In The Incubator: Lavender Ameraucana #1 (2022)

Future chicks

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!

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Post-Hatch Recap: 2021 Shipped Eggs

Off to a bad start

2021 was a bad – no, terrible – year for shipped hatching eggs. What, just a few years ago, may have been decent to good hatches, were, this year, either complete busts or very difficult hatches that resulted in only single hatchlings or a few struggling chicks; accordingly, I’m anointing 2021 the Year of the USPS Great Egg Delivery Debacle.

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Update: Lavender Ameraucana Hatch #3

All alone in the hatcher…

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.

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In The Incubator: Lavender Ameraucana Hatch #3

Not broken, but still damaged…

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.

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