Self-taught farmers confidently raising chickens, ducks, geese, and pigs. Our focus is on practices that are environmentally harmonious and respectful to our livestock. We appreciate the beauty around us, clean eating, fermenting, and responsibly utilizing the bounty of the land. If you like thinking for yourself, continuous learning, and connecting with the homesteader lifestyle, check us out.
I tried hatching several sets of shipped Lavender Ameraucana (a rare breed that’s not available locally) last year, with dismal results: of three set of eggs from two different breeders, I only had 2 hatch successfully – and that was 1 in each of 2 sets. But those birds are so lovely and sweet that I couldn’t help ordering more eggs – from a breeder in a different state – and hoping for better luck this time!
Continue reading “In The Incubator: Lavender Ameraucana #1 (2022)”
On Christmas Day, I filled an incubator with eggs from our flock: dark brown eggs from our Black Copper Marans and blue eggs from our Easter Eggers (hatching Olive Eggers). It’s been a couple of weeks now, so our first hatch of the year is just around the corner!
Continue reading “In The Incubator: First Hatch of 2022”
It’s been busy around here with all the incubation-related activity, and I admit to having skipped an update with the results of the second candling of the two remaining eggs from this severely shipping-damaged group. After ending up with only 2 eggs (of 13) developing after the first candling, I didn’t have high hopes of having any eggs make it to lockdown. But one did.
Continue reading “Update: Lavender Ameraucana Hatch #3”
After receiving the shipped eggs for Lavender Ameraucana hatch #2, I knew the odds were against getting chicks to hatch from that terribly damaged group…and it seems I was right. Being determined to build a flock of these lovely birds, I had already ordered another set of hatching eggs from the same breeder and this year’s hopes rest squarely on group #3.
Continue reading “In The Incubator: Lavender Ameraucana Hatch #3”
It’s been two weeks now since the shipped American Bresse eggs went into the incubator. 9 were left after the first candling (at day 7). Their incubation is now 2/3 complete – just one week to go! But how many will make it to lockdown?
Continue reading “Update: American Bresse Eggs Second Candling”
The shipped American Bresse eggs have been in the incubator for a week, so they’re a third of the way through the incubation process. At this point, I like to do the first candling to identify which eggs are developing (and to remove ones that aren’t). Read on to find out how many eggs are still left in the incubator!
Continue reading “Update: American Bresse Eggs First Candling”