Remember my chicken fried week? And how shocked I was that one of the twelve eggs my neighbor gave me hatched after only three days of being under one of my hens? That poor little baby was very weak when it hatched, and it didn’t make it through the night. Of the 11 that were left, one cracked and rotted and I had just about given up on the other 10.
Well, two days ago, one of those eggs actually hatched out a beautiful little peep! Last night four more hatched out. I’m tickled to death. The peeps are different breeds, colors, and fluffiness than my others. I think they are just adorable.
These chicks are mutts – and my neighbor has no clue what breeds he has. But I *think* there is some Orpington in there. Any thoughts? (Julie, my dear Chicken Crazy Cousin – I’d love to hear what you think!)
Sorry about the blurry picture of the little black one. It was dark in the brooder and I had a hard time finding her to focus on her. I wanted to include this picture though, just so you can see all of them and give me any thoughts on breeds.
This little peep is acting very lethargic. I’ve seen her walk and heaven knows her little peeper works (she’s loud), but she lays around a lot and doesn’t go to mama when mama is teaching the others to eat and drink. I’m a little concerned about her. I hope she makes it. I’ve considered bringing her into the house to care for her, but I’m resisting right now. I’ll watch her for the next day or so and see how she does. I’d really prefer to let nature take it’s course – but I’m not 100% sure I’m going to be able to do that. We’ll see…..
After these five hatched, I removed the mama and babies put them in a brooder. I put another broody hen on the remaining five eggs. I’m hoping those hatch out as well.
These sure are some cute little peeps. I know all peeps are cute, but just look at those fluffy little butts! Makes me want to just kiss those little beaks right off of them.
They are sooo adorable!!! Does the man that gave you the eggs have any Orpingtons? If so I would bet that the one you’re holding is one. She does look a little peaked I hope she’ll be alright. You are such an awesome “chicky” mommy. You have done a wonderful job with your peepers from day one! Just a thought with the little one try giving her a little bit of sugar water off the tip of your finger. Maybe that will help her out but if I know you well enough you probably have already got other remedies for her. Oh, I might be “crazy” but I’m not as “informed” as you are on the types or breeds of chickens:O) I’m probably more like the man that gave you the eggs….I have NO idea:O) LOL I can however pick out my green layers Araucana’s and of course Cochins, but they are always unmistakeable!
Love Ya!
Julie
Hey Julie – he has no idea what he’s got. I *think* most of his hens look like Orpingtons. I’m not too sure though – I really only recognize *my* breeds! But all his hens are very large hens and lay very large eggs – some brown. The black one came from a brown egg. He’s got a real mix of roos – someone dropped 4 off in his yard a few months ago! But he’s also got black roos and buff roos that look like the same breed as most of the hens.
It’s killing me not to go out and get the little lethargic chick and put her in a brooder in the house. I’m resisting only for two reasons – 1) I don’t want to go through the heartache if I lose her and have gotten super attached and 2) my luck it’ll end up living and begin a rooster I get attached to! I have tried to get her to take some sugar water and vitamin water with a straw, but she just isn’t doing well. I haven’t seen her go to the food or water on her own when mama calls her
I don’t know. I’ll probably end up going out and getting her before too long. AAArrrggghhhh. I guess that’s better than sitting here fretting about her.
Love ya!
In my opinion, the only thing cuter than a fuzzy-butt chick is a baby pig, but they are pretty darn close in relative cuteness
What a neat bunch. I am going to pick up a couple of Banties after we move. My standard chickens are no good for brooding. I used to have Banty hens, and they were the best brooders! Great work! i hope more hatch out!
Michelle – I agree with you! Baby pigs are too darn cute. Those little ears and noses just kill me! Bernie is standing firm on not getting farm animals – but I think I’ll eventually wear him down……
I can’t wait to see the pics of your new place when you move in! I’m really excited for you. My cousin (Julie – from above comment) got some banties and she loves them. I’d really like to keep diversifying my flock for a while – even with mutts, if that’s all I end up with. I think it’s really neat to have a variety and see the different personalities, colors, etc.
I have no idea what they are but they sure are cute…
Congrats and oh how cute. Out of 7 eggs I had 2 live births and now they are just about 2 months old. 3 hatched but never made it and 2 eggs were unfertile. The 2 has the coloring of “papa” a nice buff color with feathers on their feet…I checked them and to me they look to be hens…but as they get older I believe one is a rooster…well see!
I love your black chick…its a cutie. Prayers for your sick one & for you too!
Oh how I love the baby chicks……..
