7/21/2013
Back in October 2012 I purchased eggs from Jim Heinz (Underwood Line) which consisted of eggs from both the RC and SC variety. Jim sent me 18 eggs and 12 of them hatched 11/10/2012. 5 of these were RC (3 pullets and 2 cockerels) the other 7 were SC (6 pullets and 1 cockerel.) These pullets started laying 5/12/2013. From that time, every day that I got an egg from the RC group, I was so excited thinking that I should put these in the incubator and get a few more girls for my breeders. I finally decided to do this but it was a staggered hatch being that I only have 3 RC hens. I think there were 13 or 15 eggs total and some were pretty old and I really didn't keep them the best because I really hadn't made up my mind for sure if I was going to incubate them. lol
Anyway, I had 3 hatch out 7/9/13 had 4 more 7/16/13 and the late 3 were finished hatching 7/20/13. I decided to start this page today with these little guys and try to keep really close tabs on them. This is the first hatch from these RC parents. I will keep them pure RC and each generation should only get better as far as the combs.
Back in October 2012 I purchased eggs from Jim Heinz (Underwood Line) which consisted of eggs from both the RC and SC variety. Jim sent me 18 eggs and 12 of them hatched 11/10/2012. 5 of these were RC (3 pullets and 2 cockerels) the other 7 were SC (6 pullets and 1 cockerel.) These pullets started laying 5/12/2013. From that time, every day that I got an egg from the RC group, I was so excited thinking that I should put these in the incubator and get a few more girls for my breeders. I finally decided to do this but it was a staggered hatch being that I only have 3 RC hens. I think there were 13 or 15 eggs total and some were pretty old and I really didn't keep them the best because I really hadn't made up my mind for sure if I was going to incubate them. lol
Anyway, I had 3 hatch out 7/9/13 had 4 more 7/16/13 and the late 3 were finished hatching 7/20/13. I decided to start this page today with these little guys and try to keep really close tabs on them. This is the first hatch from these RC parents. I will keep them pure RC and each generation should only get better as far as the combs.
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9/15/2013 I tell you one thing, this little Brinsea that I have is a little more trouble with the turning 3 times a day and I can only put 22 eggs in it because of the thing I use for temp/humidity but it sure does a fine job on incubating these eggs. Also, every hatch seems to start on late the 19th day and they are usually done on the 20 day. Once in a while there will be a straggler or two but not often. I forgot that I had put an extra egg in this hatch a day later and it just popped out of the egg a few minutes ago. I had 12 Underwood eggs to start with, one was clear on day 18, 11 went into lock down and 8 hatched. 3 for some unknown reason did not develop fully and were dead when I checked them. I don't usually do this. I just throw out the eggs that don't hatch. One thing I can say for sure is this. It sure doesn't take long to build up a decent flock from a trio if you have decent layers and fertile birds. Gosh, this is the third hatch I've had from my 3 RC girls so far and that is it till next year. The last baby isn't in the first picture. It is still in the bator drying off. The last one is added now. Oh my gosh, what dark babies.
9/21/2013 1 week old today. I had to move these rotten little turds from the box to a bigger tote already. They were huddling around the water fountain to sleep and some would even be in the little water trough. Never had any do this before. Now I moved the water fountain to the far end of the 40 " tote so they won't go there to sleep. lol The light is on the other end. Oh my, me and my kids. I just don't know.
9/29/2013 These little ones are 2 weeks old today. These Underwood's are sure some nice chicks. I am so glad that I got them.
10/22/2013 5 week old Underwood RC's
12/17/2013 These pictures were taken 12/15/2013 when these guys were 13 weeks old.
1/31/2014 These birds will be 20 weeks old tomorrow. These are the chicks I hatched out from my RC's from Jim Heinz. Pure Underwood birds. Parent stock were both RC that came from both SC and RC. I hatched 8 and have 2 RC Cockerels, 5 RC Pullets and 1 SC Pullet. It will take another generation or so I guess to get to the pure RC. These are sure some dark birds. I will be mating these girls back with the dad and uncle this year.
Additional information about these young will be on 2014 Underwood birds page.