[gsc]

I am really going to show my inexperience here.

I have ended up with 21 eggs for my 20 egg incubator this time:
6 choc/cream partridge dottes
3 silver/cream partridge dottes
4 silver pencilled dottes
4 lavendar araucana
4 cream legbar (she thinks)

I have no idea how I am going to tell them apart (or when I can tell them apart) or if/when I can split males from females eg the Legbars.

[joyfull]

well the araucana eggs are easy - they should be either blue or blue green. the rest when they hatch you will have to post pictures on here for people to guess. With aras you often can't tell their sex until they are quite old although out of my two hatches I know I have 2 definate boys

[gsc]

I have only 21 eggs this time so not much choice to make - but as a general rule regarding shape:

I have 1 that is very pointed.  Would you discard that one?  Not sure what breed it is.

The others - some I am having trouble deciding on which end is up.  Some are more 'pointed' than others but some are not so easy.

Incubator should arrive any minute now so not much time to decide  :blink:

The silver p. dottes and the legbars she was a bit unsure about.

[joyfull]

I have merged these two topics as they are both saying the same thing.

If the breeder was uncertain about the other eggs I would be uncertain about the purity of her chickens. As she has several breeds she should have them in seperate pens so then she would know which eggs are wgich.

[Casey76]

As you are getting an R-Com they will be incubated on their sides, so it isn't as important that you know chich end is which.

You should discard any which are excessively pointy (will squish the growing chick) or excessively round (I can't remember the correct reason for this, but it is something to do with the airsac being in the wrong place).

As you have a mixture of bantams and LF (and araucana eggs aren't really that big) you will probably be able to fit all 21 eggs in the incy if you use a universal tray.  Obviously if you are using the 20 hen egg tray it's a bit more difficult!

To tell the eggs apart you should (actualy the breeder should have) write on the eggs in pencil what they are and what colour.  Put an X on one side and and O on the other so you can tell if the incy is rolling them correctly.

I'd be concerned about the eggs the breeder is unsure of.  In what way is she unsure... that they are pure bred, or which eggs they are?

Dottes you can try to feather sex at one or two days.  I believe araucanas are pretty hard to sex until they are some weeks old, and with the legbars they are auto sexing on hatching (when they are fluffed up).

[gsc]

Thank you Joyfull - wasn't sure if my lengthy meanderings were putting too many questions in one thread.

I've been looking at the eggs again.  The 9 cream dottes I am very sure of as Sarah is very serious about her breeding having bought her stock from Grant Brereton and Richard Davies.

My local lady is a bit distracted having a nephew seriously ill.  I think she collected them and forgot to mark them.  She pens the breeds individually.  She wouldn't take any money for them.

Looking at the 12 I had from her, 3 were marked, I would say I have
2 Lav. Aracauna (from the colour)
4 cream legbar (from the size)
6 Wyandottes (all small and white)
and 1 big pointy white egg which I think I will discard.

I actually wanted Silkies and and Lavendar Aruacanas, but to practice with, these will be fine.  The Wyandottes might be usefull to cross with the chocolate creams to test colours etc.  The Cream Legbars - mmm - not sure what I will do with those.

Of course - that's all assuming I get something to hatch

Pictures will be forthcoming for opinions if anything hatches although at this stage I have no idea what what difference it will make if I know the sex.  I think I will still rear them for the experience.

[Casey76]

With the cream legbars, if you dont want to keep them you will be abel to sell the girls failrly easily when the come off heat. They are much in demand at the moment because of their blue/green eggs.  Boys are usually culled immediately (unless they are from show stock, and you want to perpetuate the line)

[gsc]

With the cream legbars, if you dont want to keep them you will be abel to sell the girls failrly easily when the come off heat. They are much in demand at the moment because of their blue/green eggs.  Boys are usually culled immediately (unless they are from show stock, and you want to perpetuate the line)

No good for eating then?

I guess I may have to do the deed before the grandkids realise they are there 

[Casey76]

With purebreeds, they are crowing much before they are ready for eating - if you only have one or two it might be OK - but if you have a whole pack of cocks then it might feel a bit different - especially when they all start competing with one another.

[gsc]

Oh boy - I have so much to learn.

[joyfull]

I would use these three weeks to read as many books as you can regarding incubator hatching (there is one by Katie Thear) and also about chick care 

[gsc]

I would use these three weeks to read as many books as you can regarding incubator hatching (there is one by Katie Thear) and also about chick care 

I have it