now to go with his SL girls so I'll try my luck with some eggs later on in the year, his cockerel is a bit young and doesn't quite understand his role in life yet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom123 Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 Out of all my eggs in the last batch, the wyandottes were the only ones to hatch! I've hatched a few dottes under broodies without any trouble Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted February 1, 2010 Author Share Posted February 1, 2010 Hi Tracy, I once had 3 eggs from Wenlas.I had...a Cobar, A Partridge Cochin & A Buff Wyandotte egg. They were all fertile. The Cobar & Cochin hatched & the Wyandotte gave up near the end. The 2 chicks were both boys. My sister found a home for Bumble the Cobar & I still have the ' mighty Boon' Cochin. I think their egg quality & fertility rates are excellent, as they have about a 3hens : 1 cockerel ratio per breed. They know everything about each breed too. I can't recommend them enough. I have heard that Wyandottes on a whole are quite hard to hatch in an incubator - I don't know how true that is. I want to get a partridge cochin female this year, as a girlfriend for 'Boon' - I'd call her Mills as in ...Mills & Boon. Good luck. Emma.x I will quote you on that (3 eggs no girls)! OH thinks I only need 6 eggs to get 1-2 girls, my list has 8 on it - I think 8-10 eggs is a better bet to get a couple of girls don't you think ? When the incy takes 20 eggs it would be a waste to run it for three weeks just with 6 in it and then you need a few chicks in the brooder for them to be cosy. Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 You can say it does actually work better at full capacity If its fully the eggs hold their temperature better, and so keep fluctuations in the incy down if they're all staying warm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted February 5, 2010 Author Share Posted February 5, 2010 ...and it looks like I will be passing Wernlas early March, so I think I better get on the phone Tuesday when they open (closed Mondays) to place an order. Any ideas on hatch rates from Wernlas? If you remember I expected about 50% from my posted meat bird eggs and got 11 out of 12 - OH would not be happy for that 'mistake' again Tracy Wernlas are not taking orders on hatching eggs yet I know as I have spoken to them this week I spoke to them today, some of what I want are already laying, most are not in lay as yet. She said they do not know what this year will be like after the winter we have had, they are already hatching, but hatching rates are not great at the moment - she said to ring again at the end of the month when they may know more. However she did say that she has so many pullet orders for silver laced wyndottes she will need every egg she can to fill her own orders so would not be able to sell any of these as hatching eggs - are they the Omlet 'must have' for 2010? Now I am getting tempted on e-bay, a few of the ones I want are available in a mixed lot. So do I wait 6 weeks until I am passing Wernlas and take a chance on what they have or get from E-Bay now (or get from e-bay now and if it all goes wrong they will be out of the incy by the time I am passing Wernlas anyway). Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted February 5, 2010 Share Posted February 5, 2010 I'd try the Practical Poultry forum next they have a hatching egg list and also a wanted section Try Kerry on there, she has fab Wyandottes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted February 5, 2010 Share Posted February 5, 2010 I believe you might be right, silver laced Wyandottes might become the next 'big thing'. I've already seen one very unsavoury yet well known breeder taking advantage of a friend & breeding and selling SL Wyandottes that carry a hereditary problem My chum at the stud farm breeds very nice ones, I could ask him if he'll post you some eggs if you want? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted February 6, 2010 Author Share Posted February 6, 2010 Thanks Rewing & Griffin - I will follow up on that. There are some on e-bay and they are at £21 for 6 with some time still to go - definately looks like the chicken for 2010. I have bought 6 mixed large fowl & 6 mixed bantie eggs on e-bay, when I say mixed they are pure breeds kept separately, but no more than two eggs of each, I am hoping I might have a chance of getting some of the breeds I want from this as the seller is quoting orps, silkies, RIR, pekins in his possible list - I am not keen on some of the other possibilities such as leghorns & fresians, but they may come to nothing or all be cockerals anyway. Whatever they will be out of the incy before I am passing Wernlas in mid-March, so if they all fail I still have that option. Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted February 6, 2010 Share Posted February 6, 2010 I recognise that description, I bought some of those last year. I asked not to have any Leghorns and they were very good and didn't put any of those in That's how I ended up with Doughnut the Ancona Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted February 6, 2010 Author Share Posted February 6, 2010 I recognise that description, I bought some of those last year. I asked not to have any Leghorns and they were very good and didn't put any of those in That's how I ended up with Doughnut the Ancona I contacted them before bidding - the varieities listed on e-bay are what were laying, but it is early in the year and they say they stop & start, so they cannot guarantee what you can have, but said I could list 1-2 that I didn't want. So I am hoping out of 12 eggs something comes out female that I want. Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted February 7, 2010 Author Share Posted February 7, 2010 I have now added 6 silver laced wyndottes from www.lphpoultry.co.uk - I had bid on a few lots on e-bay, but wasn't up to the £80 for 6 eggs, incl postage for the national champion stock and was out bid on a number of others. I thought the photos of these at LPH looked good and looking at what this stock is going for on ebay (+ postage) they were worth having a shot at. So one layer dies and I now have 18 eggs coming for the incy that takes 20 - I think OH believes I have 6 coming . Really this is true, 6 from LPH, 6 mixed LF & 6 mixed banties, so 3 lots of 6. Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted February 7, 2010 Share Posted February 7, 2010 Oooo LPH is just along the road from me..........I'm looking at the blue MF Pekins, not seriously, just looking you understand Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted February 7, 2010 Share Posted February 7, 2010 I think OH believes I have 6 coming . Really this is true, 6 from LPH, 6 mixed LF & 6 mixed banties, so 3 lots of 6. Tracy Chicken maths Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
