7 June, 2011 
We’ve had 22 Scots Grey eggs in the incubator for the past three weeks, with an expected hatching date of June 5 or 6. Usually, we expect poor fertility with high numbers of congenital deformities. Their low numbers mean Scots Greys have a very restricted genetic pool, which is not helped when breeding stock often come from small geographic areas. In the past, we’ve had a 75 per cent hatch rate with lines sourced from one breeder and 30-40 per cent from stock sourced from three other breeders. This time round, however, we were using a cockerel we’d bred ourselves from two of those lines with hens bred from the other two.
The results were good with 20 chicks hatched. Fertility was 100 per cent at three days. The hatch rate was 90.9 per cent. Only one live chick had an obvious deformity—severe knock knees. The two chicks that failed to hatch were live when candled at 14 days but died between then and the others pipping at 21-24 days. The results are a substantial improvement on our previous hatches, especially as the live chicks are all a good size and robustly healthy. (The knock kneed chick will be monitored for a couple of days. It can’t be used for breeding, so it will either be culled early on if less mobile or kept for the pot if mobile.)
The next benchmark will come when the chicks are sexed. We’ve consistently had a ratio of three cocks to every pullet hatched, regardless of the lines used. It makes for good chicken dinners but doesn’t help the breeding programme or the supply of eggs. As for the chicks, they’re now in the brooder where I’ve put in several sessions teaching them how to eat and drink. They all seem to have the hang of it now and were settled in well when I checked them at 10.30pm. As for the next hatching, I’ve found someone selling eggs fertilised by a show champion rooster on ebay so I might see if we can some of those to add another line to our collection.
I have a successful incubator hatch too & a hen with 7 wee ones clucking about. I seem to average 50% male & female. We eat the males.
My cockerel will be replaced as he has become very aggressive – also I may keep some females so I will need fresh blood-line & I just found someone not too far off with unrelated Scot’s Greys.
On the deformity issue – I have one chick with curled toe ( did attempt to splint it, but not very successful) I believe the curled toe was caused by the crowd in the incubator rather than being genetic?
Wee chicks are great eh?
All the best
\caroline.
Do as much research as you can into the background of the “unrelated” birds as it’s quite possible there will be a connection with yours. We’ve bought stock from an Inverurie breeder and hatching eggs from a Western Isles breeder. The Western Isles lines originated from Kintaline, while the Inverurie lines were from the surrounding region. However, detailed questioning eventually revealed that the Inverurie lines were also descended from Kintaline lines, albeit at several generational removes.
A big congrulations on your sucess. Was the rooster you breed and raised yourself a son of Johnny or Orville ? (And if Orvile congrulations to him, may his grandchildren and great grand children be as a nice a chicken as he is/was.) And may you also have luck in finding another bantam scot grey to mother your future healthy Scot Grey chicks.
I always leave the remaining, unhatched eggs in the incubator for 48 hours after the “last” egg has hatched. I do it even when candling the remaining eggs shows no sign of life. It’s a precaution that’s paid off this time. I’d just come inside and gone through to the kitchen when I heard peeping. When I checked the incubator, which is sat in the dining room, I discovered two more chicks were pipping. If they both come hatch and are healthy, it will make this our best hatching of Scots Greys.
Lovely! I can’t understand why they became rare, they are so beautiful!
Hi All,
Wow what a great result!!
I am currently trying to source some Scots Greys as I think they are one of the most attractive birds (dont tell my other girls that though!!!) It would be much appreciated if anyone can help. I live in Essex but am happy to travel to collect, I’ve fast learnt that this is a very difficult bread to track down but am very determined to add them to my others. Im after a cock and 2 hens, If anyone can help please email me at karliem._26@hotmail.co.uk.
Thanks
Karlie
We’re a long way north of you—in north-east Scotland—so it’s almost certainly too far.
Lol, mabye just a little
!!!
We’re too far off too & when I clicked on your email link it wouldn’t open as it seems a threat to my computer was possible.
I could always post fertile eggs off if you had a means of hatching them – broody hen, incubator. I’ve done this a few times this year & people have had a good hatch rate 4 out of 6 which for being in the postal system I think is very good.
Caroline I would be very interested in buying some fertile eggs from you. Although we have hens none are broody at the moment (far more interested in pinching the corn in the feld next door!!)We are hoewever waiting on an incubator to arive so that would be perfect. It would be the first time we have incubated eggs though as we have only kept chickens and ducks for the last yr but have got the bug big time!!! Is there anything specific to know when incubating Scots Grey eggs? I have been doing alot of reading up about the blood lines with scots greys so am aware of the need the avoid interbreading. Im thinking that if I was to incubate some of your eggs and source some other eggs from a different line I can also do my bit in the future to keep the bread going.
Thanks for your help.
If you pass me on your email I will send you a message which should then able you to use mine.
I can forward your emails to each other if you’d like. Just drop me a line via the Contact Form with your email addresses and I’ll forward them on.