Against the odds hatching thread (with pictures and questions)

[K0k0shka]

My prettiest Barnevelder is a girl! Check out that lacing (at 7 weeks)

Not too cuddly though, sadly. The Orpingtons are undeniably rocking that department.

 

[aart]

Check out that lacing (at 7 weeks)

Nice!
Should get even better with the next molt at about 12-14 weeks.
Love lacing!

 

[K0k0shka]

Nice!
Should get even better with the next molt at about 12-14 weeks.
Love lacing!

Yeah, I’ve read that Barnevelders don’t really look like much until the first real molt, and that’s when the lacing starts to really show, but mine started showing nice lacing with their first feathers. Nice luck with the breeder, I guess.

 

[K0k0shka]

The chicks are 8 weeks old and it’s getting quite obvious who’s who. 5 girls and 6 boys. Pretty evenly divided! Interestingly, each variety is split exactly 50/50 - of the Lemon Cuckoo Orpingtons, there are 2 girls and 2 boys; Silver Laced Orpingtons - 1 girl and 1 boy; Silver Laced Barnevelders - 2 girls and 2 boys. And the odd one is my single Partridge Orpington, everybody’s favorite, who I think is a boy.

Here’s the line-up. Let me know if I’m wrong with any of them!

The girls:

And the boys:

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

Your guesses look spot on. I've been holding out hope on your partridge but those wattles are awful big and his comb is very red for 8 weeks. All that plus his personality (loudest chick, super friendly) leads me to also say rooster.

The pattern on your Barnies is stunning! I like that they're different enough you can tell them easily apart. The Silver Laced Orpingtons are eye catching too. This is my favorite age for chicks. Where they're fully feathered and look like perfect mini chickens.

Here's a few pics of my DSL Barnevelder. The first is about the same age are yours (8-9weeks). The others are from a couple of weeks ago at about 16 weeks (remember when I said I'd take pics?).

 

[K0k0shka]

Your guesses look spot on. I've been holding out hope on your partridge but those wattles are awful big and his comb is very red for 8 weeks. All that plus his personality (loudest chick, super friendly) leads me to also say rooster.

The pattern on your Barnies is stunning! I like that they're different enough you can tell them easily apart. The Silver Laced Orpingtons are eye catching too. This is my favorite age for chicks. Where they're fully feathered and look like perfect mini chickens.

Here's a few pics of my DSL Barnevelder. The first is about the same age are yours (8-9weeks). The others are from a couple of weeks ago at about 16 weeks (remember when I said I'd take pics?).
View attachment 2195511View attachment 2195516View attachment 2195517View attachment 2195518View attachment 2195528

Thanks for the pictures! Your flock is beautiful. Yeah, I’m very happy with how my Barnevelders are shaping up. I haven’t found any shed feathers yet - that looks cool with the single feather and how you can see the pattern on it. My two girls’ patterns differ from each other quite a bit - one has the lacing in a sharp, pointy shape like this:

And the other one’s have a round shape, like this:

It does make it easy to tell them apart! All of mine vary quite a bit within the same breed color, so that makes it easy.

Too bad about the partridge... I’ve always suspected it was a boy, but was hoping against all odds, because we all love him so much

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

Thanks for the pictures! Your flock is beautiful. Yeah, I’m very happy with how my Barnevelders are shaping up. I haven’t found any shed feathers yet - that looks cool with the single feather and how you can see the pattern on it. My two girls’ patterns differ from each other quite a bit - one has the lacing in a sharp, pointy shape like this:
View attachment 2195866
View attachment 2195869

And the other one’s have a round shape, like this:
View attachment 2195867
View attachment 2195868

It does make it easy to tell them apart! All of mine vary quite a bit within the same breed color, so that makes it easy.

Too bad about the partridge... I’ve always suspected it was a boy, but was hoping against all odds, because we all love him so much

That's so cool. Love both the patterns. I can't tell from this angle but I remember seeing a difference in their hackle feathers too. I think it was just that one has more black at this time. Which pattern is more desirable from a breeder selection point of view? If you ever find out please share.

I forgot to close my coop last night. Found my girls happily forging in the barn. We have a lot of night predators around so it always scares the crap out of me when I forget. I was inspired by your electric coop door. I've already got it listed as a 'must have' for the new coop.

Here a pic of the ladies from this morning. The pullets from February's hatch should be laying next month!

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

Thanks for the pictures! Your flock is beautiful. Yeah, I’m very happy with how my Barnevelders are shaping up. I haven’t found any shed feathers yet - that looks cool with the single feather and how you can see the pattern on it. My two girls’ patterns differ from each other quite a bit - one has the lacing in a sharp, pointy shape like this:
View attachment 2195866
View attachment 2195869

And the other one’s have a round shape, like this:
View attachment 2195867
View attachment 2195868

It does make it easy to tell them apart! All of mine vary quite a bit within the same breed color, so that makes it easy.

Too bad about the partridge... I’ve always suspected it was a boy, but was hoping against all odds, because we all love him so much

Some times they surprise you! I've been fooled before. That one was a very late maturing roo I thought was a pullet. It could happen the other way around for sure.

 

[aart]

It does make it easy to tell them apart!

Wonder if that will continue once they molt again in a couple months?

 

[K0k0shka]

I can't tell from this angle but I remember seeing a difference in their hackle feathers too. I think it was just that one has more black at this time.

It’s boys vs. girls - the boys have a lot more solid black, the hackles and down the back and on the chest, whereas with the girls, their heads and necks are black but everything else is laced.

I forgot to close my coop last night. Found my girls happily forging in the barn. We have a lot of night predators around so it always scares the crap out of me when I forget. I was inspired by your electric coop door. I've already got it listed as a 'must have' for the new coop.

I’m glad your chickens were alright! When I was growing up on the farm, it was one of my chores to close the chickens up for the night, and I still have that ingrained sense of urgency and dread about it. Back then I used to occasionally wake up from dead sleep and run out in the dark because I forgot to close the coop... Since I’ve had these guys, I only forgot once, and freaked out when the kids woke up one morning and told me the chickens were outside. My run is big-predator-proof and I do still have the auto door, but that old fear woke up. I love the auto door. Totally recommend it! I got the Happy Henhouse door and so far it’s been working fine.

Some times they surprise you! I've been fooled before. That one was a very late maturing roo I thought was a pullet. It could happen the other way around for sure.

I won’t hold my breath, but it’s nice to know it’s not totally impossible.