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  • From: Harvey Ussery <huboxwood@earthlink.net>
  • To: livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [Livingontheland] Hatching your own (was Re: A shameless plug)
  • Date: Fri, 21 Jul 2006 13:03:23 +0000

We've always bought hatchery chicks up to now, but I want to start trying to hatch my own with silkies and cochins. . . I still don't have my "broody
hen," but she gave me a silkie that is nearly grown, along with Welsummers, Barred Rocks, one that looks like a Barred Rock but I don't recall it's name, and she hatched some RIR's and White Pekin ducks from eggs I gave her too. So now I have about 30 chicks of various sorts, NONE from a hatchery. ~Gwen

With all the NAIS BS and avian influenza hysteria, I've decided to become a closed flock ASAP. I'm already there with regard to the chickens and guineas--this is the second year I haven't bought in any outside stock, have hatched all my own. I hope by next breeding season to be equally independent with regard to ducks and geese.

The key for me is broody mamas--I never use artificial incubators.

Gwen, that silkie is a sure-fire broody for you. The cochins should also give you a high percentage of hens who retain the instinct.

The other breed that looks like a Barred Rock could be a Dominique (if rose combed) or Cuckoo Marans (if single combed). I breed CM's--they're a great breed.

~Harvey

--
Harvey in northern Va
www.themodernhomestead.us




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