hatching eggs Archives - A Country Girl's Heart -Beats that Matter

March 7, 2022March 3, 2022

Choosing the Best Age of Your First Chickens

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I previously shared questions to ask as you decide on specific chicken breeds in the blog post titled What Chicken are Right for You. Today’s post takes you on the next step. When deciding on chickens that are for sale, there are 4 different growth stages to choose from, hatching eggs, chicks, juvenile or grow outs, and adult. Let’s examine different reasons you might choose from adult birds, hatching eggs, chicks or grow outs when choosing your first chickens.

Adult Birds: Choosing your First Chickens

There are a few reasons adult birds are the best options for your new chickens. By purchasing adult chickens, you will not need to wait for them to start laying. You will not need to feed them for the 4 to six months prior to beginning to lay. This, also, applies to birds you are raising for meat if they are heritage breeds.

The modern meat bird is ready to harvest as early as 2-3 months. Either way you will not need to invest the time to wait or the money to feed them. Do expect to pay a higher price for adult birds compared to juveniles or chicks to cover the fact the seller has invested the time and money (that you did not) to raise them.

Juvenile or Grow Outs

Some breeds cannot be easily sexed until 2 or 3 months of age. If you do not want a rooster, waiting for male or female characteristics to appear might be the best route for you. If sounds like you, there are still advantages to purchasing a juvenile over an adult.

If your chickens are your pets, you will be able to bond with them as they finish growing and will be able to decide what they are eating. Feed options such as organic, non-GMO, traditional, or even grow your own feed will be up to you. Raising them yourself allows them to have free range time and finish raising them to your standards. This is not to say that you cannot connect with a breeder that feeds chickens in a manner similar to yours, but that makes your search chickens a little more challenging.

Buying Baby Chickens for Your First Chicks

baby chicks are one option when choosing your first chickens

Purchasing chicks can be a bundle of fun. The cute, little fuzzy babies chirping and running around. When they have had enough of that, their little heads suddenly droop. They slowly lay down and sleep. Whether purchased locally or picking up at the local post office the fun of bringing them home and watching them grow up provides a bit of ole fashioned entertainment.

Other Considerations When Purchasing Chicks.

The act of shipping them through the mail can sometimes cause loss of life, even with the best of packing.
There often is a shipping charge in addition to the price of the chicks.
If you choose to stay local with your purchase, you will be limited to the local breeds of chickens for sale.
Chicks need a heat source until their first feathers grow in.
A brooder of some fashion is needed for chicks until they are old enough.

Hatching Eggs: Choosing Your First Chickens

Hatching your own chicks gives children the experience of seeing a new life develop. The lessons learned go a bit farther than sitting down at a desk and reading a science book. The hands on activity creates an environment where seeds of responsibility and discipline can be planted. The best part is watching a healthy chick pop out of its shell.

A word of truth here: As it is in all aspects of life, the genetic imperfections that fill our world may occur. As an example, a chick may not hatch all the way due to improper development. Or one may hatch, but it did not develop properly. This too is an excellent opportunity to teach a child the facts of disappointment and grief. As adults we know these are a part of life, and what a great time to teach a child how to deal with them in a manner that promotes healthy minds.

Best Option Hatching Eggs vs. Chicks?

Hatching eggs are less expensive vs. chicks. Do not expect every hatching egg to produce a chick. It would be an unusual case for all purchased hatching eggs to hatch. I do not always get a 100% hatch from eggs that travel no farther than from the barn to the house. If the eggs are shipped a general rule of thumb is 50% of the eggs will provide you with new baby chicks.

Let's look at the math for a minute. As an example, with shipping and the price of eggs you have $70 into 12 eggs. If you hatch 6 (50%), the price per chick would be $12. If the same breed of chicken cost $15 and you purchased 6 chicks, you would have spent $90 plus shipping. Congratulations you saved money! and had the fun of hatching. However, this is intended only as an example. The hatching result could go either way resulting in more or less chicks. This is where you decide the risk or chance you are most comfortable with.

In conclusion

Knowing your goals and resources will lay a foundation for choosing your first chickens.

