Adventures in Incubating Shipped Eggs

[Cerise1924]

@Morrigan - How is your little Orpington that hatched from a Papa's Poultry egg?

Mine was a Lemon Cuckoo egg, but at 5 weeks the chick is fully feathered, and it's all white. Isn't the Lemon Cuckoo supposed to be more like a buff, and barred?

Is yours also a Lemon Cuckoo?

 

[Cerise1924]

Aww... I figured you were predicting personality before they hatched!

 

[Morrigan]

Whoops.. Fixed.

You meant that those things don't come from eggs?

 

[Morrigan]

@Morrigan - How is your little Orpington that hatched from a Papa's Poultry egg?

Mine was a Lemon Cuckoo egg, but at 5 weeks the chick is fully feathered, and it's all white. Isn't the Lemon Cuckoo supposed to be more like a buff, and barred?

Is yours also a Lemon Cuckoo?

I need to post a picture tomorrow, but the little orpington is doing great. Very vigorous and bright eyed. It is getting a really interesting barred pattern of buff and blue on the wings. In trying to understand Papa's website, along with the pencil marks on the eggs, I think it's a cross between a Columbian and Blue.

I'm steeling myself for it to be a rooster -- along with the really striking looking black maran. The little orpington was kind of bully when I first put it in the brooder, but it has calmed down and is a good citizen now. In size and temperament it is very similar to the two buff orpingtons I got at the feed store.

 

[Morrigan]

Good to know about the Speckled Sussex. I'd heard good things, and I'm happy to know your experience has been so positive. Hope I get some!

The Morrigan, the only bird I've only well and truly named, is a Speckled Sussex. She is over 5 now and still the leader of the flock and laying 5 eggs a week. She is the most awesome bird.

 

[Cerise1924]

The Morrigan, the only bird I've only well and truly named, is a Speckled Sussex. She is over 5 now and still the leader of the flock and laying 5 eggs a week. She is the most awesome bird.

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Splendid bird, indeed!

 

[Morrigan]

Update: Today was the day the brooder doors opened to the outdoors and they got to step onto terra firma. I was surprised how quickly they took to it. Within an hour they had figured out how to dust bath. All are still alive, although I have one runt in the mix. It's hanging tough, though. @Cerise1924, the last picture is of orpington you asked about.

 

[Josefina]

Update: Today was the day the brooder doors opened to the outdoors and they got to step onto terra firma. I was surprised how quickly they took to it. Within an hour they had figured out how to dust bath. All are still alive, although I have one runt in the mix. It's hanging tough, though. @Cerise1924, the last picture is of orpington you asked about.


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Awww! They are all gorgeous!

 

[Cerise1924]

Update: Today was the day the brooder doors opened to the outdoors and they got to step onto terra firma. I was surprised how quickly they took to it. Within an hour they had figured out how to dust bath. All are still alive, although I have one runt in the mix. It's hanging tough, though. @Cerise1924, the last picture is of orpington you asked about.


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Wow! They are beautiful! Can you tell me about all the other chicks?

 

[Morrigan]

Wow! They are beautiful! Can you tell me about all the other chicks?

The 3 gray are Lavender Marans from Papas. The Black one is also a Maran from Papas, and although it was labeled "LM" same as the rest, it was an extra egg, so I'm assuming it was put in as a bonus and mislabeled. I'm calling it a Black Maran, lol, and have become rather attached to it. The other 2 are regular buff orpingtons from a feed store in the SF Bay Area.

Now the waiting game begins to see which are hens and which are roos. I may keep a rooster if I get one with great looks and sound temperament.