2009 Omlet cube and run for sale

[WitchHazel]

Hi All

 

Three weeks ago we went to castlefarm near Hay on Wye to buy two second-year "Welsh Black" hens. These are a cross between Australorp and Indian Game, and we needed them to replace one of our lovely Sasso ladies who was injured (accidentally) by our Roo and had to be put to sleep. We needed two established Ladies who would be large enough to cope with our Sasso Roo, who is a big boy and we needed something quickly so that the remaining Mrs Roo didn't have to deal with all Roo's attentions. (Roo and his two wives were the first eggs we ever hatched ourselves).

 

Anyway, while we were there, we picked up 6 Australorp eggs which the chap kindly gave us for nothing. I hadn't seen Australorps before and I have to admit it was love at first sight. Big beautiful hens, glossy, soft, black plumage with a beetle green sheen, and the most gorgeous black eyes. They are such gentle birds. And very productive (World record of egg laying was set byan Australorp who laid 364 eggs in 365 days).

 

On the journey home one of the Welshies laid an egg. So we popped the Australorp eggs, the Welshie egg, the dead Mrs RooToo's last egg, and Mrs Roo's four latest eggs in the Incubator.

 

I decided thatI'd like to keep one of the Australorp girls here with my Garden Girls, as a replacement for Jasmine who died recently. (And another yet to be identified hen of course, can't introduce only one!)

 

At candling, only one of the Australorp eggs was fertile.

 

Everyone has now hatched, and I am desperately hoping that the Australorp is a girl. So much so, that if it isn''t, I'l have to get another 6 eggs and try again!

 

Please keep your fingers crossed. It might be a long wait, as there is no easy way to tell. I'll try the wing feather test when s/he's a day or two old so at least I get an idea.

[Griffin]

Fingers firmly crossed for all girls! Australorps are gorgeous, we met some at the Domestic Fowl Trust last year.

[Redwing]

I have my fingers crossed for you

 

Australorps are smashng birds, I see them at the shows and they have so much presence and are very gentle, the blue ones are lovely too