Leave a comment, if you found this helpful and share which stage of a chicken’s life you have decided to purchase.

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March 25, 2020March 25, 2020

Seasons ~ Winter 2020

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The first day of Spring came and went with out a thought in my brain that I should write a post about winter accomplishments and progress and a second post sharing the goals here at CG Heartbeats Farm for spring. I enjoy looing back to find encouragement and I get excited thinking of the next 3 months to work, plant, and all of the beauty that comes with spring.

Hatching Eggs

I set hatching eggs the last week in November and really have not slowed down since. I plan to stop setting eggs in June. I had a few hatches that did not go well in terms of numbers. One hatch only resulted in one chick. I felt disappointed, but I learned.

I started looking closer at the size of the air pocket as that can be affected by humidity levels. As I seen a rapid change in the air pockets, I added a small amount of water to the incubators. My hatch rates improved. I have since went back to completely dry hatches. I will continue to do better at monitoring the air pockets of the eggs and humidity in the hatching room.

For those who follow this blog and have inquired about Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiners and Silver Gray Dorkings, no good news, yet. The Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiners hens have not started laying yet. The Silver Gray Dorking eggs remain infertile. I may need to switch out roosters for a younger one. I hate to do that as Rooster Cogburn has developed into a beautiful boy.

In March, the first crested Swedish Flower Hen chicks hatched from Apache’s Pen. I am looking forward to watching them grow. I picked out 4 crested from the 7 chicks and 4 weeks later I was right on. As to whether they are male or female, well I am not as proficient at that.

If you want to learn about the crested pen at CG Heartbeats Farm use the link below:

Swedish Flower Hen ~ Pen # 8

Hatching Course

I worked hard over the last few months to finish writing and setting up a course Chick Hatching Practices, to teach others to hatch chicken eggs. I struggled with a title at first. Hatching chicks does not happen perfectly every time, similar to all ventures in life there is always more to learn. This course teaches the basics with worksheets to help each person meet their personal chicken goals.

Purchase now and receive the E-book, Plan Your Hatch as a bonus.

The course content is already available with additional videos, resources, and printables to be added soon. Begin today!

The material is available now, but I will be adding additional worksheets, printables and videos to what is already there. A huge benefit to purchasing Chick Hatching Practices now includes a low price of $19.99 and immediate access to a Facebook group that allows for space to ask questions of myself and others taking the course. If you are planning to hatch eggs in the coming weeks for the first time or know someone who is, check out Chick Hatching Practices for yourself or share with a friend.

Singing

In January I enjoyed the fun of singing with my Mom and Shelia Mullet at a local Jam. It was a lot of fun to spend time with my Mom while praising and worshiping the Lord.

Fiddlin’ Around

I came across an old fiddle and zither online that was for sale. It was a bit of a spur of the moment purchase, but I was intrigued with the zither and the fiddle seemed to call my name. Turned out the fiddle was ¾ size not a full. My fiddle is a full, but I hope the ¾ size may be easier on my neck and shoulder. Time will tell.

The fiddle has gone for needed repairs, but I am told it is finished and plays nice. I look forward to trying it out myself. In the meantime, I have begun playing my full-sized fiddle again. Practicing describes the activity in a better light. I am in need of a rebuild myself when it comes to playing a fiddle.

Chicken Pens

Our rather mild winter, here in northern Indiana, allowed me to leave chickens in the outdoor pens much of the time. The result? More garden space. I am excited to plan just where I will be planting seeds in regard to shadows, sunlight, soil type, and drainage.

My Dad offered me a pen he no longer used and wanted to get rid of. He even delivered it and helped with the toughest part of setting it up. I am thankful for another pen to kill sod and a place to house chickens outdoors.

Garlic

As I write this post the garlic is up 3 inches in most places. Over the last few months, I have kept the hay chaff hauled out of the barn onto the garlic gardens. I did not get many woodchips out there yet. But there are more to haul.

Horses

Rosie, who turns 25 next month, came through winter. I debated last fall if she could. Last Saturday, I turned her and Dusty in the yard to eat a bit of spring grass that has started growing. She took off galloping. That did my heart good and put a big smile on my face.

