Chickens for Beginners

Yesterday I was fortunate enough to lead a discussion about raising chickens to a group of new chicken owners.  The nice people at Kentucky Horse Supply were kind enough to let me take over their class. 


For more information about Kentucky Horse Supply go to http://www.kentuckyhorsesupply.biz/


It was a great way to meet other people interested in raising chickens and I hope I gave the attendees some valuable information.  I know I learned a few things.

Kentucky Horse Supply gets pullets in every spring and hold several of these learning events.  If you get a chance to attend it's well worth it and perhaps I will see you there.



Hatching is it worth the trouble?

There is nothing more exciting than seeing that first chick pip through the shell and start its new life.  A couple of months ago I decided to add a few more Crested Crème Legbars to my backyard flock.  They are one of my favorite breeds. 

Wonderful blue eggs.



and funny little tuffs of feathers on the hen's head like a fancy ladies bonnet.

So I ordered 24 eggs from eBay, picked a very reputable seller and fired up my incubator. 

I usually have pretty good results with my incubator even thought it's a low end foam model from TSC. 

The seller was nice enough to send me plenty of extra eggs and only a few were broken when the box arrived.

Day 21 came and while I was excited to see the first few chicks break out of their shells, I was disappointed that only 5 hatched.

I've had 90% hatch rates in the past and my incubator stayed on temp and I was careful about my humidity so I was hoping for better than 5 out of 30.  But the chicks are doing well and another wonderful thing about Crested Crème Legbars is that you can tell the boys from the girls when they hatch.  The markings are different.  4 girls and 1 boy.  The perfect breeding flock.

This week I'm trying it again with my second favorite breed French Black Copper Marans.  14 in the incubator hoping for 10 or more.  Another few days and I will know.

High hatch rates or low, sometimes you do everything right and it works out great, sometimes not so great. 


But there's nothing greater than hearing that chick peeping inside the shell and knowing in a few hours you will have a new life to take care of.

It's well worth doing even with the disappointments.