Janet has been to the vets this week fighting for her life, cedric and marble got over the gate (Janet lives this end of my garden and the others down the bottom, seperated since they pecked her eye out)…. and they subjected her to 2 hours of bonking and pecking her almost to death, I rushed out when I heard the noise, but it was to late the damage was done…… the vet said he aint never seen anything like it, the bloody was aweful and poor janet was almost unreconisble…. she is on anti biotics and vast amounts of sudocream on the huge gapping wounds…… 2 days ago she was the picture of health and happieness….
since the incident, she aint left my side, she follows me around the house and refuses to go into the garden, she must be scared stiff….. she is eating today though and the wounds are drying up but still she wont go outside…….. if she survives with my love and care, she is going to need extensive therapy LOL…..
today or tomorrow cedric and marble are going to have to go…… one way or another…… our dear sweet little chick marble that we hatched is a bully of all bullies…..
wish my Janet luck……. she is more then just a chicken to me……
Im hoping to get back to blodding sometime this week, not that there is anyone left to read my rubbish, and get back to flitting around others blobs and emailing………. sorry Ive been such a blobbing emailing slagbag
x
Trixi – Good to hear from you! I hope you and your family are holding up well with your husband deployed. I think of y’all often.
Diane – Will you be able to keep the one if it ends up being a roo? I am SO hoping I end up with at least a majority of pullets out of this last hatch. I wonder if the black hens my neighbor has might be Astrolorp? The little black chick is a cutie, whatever it is!
Marmy – I don’t think my emails are making it to you for some reason. I wrote to ask about Janet after her going-in-circles issues, but did not get a reply. Poor, poor Janet. I can’t believe the roos caused so much damage! I may need to sew you some chicken diapers so Janet can remain a house chicken! Roosters can be a wonderful thing in a flock, but I’m afraid they usually need MANY hens to keep them *ahem* busy. I’m sorry you have to get rid of them. Maybe someone will take them from you. I sure hope so.
Oh gosh Penny the babies are so cute. I bet the little fluffy one is got to be in some part a buff orpington. they are so very very cute. I kinda want to get some of them myself. my livestock store loves them and says they are such sweet and happy chickens and very nice with kids. the little black one kinda reminds me of my Barred Rocks. they are also a beautiful and quite friendly and nice chick.
I am so happy you got some babies (as if you really need some more….) I am now up to 42 with my newest hatched babies. I never had the red stars as babies they were all grown up when we got into this so to have some little ones is so much fun. I know that the Red Star comes from the Rhode Island Red and something else, so I wonder what they will look like grown up with RIR daddy and Red Star Mommy. they are starting to get some red feathers and the runt is prob a roo but still cute none the less.
I will email you about Jack a little later, he is certainly getting to be one big beauty and fiesty also
take care and I bet you already have that little cute sick baby inside with you. I would have to. Lucky chick
Lisa
Lisa – You may have identified the black one! I am fairly certain he has one barred rock rooster. I’ve only seen it once, but I am 99.9% sure it is a barred rock. I’m heading down to help him with a turkey this afternoon, so I’m going to try to get a look at all his roosters. He also has a Rhode Island Red roo. I’m excited to see how these all end up looking. I’m sure the majority will be mutts, but that makes it even more exciting!
I am up to 48 right now (shhhhh – don’t tell Bernie!). If all the eggs hatch that will take me to …… well…… um, let’s just say over 50. But we’ll be culling roos over the next few months and that will take the number down to below 40 I think.
I’m so happy Jack is doing so much better. He’s made an amazing recovery – and has his mama to thank for it!
On a sad note, the little lethargic baby did not make it long after I posted
It was a cute little thing, and I’m sad it didn’t make it, but I really did suspect that would be the case. It was very weak. I buried her in the baby chick cemetery behind my garden shed.
But this morning I saw that 2 more of the remaining eggs hatched out under the broody I sat on top of them. They are both mostly a white color – and very fluffy like the others. Very cute!
48??? Did you really say 48???? I even had to go back up just to look again to be certain. I am SO telling.
Don’t you have some tomatoes to can or something????
I stopped hatching after the last 300. I think I am burned out. I hatched for 18 months straight. Love the little fuzz butts.
Aw, they are so sweet. The dark one looks a lot like my Barred rocks did at that age. Are the light spots white, cream, or yellow. It’s hard to tell from the picture?
Hi Kitaye – The spots look white to me. I’m fairly certain the neighbor I got the eggs from has a barred rock. Are your barred rocks black with white spots?
Now they are black and white but at that fuzzy age they were black with almost cream spots. Kinda yellowish under the lamp we were using. But I’m pretty sure you have a barred rock or similar breed there.
Hey Penny, the black one does look barred rock to me too. That is what one of mine is. The orange and butter colored ones look like our Golden sex link chickens. When we got ours for Easter chicks… the orangish one is the girl and the light yellow one is the boy. They hens grow to be copper penny colored and roos will be white.