South Gate Crossing

My friend Julie from Blooms on 800 and I attended a training (Growing herbs and Patio Plants) put on by Bushel Craft Farm at South Gate Crossing. Ginger was on the list for discussion. I have been wanting to plant ginger since last summer. I had no idea I would end up taking some home to plant.

I learned a bit about growing ginger and we each left with a start of Ginger and Jerusalem Artichoke.

To date only the Jerusalem Artichoke sports green shoots, but I gently pulled back the dirt around the ginger finding that it too has begun growing beneath the surface.

A Changing World

Who know a month ago how rapidly our world would seem different? We are in the midst of it now. I hope. My days remain relatively the same. I have chickens to feed, a website to blog on and run, horses, cats and a dog to care for. I refrain from my occasional neighborly visits for now. I probably check in with family a little more often.

The green grass is starting to grow and that looks like money in the bank to me. The faster the grass comes in the sooner I need to feed and purchase less hay.

This morning I took a walk in the woods and along the creek. All is as it should be with spring coming on. There are tiny green plants starting to emerge on the floor of the woods. Water continues to sing as it flows along. The birds sang and the raspberries snagged at my cloths as they always do. I felt peace.

In January I started a workbook study of Philippians titled Joy in the Midst. I am learning and growing although for now it is likely beneath the surface. These past 3 months were good ones and I am thankful for the opportunity to live them.

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Read in this blog post about my go to incubator in 2019. I include tips I use with this incubator.

The Janoel 12 incubator with chicks I hatched from Pen # 7.

Click on either picture. Purchase your own.

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August 29, 2019August 30, 2019

Homestead Diary ~ Week 4

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Last weeks post left off not knowing the outcome of 2 hatches, one in an incubator and the other under a broody hen.

Thursday, August 22, 2019

I woke up and of course the hatching process was on my mind. I noticed right away that one of the eggs had pipped and a couple others were moving around. Outside, I found the broody hen off the nest, but it looked like she had sat on the eggs during the night. As the day progressed I observed her sitting in a different spot in the tank and moved the eggs underneath her. I continued checking the incubator throughout the day finding no changes. I also noted absolutely no signs of life from the pipped egg. Rather early to have given up life, I thought. There is always that case where development malfunctioned. One last check of the broody hen for the night found her sitting on the eggs with her head raised, looking down as if listening to noises underneath her. Back inside toward 9 pm I noticed one of the other eggs were pipped too and it was not one of the ones I seen moving earlier. I tapped on the side of the Janoel 12 incubator and to my happy surprise I seen the chick was alive after all.

Friday, August 23, 2019

No progress from that first chick that pipped over night. When I went out to the barn, I checked on the broody hen. She was NOT on her eggs, again. I looked down into the tank where I had placed the eggs. Oh, what is this? One of the eggs was pipped and partially zipped and cold. I quickly checked the other egg. It was cold and pipped. Both little chicks were weakly chirping. I fired that hen on the spot! Into the house and into the incubator they went. To her credit, I had moved her only a few days before they were due to hatch. This may have upset her and distressed her enough to not sit. Or perhaps some other reason in her chicken mind was the root. Whatever her reason, I trust next time she goes broody, the outcome will be better.

I snapped a quick picture of the two eggs that were cold, but pipped before taking them into place in the incubator.

The first Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiner/Swedish Flower Hen chick hatched on Friday in the incubator. I placed a black band on the chicks leg to note that is was one of cross breed chicks while I had the incubator covered to place the 2 eggs from the barn in. I felt pretty excited about this chick. This makes the first LCN hen produced egg to hatch a chick. I am looking forward to getting Clinch and Cisco in with hens in a couple months. That first chick to pip Thursday morning showed no progress by Friday night. When I starting to remove a part of the shell of the crossbred chick produced blood. I stopped and put it back into the incubator for the night.

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Culver Farmer’s Market takes place on Saturday. If you recall from last weeks diary post, I missed to attend a family reunion that actually took place this Saturday. After a bit of internal debate, I chose to go to the reunion for real this day.

