UPDATE: THE BABIES ARE HERE!
Finally, a whole month later, we received our replacement order from Cackle Hatchery! To recap, we ordered 20 chicks total. 15 of their "Assorted Heavy Females" and 5 of their "Rare Chick Special". They sent 21 chicks and 20 of them made it, so I'm calling it a success! USPS even sent them where they were supposed to go this time.
It was kind of crazy timing because we had to drive 3 hours away to close on our old house and then drive back and pick up the chicks from my office since my boss had graciously picked them up at the PO for me. But despite feeling bad for my original order of chicks, I think things likely worked out the way they were "supposed to" as the weather was so awful last month that we would have had to keep them inside a lot longer than we would have wanted to. Hopefully, this timing will work out better all-around
Onto the chicks!
I have identified a few, but I'm a newb so if anyone can help me out, I would be ever so grateful!
Ok, so for the 5 "Rare Chicks" I've figured out a few. Maybe. My favorite little teeny guy (Kinda hoping he's a roo) is a Red Jungle Fowl. There is also what I am fairly confident is a Silver Duckwing Jungle Fowl who I hope is NOT a roo haha. I've named her Rebel because she's already a punk. (Shhh... don't tell me it's probs a roo with that attitude... Let me dream). There is a Black, Blue, or Partridge Cochin. And what is probably a White Cochin but could be a Brahma as they are almost identical as chicks. (My bet is on the Cochin though, because it seems that the other assortment includes more than one of each kind and the Brahma isn't in their rare category.) There is one more silvery-looking one who has me stumped. My 7yo daughter has imprinted on her and named her Snowy. My best guess is a Silver Spangled Hamburg
As for the 15 "Assorted Heavy Females," (who are all brown egg-layers so that helps narrow it down) I've identified 2 Black Laced Silver Wyandottes for sure. I think 3 or 4 are Barred Rocks and the other 3 or 4 are maybe Cuckoo Marans. I'm going to have to separate them to get a better idea since they are all so active it's hard to keep track of who I've looked at alreadyI think 2 of them are Lavender Orpingtons. There are also 4 yellow chicks who seem to be impossible to tell apart, but I think at least 2 of them may be Buff Orpingtons? Who knows!
I'm back with more photos! A few, at least
Not pictured are 4 yellow chicks - 2 different breeds, I think. Idk what they are though! They all look so similar. I may try and get some better photos and ask on a new thread.
Also not pictured are 4 Barred Rocks. One was recently named Midnight by my 7yo. I'm trying to let them name the rest of the chicks since I have already named quite a few LOL
Anyway, here are some little chickies to hold those of you over who are still waiting.
I named the Wyandotte chicks after a couple of punk ladies because they are a couple of punk ladies. The pure chaos they inspire over a stray piece of grass or ladybug is honestly kind of incredible to witness.
The Jungle Fowls are super energetic and wild, too. That's how Rebel got her name. I'm still feeling out the little red one before I name him/her.
We ended up with what I *think* are 3 Cuckoo Marans and 4 Barred Rocks. I didn't get a photo of the BR. I'm letting the kids name them. My 3yo named the White Cochin "Lemon" which is a sort of ironic name for her since she is so sweet. I'm calling her a she. I'm manifesting it. LOL
I'm feeling pretty confident about Snowy's breed now. My 7yo really hopes Snowy is a hen. I hope so too. Funny story about Eden... My 3yo wanted to name her "Edenk" but by some miracle I convinced her that Eden was a better choice and now she thinks it was her idea. Lilith sounded like a good name for the other one to keep in with the theme.
This sweet fearless baby always runs up to aggressively greet me and has started jumping up at me until I put my hand down so he can hop on and come up for either a snuggle, or to explore and peck at any buttons or stray threads on my clothes. I'm guessing he's a rooster based on his general fearless attitude compared to the others, but honestly who knows! Either way, this one is my best buddy and I love them. After my experience with a couple of Cochin hens a few years ago and these 2 Cochin chicks we ended up with in the assortment, I think I will definitely be adding more to the flock in the future. My goooodness they are the sweetest of the bunch.
