NH Homesteader's journal

[NH Homesteader]

Lol we can't do anything to even get this place ready to move until the snow melts!

Yesterday it was 72 in the town we want to move to in TN. It was 36 here. And we got freezing rain last night. So yeah... It's almost April and I am still wearing my coveralls and a winter hat and gloves to feed animals. Stupid!

 

[NH Homesteader]

Everyone is due for hoof trimmings, and one doe is due for CDT. So I'm hoping for decent weather at some point this week. I have 5 turkey eggs for the incubator now, and today and tomorrow left to collect. I wish I could wait until they were laying better but I'm running out of time if we want them to mature in the fall for butchering before it gets too cold.

 

[NH Homesteader]

Incubator has been running all day to get the temp regulated, getting humidity set and I'll rinse eggs and put them in this evening. Only 7. Should have been 9-10 but we have a problem. On several occasions now we have seen our black Spanish hens eating eggs. But most of the eggs are left intact. My husband is fairly certain they are killing the chocolate hen's eggs before they hatch because she is a newbie here and they hate her. I think he might be right! Turkeys are truly that smart (and apparently, that evil).

 

[frustratedearthmother]

YAY on turkey eggs! But, I've got a question. I've always heard that you shouldn't wash eggs before you incubate them. Is it different for turkey eggs?

 

[NH Homesteader]

Well evidently it is a hot topic. I just went with the Storey's Guide recommendation, which says to wash them in warm water. Apparently not everyone agrees! Lol. So, darned if you do and darned if you don't.

I'm going to try to wash them because my turkeys are spastic and don't lay in clean places all the time. Warm, humid temps are a good bacteria environment.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Makes sense to me! I never thought it was a good idea to put a dirty egg in an incubator....who wants to incubate germs?

 

[Mini Horses]

don't lay in clean places all the time

WHAT?? How ungrateful!! With all the snow, I'm surprised they can even FIND a dirty spot to lay them.

You know, I've tried to teach my chickens to wipe their feet on muddy days.....so, they wipe them on the eggs!

 

[NH Homesteader]

Well my chickens lay in their nest boxes, which are usually fairly clean. My turkeys... Usually lay where I put hay down for them but I found an egg in the mud outside yesterday. And one in a random corner of the coop.

No this time of year we get to have both snow and mud! It's quite pleasant, and will soon give way to all mud. There are a few weeks most years we can't get in and out of the driveway with the car. Thank goodness for the Jeep!

 

[NH Homesteader]

We are forecasted to get 6 inches of snow Friday. Awesome.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Lucky you! Seriously - that is ridiculous!