The story of Moony, the little black chick named after a well-known Leghorn enthusiast here on Backyard Chickens.
Moony hatched on May 4, 2025, the baby of a favorite olive egger named Sidney. This is Sidney last summer when she was 2 years old.
Sidney's mother, Delphine, was a well-bred Black Copper Marans and her father was one of the best roosters I've ever bred, an Easter egger named Sid. Sid spotted Delphine across the yard and the rest is history. Together they created a gorgeous solid black pullet I named in honor of her father. I knew my chances of getting an olive egger out of this cross wasn't guaranteed, but my fingers were crossed while I waited for Sidney to mature and lay her first egg. I was not disappointed. Her egg virtually glowed an aquamarine color, dusky with the dark brown pigment her mother had passed to her. Sidney is still one of my favorite hens at the age of 3. Her father, Sid, went to live with one of my coworkers' parents and he is still the patriarch of their flock. He's gorgeous, well mannered and an excellent guardian.
If I had the ability to, I would clone Sidney. Her eggs are so uniquely colored, a true one-of-a-kind!
I wanted to preserve her genetics as much as possible, so decided to hatch some of her eggs this spring. I got 2 chicks from her, one a solid black, the other the typical "wild type" chipmunk striped chick. Knowing I would keep the black one regardless of gender, I named it Moony, after @The Moonshiner here on BYC. He answered a few genetic questions for me last winter, so I figured naming the chick after him was appropriate, and fun!
Here is Moony after drying off in the brooder. I think Moony is a pullet, and her chipmunk sister appears to be female too.
Moony's father is either a Speckled Sussex or a Welsummer. My money's on the Welsummer; he's a go getter!
Moony is 3 weeks old in this photo. I'm interested in how the brown/red is showing up on the tips of her feathers. I wonder how this will look in adulthood. White skin and a dark wash over yellow legs also get my interest. Is the yellow leg color from my Welsummer roo?
Moony's wing at 3 weeks old. The red/brown stippling is so interesting.
More photos to come as Moony grows up. I hope to document this chicks life all the way to adulthood and egglaying.
Moony hatched on May 4, 2025, the baby of a favorite olive egger named Sidney. This is Sidney last summer when she was 2 years old.
Sidney's mother, Delphine, was a well-bred Black Copper Marans and her father was one of the best roosters I've ever bred, an Easter egger named Sid. Sid spotted Delphine across the yard and the rest is history. Together they created a gorgeous solid black pullet I named in honor of her father. I knew my chances of getting an olive egger out of this cross wasn't guaranteed, but my fingers were crossed while I waited for Sidney to mature and lay her first egg. I was not disappointed. Her egg virtually glowed an aquamarine color, dusky with the dark brown pigment her mother had passed to her. Sidney is still one of my favorite hens at the age of 3. Her father, Sid, went to live with one of my coworkers' parents and he is still the patriarch of their flock. He's gorgeous, well mannered and an excellent guardian.
If I had the ability to, I would clone Sidney. Her eggs are so uniquely colored, a true one-of-a-kind!
I wanted to preserve her genetics as much as possible, so decided to hatch some of her eggs this spring. I got 2 chicks from her, one a solid black, the other the typical "wild type" chipmunk striped chick. Knowing I would keep the black one regardless of gender, I named it Moony, after @The Moonshiner here on BYC. He answered a few genetic questions for me last winter, so I figured naming the chick after him was appropriate, and fun!
Here is Moony after drying off in the brooder. I think Moony is a pullet, and her chipmunk sister appears to be female too.
Moony's father is either a Speckled Sussex or a Welsummer. My money's on the Welsummer; he's a go getter!
Moony is 3 weeks old in this photo. I'm interested in how the brown/red is showing up on the tips of her feathers. I wonder how this will look in adulthood. White skin and a dark wash over yellow legs also get my interest. Is the yellow leg color from my Welsummer roo?
Moony's wing at 3 weeks old. The red/brown stippling is so interesting.
More photos to come as Moony grows up. I hope to document this chicks life all the way to adulthood and egglaying.
