Re: blotchy shells


"rumblings" <rumblingsDELETE@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:64iuikF2bmcanU1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
eggbox wrote:
"rumblings" <rumblingsDELETE@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:64au0eF2b6lkjU1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
rumblings wrote:

There are quite a few comments in his feedback about what a fantastic
setup he has (but to date, not one indicating successful hatching this
year). Did you buy on Ebay?? If not is it possible you got eggs from his
younger hens?? One purchaser says his eggs were very large and lumpy as if
they came from old hens. He had one double yolker. I had an 87gm egg in
the first batch. I thought it looked like a double yolker but Chipy-Chicks
says it wouldn't be as the double yolkers he gets are pushing 100gms and
over. It failed to hatch however - as did the whole batch.

I pick up my eggs and order them via phone. He selectively breeds the Barred
Rocks for large eggs and quantity, so I know you're wrong about old hens
laying them, they are large eggs and the 2 breeding pens he has have
extremely healthy looking birds. Selcetively breeding in itself can only be
done from 2nd years hens at the very least, otherwise you have no records of
the birds to select from. I saw pullet eggs from his Barred Rocks
last year that were bigger than any other breeds even in the first year of
lay. I think you need to refer to what Jill has pointed out about posting
eggs, as he's a genuine breeder, not someone who would sell you eggs from
old hens. He's passionate about his poultry and in particular the utility
lines he breeds.

I don't use eBay, but I have seen the feedback, which TBH is pretty
impressive for hatching eggs. At some point you have to take on board some
responsibility yourself, ie: the price you pay at auction is set by you, and
incubation is under your control, post is under no ones control. I don't
personally see how a seller can be held responsible for others actions?

I can't understand why you've had such difficulty hatching them, shell
quality alone is not a reason why an egg fails, there are many factors to
take in to account, especially when using a forced enviroment such as an
incubator. It doesn't matter what quality of shell you have if cleanliness
isn't paramount in the incubator. I'm not saying this has been your problem
as none of us could ever know, but they are other considerations before you
go blaming someone else for failures. As I
said, Jill has pointed out the problems you face by receiving eggs in the
post, and as she quite rightly says, incubation is a "black art". It does
sound/look like these eggs don't travel well, and it's still early in the
year to be hatching, although my own results have been good.

Why don't you ask him if you can visit? He always has growers and POL
available, save yourself the trouble of hatching and buy some pullets or a
decent utility cockerel from him to get yourself started? It's worth the
visit just to see the excellent stock.

Anyway, good luck with your futures endeavours, poultry breeding is full of
ups n downs we have to learn to cope with, but when you get things right it
feels very good and makes the problems pale it to insignificance. There's a
saying goes like this "people who don't make mistakes don't do anything"

All the best eggbox ;-)


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