Against the odds hatching thread (with pictures and questions)

[UThobbyfarmer]

This hatch was a roaring success. Definitely continue to post updates. It's always helpful for people finding this thread in the future. Pictures of adult birds, how many weeks until they start to lay, egg color and such is all important. I will definitely be checking in to see how they're doing!

Even though they shipped in the same packing, from same place, the difference in handling between the two shipping dates is probably HUGE. The extra 2 days wait could also factor in. Fresher is always better if possible.

As far as your screamer I've found loud chicks are usually a rooster. Or they're out of water. Make sure it's drinking ok. Otherwise...yeah... probably a roo.

 

[K0k0shka]

This hatch was a roaring success. Definitely continue to post updates. It's always helpful for people finding this thread in the future. Pictures of adult birds, how many weeks until they start to lay, egg color and such is all important. I will definitely be checking in to see how they're doing!

Thanks! And thank you for all your help and support! I'll keep posting and documenting the chicks' development and adventures.

The extra 2 days wait could also factor in. Fresher is always better if possible.

That's what I thought, too, but the Barnevelders shipped and arrived on the same dates as the first (less successful) box of Orpingtons, and yet they had a much higher hatch rate than them... So I guess the second box of Orpingtons just got a gentler mailman?

As far as your screamer I've found loud chicks are usually a rooster. Or they're out of water. Make sure it's drinking ok. Otherwise...yeah... probably a roo.

Aww this would be SO disappointing! The screamer is the only one live Partridge Orpington out of 6 eggs. They've already disappointed me by all dying like that (including the very frustrating and unsuccessful assisted hatch), and now if the one survivor turns out to be a rooster, the disappointment will be complete. The screamer is doing very well otherwise - eating, drinking, pooping, running around. It's very active and very brave. In fact, it's the bravest of them all, even though it's the smallest Orpington in the whole flock. It's always the first to investigate and attack a foreign object, and it dominates the games of chase. It's also slower to feather out than the rest of its buddies, which I read might be a sign that it's a rooster. I'm still hoping there might be a chance it's a hen, but at this point, I'm not too optimistic...

 

[K0k0shka]

It's been 1 week since the chicks hatched, and this is when the recommendations said to give them an 1-inch-tall bar to perch on. These guys are ahead of the game though, jumping to the higher level of the heating plate from the ground, so I decided to challenge them with some big kid monkey bars. A couple of them hopped on right away! Also, two of them flew out of the brooder and into the hallway. I'll need to rethink the access door... They still have a week and a half before they can go out to the coop. They need to stay indoors for 2 weeks after having been given the vaccine, so they can build enough antibodies to protect them from the outside world (as they can contract the virus from wild birds).

 

[aart]

Also, two of them flew out of the brooder and into the hallway. I'll need to rethink the access door

My brooder door opens much the same, I would hang a couple towels over the opening to deter flying out.

 

[K0k0shka]

My brooder door opens much the same, I would hang a couple towels over the opening to deter flying out.

They do it when I open to clean, and I need visibility... How do you do that? Stick your head in between the towel curtains? I was thinking of taping more bird netting across the bottom, maybe half a foot up, to buy myself some time until they can clear that, too.

They’ve been trying hard to break through the bird netting, too. Pecking it, pulling it, and scratching it with their feet (yeah they’ll lift a foot up against the net to claw at it!) There is one break in the netting, but I’m not sure who to blame - the chicks or the kids. Neither will admit to it.

 

[aart]

How do you do that? Stick your head in between the towel curtains?

Leave part of it uncovered for my access.

 

[K0k0shka]

I meant to post this back when the chicks hatched, but forgot. Here's a video of one of my Barnevelders hatching. Getting out of that upright egg was hard work!

 

[aart]

Here's a video of one of my Barnevelders hatching

Great vid editing!

 

[K0k0shka]

Great vid editing!

Thanks!

 

[K0k0shka]

Day 9 achievement unlocked: dust-bathing! They are so cute doing big chicken things