I can't wait!!!!!

I wasn't really sure where I should put this post.. But I was watching some short videos I took with my phone of candling my eggs. I'm done with winter, I can't wait to fire up the incubator!
I remembered a heart melting moment last spring when I was candling eggs and I CLEARLY saw a tiny little duck foot press up against the shell. Was the most adorable thing I've ever seen in my life! Ya, it was tears of excitement when I saw that lol

I feel the same way. I think I will be starting way later this year. sigh. That's ok I suppose, I have lots of room for them once I start!!!

Oi! I plan to bring back some hatching eggs from Ontario this trip. When they hatch I think I will brood them at school. I have the most wonderful job in the world you know!

what kind of eggs will you bring back Sue? more Houdans but of different line? very cool to raise them in a class environment. I bless all teachers btw, having homeschooled our boys until they were hitting teenage years, burned out and now worship the ground most teachers walk on :-).

I have decided in honour of the day I will let the broody Beltsville stay on her nest. I hadn't realized though it is a communal "lay" - about 3 Beltsville eggs get added to the nest daily. Time to move her to somewhere quiet on her own! When the hatch day approaches I will move them into warmth.

Schipperkesue wrote:Oi!  I plan to bring back some hatching eggs from Ontario this trip.  When they hatch I think I will brood them at school.  I have the most wonderful job in the world you know!

Aren't there some good Marans lines out that-a-way? do they interest you?......they sure interest me

Incubator is in final repair mode today, with new humidity float, new motor and fan, new thermometer, almost new everything, well, not really. Got eggs collected, boys and girls have been busy and I am setting an entire incubator, almost 200 eggs of cochins and buff orpingtons, chickville here we come! Oh, and it was 5:00 PM yesterday and I could still see outside enough to walk around, viva the longer day lengths! Have an awesome day, CynthiaM.

I went for a walk quite a bit later than usual too CynthiaM. It was beautiful here last night, big full moon, not a breath of wind and very mild. Just had to dodge the ice patches. The dogs sure enjoyed the long walk and even the cat came. You know it is mild and calm when he is willing to join us!!

I brought back silkie eggs and they are already in the incubator. Sadly only three of the 13 are fertile, alp nod all from the same hen. Fortunately three of the 13 are fertile!

The only other Houdan breeders I know of are in the Maritimes and down in the states, and what they have is not much better than my birds...which isn't saying a lot.

I don't know about Marans. They are a breed I would never have. The giant combs are not practical in climates where the temperatures can dip below -40.

I have also started to collect Cornish eggs. Last year they were not fertile until late in the spring, but this year I have a vew more and I am seeing some breeding happening already. I candle this weekend so we sha see!

CynthiaM wrote:Incubator is in final repair mode today, with new humidity float, new motor and fan, new thermometer, almost new everything, well, not really.  Got eggs collected, boys and girls have been busy and I am setting an entire incubator, almost 200 eggs of cochins and buff orpingtons, chickville here we come!  Oh, and it was 5:00 PM yesterday and I could still see outside enough to walk around, viva the longer day lengths!  Have an awesome day, CynthiaM.

200 eggsies all due at once?  oh my Cynthia where will you brood them all?  

I'm new to many breeds, I've never heard of Houdans before. I can't wait to check out the breeds at the upcoming show. Unfortunately life happens and I have been sidetracked from getting my paperwork done in time to enter my ducks
But at least I can still go
I sure cant wait to fire up my incubator, but I'll have to wait til my ducks start laying... Hurry up spring!