New chick pics

[Eggscaping]

Finally, all the eggs I got in the mail have hatched except one, which looks dead. Still, 7 out of 8 is way better than I ever expected. Boots has them set up in her bathtub(!) and all, including one that just came out this morning, are eating, drinking, and running out and back under the heating plate.
Those things are great! The chicks quickly learn to use them to self-regulate their temperatures. Some of the pics are a bit blurry because they zip around. I have to give a huge shout out to Stony Farms, the supplier and shipper of the eggs...they were packaged beautifully and well, 7 out of 8 hatched. Very nice lady to communicate with, too.
So our tally is now 2 amber link, one BO and 7 Swedish Flower hen chicks. Next will be "How many are roosters?" And these newest will be integrated with the 2 Americaunas and 2 speckled Sussex that are already out in the coop and about 2 and a half weeks old. We are overjoyed at having such a nice mix of starter chicks!
We have named a few of them. One was absolutely obsessed with trying to jump up on top of the heating plate. Since she seemed to want to be an aviator we were going to name her Amelia Earhart, but she's a little...dense...so we changed it to Amelia Airhead. Another one that gave Boots a HECK of a peck is to be called "Bitey". Another who seems like a 'mean girl' is now named Lizzie. "Lizzie Borden took her beak - and gave a new chick SUCH a tweak! When she saw what she had done, she ran and hid inside the run." A VERY blackish one is called Malificent. And so it goes...

 

[Eggscaping]

The eighth egg is pipping. That means that, barring failure to launch, all 8 of 8 shipped eggs have hatched. Did I make shipped egg history?

 

[chrissynemetz]

How did I miss this... your chicks are adorable! Do you have any new pictures of them?

 

[Eggscaping]

How did I miss this... your chicks are adorable! Do you have any new pictures of them?

I have 2 videos of them, will that do? ( and thank you!)

 

[chrissynemetz]

They're so cute! I really love the Swedish Flower Hens! Have you figured out how many boys you have?

 

[Eggscaping]

They're so cute! I really love the Swedish Flower Hens! Have you figured out how many boys you have?

Yes, we have. We lost 2 of them so we have six now. Three are male, three are female. Very sad, since the 3 boys are going to be gorgeous roosters, but we are not allowed to keep roosters in town over 12 weeks of age. We are going to TRY to keep one - for fertile eggs and to help manage the flock. It could have been worse though, since I've read that about fifty percent turn out male but heard stories of getting a much higher percentage of boys. Here is the latest video I made...you can easily see who's who. And Carmen ...now Carl...is so lovely too.

 

[chrissynemetz]

How close are your neighbors? Maybe you can bribe them with eggs so they don't complain about you keeping a rooster.
I'm so lucky to live where I do, there are no restrictions on chickens, and all my neighbors have roosters too.

 

[ColtHandorf]

They were super cute as chicks. I've never seen Swedish Flower Hen chicks before. I had no idea what they were in the first photos. @Faraday40 keeps roosters in town and has had good luck with them. Perhaps you could pm her for some advice on how to manages.

 

[Faraday40]

Tips for roosters:
1. Neighbor's approval. Better to rehome a rooster and keep peace with neighbors. Stay on their good side by letting neighbors know BEFORE you put a rooster in the yard. (Talk about all the benefits of hen predator protection and ability to free range for healthier eggs and insect control. We have kids, so there's the whole 4H project & educational value.) Ask neighbors to let you know right away if they have an issue with your flock. Be willing to change plans if a neighbor asks you to.

2. Get neighbors involved by letting them
feed kitchen scraps to your birds
Share some eggs.
Collect egg cartons for us
My kids visit the neighbors to show off baby chicks
Neighbors' Grandkids stop by to pet chickens

On top of this some neighbors have even helped us build the coop and donated coop materials and decorations.

3. Limit crow volume with a crow collar (must be adjusted & checked often)

4. Limit crow time by having roosters sleep in garage at night. (They can crow all they want at 6am b/c no one will hear them inside the garage.) I carry them out to backyard after 8am and I put them to bed at dusk.

5. Don't keep a non-stop crower. My orps don't crow frequently and are very laid back. An occasional crow can be enjoyed & unique. Crowing all day long could get old fast.