25 From Welp

[humblehillsfarm]

I have not had Cornish X yet.

I have read here many times that they're rather personable so maintaining detachment is important.

This is my second time with them. I made a point to only be in there long enough to feed and water them. It's really tough because I am head over heals for my laying flock and love hatching babies.

But I also like eating chicken

 

[3KillerBs]

I found better photos of Mottled Java chicks on Feathersite. I want a couple Anconas more, but I definitely wanted a Mottled Java, which these are more likely to be since it was a brown egg assortment.

The red whatever and all Production Blues will be sold, but the others will all be given chances to earn their place in the flock.

 

[3KillerBs]

I just gave them a final check for the night. I think that the heat lamp is keeping a good temperature -- lows are supposed to be in the low 50's tonight. I'll go out and check them when I'm up anyway. I could drop it another link or two on the chain, I think.

I've got the 250 bulb in since it's cooler now than when I had the Ideal Dozen in May.

 

[3KillerBs]

48F this morning. Cuddled, not huddled and peeping sweetly.

I hope to get them into the real brooder over the weekend. DH was ill yesterday so we didn't get to do it and, of course, setting this up took longer than that would have if we'd already moved it into place.

 

[Sally PB]

Cuddled, not huddled and peeping sweetly.

I love that sound.

 

[3KillerBs]

All chicks were individually inspected, photographed, and counted. The official count is 26, the 25 I ordered plus one extra.

I had two cases of incipient pasty-butt, with hardened blobs of poop on the fluff but no obstruction of the cloaca and two more with smears. All were gently cleaned with warm water and a paper towel.

I took up the paper towels and let them be on the shavings now that they know what the food is. I sprinkled a couple pinches of grit around since they're bound to at least sample the shavings.

 

[3KillerBs]

The identifiable brown assorted chicks:

Three Mottled Javas

One red chick of unknown breed, whom my son has already named "Hot Wings":

Two (non-French) Cuckoo Marans (based on the pink rather than yellow feet):

 

[3KillerBs]

The blue blob, which should include 10 Blue Australorp pullets, 5 Blue Australorp straight run, and 4 of the Assorted Brown Layers plus whatever they threw in as an extra from whichever category. I'm suspecting some Production Blues and *maybe* a Lavender Orpington since one chick seems lighter than the others, but it's not beyond the realm of possibility that they're all Blue Australorps. All appear to have pink feet rather than yellow feet.

Some have light faced with distinct black stripes, some have dark faces. One has the first, tiny beginning of tail feathers.

 

[3KillerBs]

At 4 days old just ONE chick has tiny tailfeathers coming in:

 

[Sally PB]

So. Much. Cuteness! Thanks for posting.