Peripatetic philomaths…focusing on what's really important, eating ethically and cleanly, fermenting, foraging/wildcrafting, practicing herbalism, and being responsible stewards of our land. Sharing our photos, musings, and learnings. Still seeking our tribe.
It’s the hatching season…well, I hatch year-round, but this is the busiest time of the year for hatching! With multiple incubators and hatchers, eggs with different incubation needs and hatch dates, it can be a challenge keeping on top of everything that needs to be done. In this post, I’ll share some tips for staying abreast of the many tasks associated with setting groups of eggs at different times.
Continue reading “In The Incubator: Managing Multiple Hatches”
The first hatch of shipped eggs for the year is over, and it was a disappointing one. I started with 14 eggs (one cracked) and only 5 made it to lockdown. Did any even hatch?
Continue reading “Haiku & Post-Hatch Recap: Shipped Lavender Ameraucana Eggs #1 (2022)”
We’re at the halfway point with the first shipped Lavender Ameraucana eggs of the year, and there’s good news…and bad news. The good news is that there are, after 2 candlings (earlier than normal), still eggs in the incubator. The bad news is that there are now just 7 left.
Continue reading “Update: Lavender Ameraucana Hatch #1 (2022)”
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)”
It’s a momentous day here on the farm: the geese have laid their first eggs of the season! I always enjoy finding first eggs, whether from a new or resuming layer. And I really enjoy finding a surprise, like I did this morning.
Continue reading “Farm Fowl: First Goose Eggs Of The Season”
The first hatch of the year is over. The hatchers have been cleaned and disinfected and the chicks are warm and safe in their brooders. Join us for a quick look back on how the hatch went!
Continue reading “Post-Hatch Recap: First Chicks of 2022”
It’s hatching day here on the farm and we have chicks working on emerging from the confines of their eggs. For me, hatching is always fun, gratifying, and a little stressful…but, in the end, definitely worthwhile.
Continue reading “In The Incubator: First Hatch Of 2022 Update”
Having raised both purebred and mixed breed poultry, I’ve seen the benefits of genetic diversity, such as heterosis (also known as “hybrid vigor”). When we crossed Easter Eggers that laid blue-green eggs with French Black Copper Marans roosters, we expected that the pullets would eventually lay olive eggs…and they did. And these girls turned out be some of the nicest birds we’ve raised to date.
Continue reading “Farm Fowl: Omnifarious Olive Eggers”
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”