The Tolbunt eggs and the Araucanas

Both of them have gone through some hardships this past week. .

First the Tolbunt Polish eggs. These eggs are VERY expensive and much worth the money, plus I've had an excellent fertility rate of 50%. . . But I suddenly lost an egg. After perhaps a very dangerous routine of candling and photographing an egg each day. it died. . . The fetus lost its veining, movement, and became an odd dark blob. It has not developed since then. So, now I have 5 developing and fertile eggs. . . And only 10 days left until they all hatch.







Next there's the Araucanas. On Monday I decided to move my younger Araucanas, Ameraucanas, and Marans in with the main flock. Well, things of course did not go well, but that always happens when you introduce chickens with each other - especially young and older. But the real problem as that the Araucanas were just worryingly tiny, not really growing much, and getting more and more scared each day. So, finally, I decided to move them and only them back to their original play-place, so they can have peace. When I moved them, I tallied everyone down to make sure I had them all, then watched them chirp, run, scratch, and settle happily again. It took so much stress off of us both.





(more pics added in a couple hours)

Spring has certainly sprung!!

First, there's the KIDS!! Yes, our LaMancha goat, Jugs, finally birthed a pair of twin kids!! One is a girl - A beautiful black, red, and white; Another is a boy - a very neat ashy dun brown with white splashing. I'm so proud of Jugs though - She birthed them so fast and with such perfection, all on her first timer!










Next, there's the Tolbunt Polish eggs! A while ago, I paid nearly $200 for a dozen Tolbunt variety Crested Polish hatching eggs. I set them just 6 days ago, and now have exactly 50% fertility, which for Tolbunts is great! Here's some candling photos:





And last, there's the farm in general. Here's some beautiful peach blossoms:



Here's Paintball, our second LaMancha doe, due to possibly have a kid in June.



And finally a BLUE egg to show off. This one is what one of my Blue Wheaten Ameraucanas hatched from.



Then, there's the Araucanas and Marans with a couple Ameraucanas, enjoying the latter day's sun. Today was beautiful, with constant showers and lovely, warm sun in between each one.

(pics coming soon)