I got three chicks now with one more hatching out and two more trying to pip. Of the three born and frisky, two are golden phoenix (they are japanese and never shed their tail feathers over a life time, some roosters having long sweeping tails 20 feet long) and that first one, a half breed from an aracuana hen and I think my little black cochin rooster! would explain why he is so vigorous, hybrid vigor you know. But he could be out of my silky rooster who is blue since I see a little smoke under his fluff. he doesnt have feathers on his feet tho. i will take pics at the end of the day when i have more chicks maybe. I overloaded my incubator this time! I bought hatching eggs off ebay, 2 doz silver and golden phoenix then a doz duck assortment then 6 "quail runner ducks" which will be AWESOME. Then I had ten eggs from my phoenixs that I just threw in to see if they would hatch. These hatching now are my ones from the yard. But I overloaded the incubator and now may have affected the hatch rate. we'll see... normal is 50% but sometimes I have almost all hatch! the key is not using a fancy electronic turner but to turn them three times a day all sloppy and clumsy like a hen would actually do her nest.
I hatched out about thirty golden phoenix last spring and after the dogs, natural disaster, and my half siamese barn cat agnes got thru with them I now have only two breeding trios. But both roosters altho they have tail feathers galore are very very reddish with no golden feathers that hang from the back like hair. My rooster the dogs ate was just magnificent and I am hoping to get another like him and sell these two roosters. See, I am a consciencious focused breeder too... haha. also i need to consider temperament. One of my roosters is the meanest thing I ever had on this place, the only rooster i've had that will attack and not just attack me but stand and fight! I have to chase him with a hoe! He is one for the stew pot as they say in iceland i think! Janice -- yipie tie yie yo