First a hatching update: I found 5 chicks in the incubator Saturday morning. Disappointed I missed the hatching of one of the eggs I brought in from the barn, I knew I needed my sleep the night before. On the other hand my earlier fears of not locking the eggs down early enough turned out unfounded. That egg that had pipped on Thursday morning still unhatched along with one egg I had brought in from the barn. I helped the SFH chick out and the LCN/SFH cross chick. I placed a white band on the SFH chick and a black one on the crossbred chick. Certain hatches I interchange the colors and make notes. Other times I use a certain color based on what pen the chick came from.

The family had started going through the 2 or 3 tables of food when we arrived. Delicious dishes of home cooked and some homegrown food provided more options than one could try. The theme of the gathering this year celebrated 100 years since the 2 that started this family married. We laughed and shared a few tears while remembering and watching a skit. Actor portraited telling of the memories our ancestors might share if they were alive with us today. Basically, a timeline of the family. I learned a few new facts that along with the visit to the Stonehouse had me thinking a bit deeper about myself.

Looking over the chicks in the incubator Saturday night. I noticed the crossbreed chick, the first to pip on Thursday morning, did not stand due to leg issues. I felt beat, sad and exhausted. I worked with a it and left it sort of propped against the side of the incubator. I shut the bathroom light off, hoping the chick would be stable there with no stimulation. It is probably going to die, I thought.

Sunday, August 25, 2019

I completely expected the yellow chick I had helped out of the egg that had been pipped since Thursday morning to be dead. I opened the incubator, what? No dead chick. What? All are on their feet? I counted 7. Oh, what a happy surprise. That Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiner/Swedish Flower Hen chick was going to make it!!

I am going to title Sunday a day of rest that turned challenging. A nice slow start to the day that included a late breakfast out with Brian. I moved the newly hatched chicks to the barn. I started the process of cleaning the incubator and returned the top part to the house. Except I found myself locked out. Brian had left for his afternoon plans. Inside of the house was my car keys, cell phone, insulin and gluecometer. Unexpected opportunity to practice my homesteading survial skills. Now yes, I could have walked to a neighbors and called him, but I had changed into a ratty old shirt that sported holes where they should NOT be. No way, was I showing up dressed this way. One of those old-fashioned habits I guess, I have chore/working clothes and good clothes. The chore clothes become rags before they completely disappear. This particular shirt was overdue for the rag bin, but perfect for hot weather. I worked on feeding chickens, took a nap in a chair I had packed in my car, and evaluated exactly what tools might make this easier. I figured I would need to eat. I knew I kept a knife in the car and when I went to get it, I found a salt and pepper packet. Oh, best tasting tomato ever. I ate it sitting out near the chicken pens. I had found a pack of smarties in the car and they disappeared quickly. I ate a crab apple and for dessert I picked wild grapes and ate a few of them. Well I wasn’t going to die. I worked on PM horse chores, I could tell by the where the sun was in the sky it was getting late enough for that. Turned out I was locked out of the house for over 5 hours. Now might not seem too bad and looking back it wasn’t.

Chatting with a sister later, I remarked how dependent I really am on certain conveinances. Maybe I need a few more sessions of roughing it, but preferably NOT locked out of my house.

Note: Going forward a day or two, the Lord showed me how even in those hours of being locked out of the house, I tended to give thought to how could independently survive vs. depend on His guidance. All these beautiful lessons on a journey called life.

Monday, August 26, 2019

Rain! Rain! Sums up todays weather.

Am chores, laundry, writing, and online work filled up much of my day. I need several hours, maybe be even 2 days to catch up on cleaning and moving chickens around into pens. With cold weather season around the corner, I start giving thought to organizing breed pens for next year and cutting down on numbers for the winter.

I stop here for Week 4 on a Monday. Look for the remainder of August diary entries to be out the beginning of next week (Week 5). Do you like these types of posts? I would love to hear your thoughts on if you as a reader would like to see them continue or not? Please leave a comment below or send me an email. Click on email to go to a form that will send me an email. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

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