Quote:
My deep olive green eggs like that come from a Buff Orpington covered by a Silver EE.
Well darn, I don't have either one of those. My Orpingtons are Black & Blue & I have lots of pure Ameraucanas in a variety of colors but no EEs left except maybe 1 or 2. What color egg did the EE lay that you cross bred to?
I have a friend that believes the egg color to be related to feather color. I have some buff colored (B/W Ameraucanas). I don't usually take on projects but I sure do like those dark olive eggs......LOL
Karen one of my prettiest eggs comes from a bird who is Wellie and AM. I think I like her's the best because most times they also have the brown speckles like I Wellie egg.
jtaylormade just so you know. Losing a chick here and there is so common. Also later on. I have lost more birds this year than ever before. My last flock I did lose 2 chicks that were with a broody when I got them. My way of easing that pain? I bought a special from mypetchicken for 25 rainbow pullets. Didn't lose a single one.
I've lost some that were on the smaller sized of the piggy chicks. They'd be fine one minute and the next they were gone. It never feels good, but it does happen. I see it more with quail. They are so tiny and they get into so much. You can do everything possible to keep them safe and the feeders and waters are always full, but they are little eatting machines. The only thing is, the meeker chicks stand back and won't touch the food. Had this problem the other day. Tons of room, food and water and they sat to the back of the brooder boxes and died. Happened in 3 different brooder boxes. Thing is, they probably wouldn't have made it very long later either. I have to remember that. I want the strong ones to make it. Doesn't make it any less upsetting, but it just happens.
I'd talk your husband into getting another from Cheryl. She's very accommadating and wants to keep her buyers happy. It gives you a better chance for you to have enough birds too. Remember you may have a roo in their and introductions later on take more time. Better to put chicks together young so they are already used to eachother. Not that it's can't be done later, it's just much easier now.
At any rate, I'm sorry you lost your chick and that it was so upsetting for adults and children alike, but livestock or pets, it happens to the best of us, so it's also a learning experience. Trust me I've cried even now. Poor Karen heard me crying like a baby over some roos this summer. You do get attached and it's hard, but it's stil going to happen and at some point it will start happening even more. Get that new chick.