Butters is from a blue egg marked Ameraucana x Wyandotte that was included in a shipment of pure Wyandotte eggs from Hoppy. This is one determined blue egg as Butters made it despite the rough journey.
It starts when I could not resist the temptation to bid on pure Wyandotte eggs after browsing the lovely pictures on the auction post. I won the auction and the eggs were shipped immediately. Unfortunately, the weather would strike a cruel blow on the shipment as a large winter storm moved over mid, south, and toward the eastern states causing havoc for everyone it passed over. Airports closed down so that both passengers and shipments were delayed. The box carry precious cargo was delayed in the hands of the USPS and did not arrive til Friday, January 14, 2011. The eggs were carefully examined and those that passed were set overnight and added to the incubator.
8 local eggs were put in the bator 2 days prior so it was going to be a staggered hatch. Day 7 for the local eggs showed 1 clear and un-developed, the rest passed as they showed developement. 2 days later it was the shipped eggs turn and it was a sad day as all but 2 of the eggs were clear and un-developed. 1 of the eggs showing developement was a blue egg sent for fun by the seller as an Ameraucana x Wyandotte. This facinated me as I really like both breeds. The other egg was too dark to see through so it was left in hopes that it was doing ok.
Day 18 for the shipped eggs all looked to be developing well, also checked the shipped eggs and only the blue egg had good developement. The last pure Wyandotte egg was clear after all.
On the last day of January one of the local eggs pipped and on February 1st the first chick hatched. It was black with a white dot on its head. This little baby was very lively.
On February 2, 2011 the other 6 local eggs all hatched one after the other. When I got home from work the bator looked full of fuzzy cuteness. I made sure the brooder was ready for them and checked the last egg which was the blue shipped egg to make sure there were no pips. All was good so I opened the bator and quickly took the new hatchlings out. Then added fresh water. The new chicks slept alot on their first day but would burst into energy spurts throughout the day testing their legs and exploring their new home.
The first chick with the white spot was named Piper, the yellow chick that looked a bit rough was named Scruffy, Scooter is the yellow chick that was the weakest and scooted around alot (I gave Scooter some Poly Visol and it helped it perk up), Spot is the yellow chick with a black spot on its back that is like a birth mark, Cole one of the black chicks, Esther is black chick with black beak, and Phebe the other black chick.
2-04-2011 after much stress over the blue egg it finally pipped Friday evening. I was so excited that it pulled through.
02-05-2011 the blue egg hatched and out zipped another yellow chick, accept this one has a rose comb. All of the chicks from the local eggs have what appears to be start of single combs. I let the new chick dry up for a few hours but because I felt bad for it to be by itself I put it in the brooder with the others. The yellow on this chick is like the color of butter and it reminded me of the character Butters from South Park. Just hope Butters does not develope an alter ego like this character.
Butters immediately hobbled over to the other chicks as Butters wanted to be cuddled with. The 2 day old chicks were not sure what to think of Butters and they just gave him/her funny looks. Fresh food was placed inside their home so everyone ran over to get their share. Butters was not really hungry as he/she was still full from all that yolk that was absorbed. However, not wanting to be left out Butters followed the bigger chicks chirping for their attention. The others were too busy eating as fast as they could.
Piper, who is quite bossy, decided to tell Butters to go away and gave a swift peck to Butters. Butters just cried and ran to Phebe for comfort. Phebe looked confused as she could not understand what to do for Butters. Phebe walked in circles around Butters and lightly pecked her (cause I am hoping for girls) not to be mean but more in a hey it is ok kinda way. Cole stopped what he was doing and glanced over not sure about the new chick. Spot just gave Butters the stinkeye. Piper seeing her point was not made decided to push Phebe out of the way and pecked poor Butters again. I fussed at Piper for being so naughty and put Butters in the sleep spot under the light where Scooter was already counting crickets (I doubt they count sheep for sleep). Piper just gave me a defiante look and went back to scratching all the food out of the styrafoam dish.
The chicks have discovered a fun game with the styrafoam dish as it is light enough for them to pick up; but, a bit bulky to move. Piper discovered that if she stepped on the side with her foot the dish would stand up and then when she pecked it the dish made a neat sound. The other chicks wanted in on the new game and began pecking the back of the dish. After a good game of drumming the dish the group went to the sleep spot by the quiet hen (stuffed toy) for a nap. Butters was excited that everyone came over and tried to cuddle with each chick. Poor Butters still was too fresh on her legs so was clumsy which upset the others who already learned to be balanced. It took a while for everyone to settle down.
In the afternoon it was time to check on the brood to see how everyone was getting along. Butters was standing just as well as the others and moving about. Scooter, who takes more naps than the others, decided that the best spot to nap was on top of the stuffed hen. Piper did not like that Scooter was at a higher level then her so she pecked poor Scooter's toes till Scooter came down. Piper was showing her diva side. Piper then hopped up on the hen standing tall and enjoying the view. Butters wanted up too! However, Butters still was not strong enough to hop up there so would lean against the hen and try to push herself up with her leggs. Poor Butters began to tire and fell asleep standing against the hen. Seeing Butters having a rough time of it I picked Butters up and let her cuddle in my hands and held her for a while. Butters was content and made happy chirps then fell asleep.
Most of the afternoon Butters would either follow Scooter or Phebe about and do what they did. Butters still could not hop onto the hen though. Piper and the others kept the dish in submission and would take turns playing their drum game. Everytime their caregiver put food in it, they would quickly kick the food out so they could play with the dish.
At the end of the day all were sleepy and decided to go to their sleep spot. Phebe was snoozing on the hen when Piper spotted her. Piper immediately jumped up to boot Phebe off. Seeing an opportunity Scooter also jumped up to steal the coveted spot. In the end as everyone wanted it they all agreed that no one should sleep there so all found a spot near the hen and went to sleep.
It starts when I could not resist the temptation to bid on pure Wyandotte eggs after browsing the lovely pictures on the auction post. I won the auction and the eggs were shipped immediately. Unfortunately, the weather would strike a cruel blow on the shipment as a large winter storm moved over mid, south, and toward the eastern states causing havoc for everyone it passed over. Airports closed down so that both passengers and shipments were delayed. The box carry precious cargo was delayed in the hands of the USPS and did not arrive til Friday, January 14, 2011. The eggs were carefully examined and those that passed were set overnight and added to the incubator.
8 local eggs were put in the bator 2 days prior so it was going to be a staggered hatch. Day 7 for the local eggs showed 1 clear and un-developed, the rest passed as they showed developement. 2 days later it was the shipped eggs turn and it was a sad day as all but 2 of the eggs were clear and un-developed. 1 of the eggs showing developement was a blue egg sent for fun by the seller as an Ameraucana x Wyandotte. This facinated me as I really like both breeds. The other egg was too dark to see through so it was left in hopes that it was doing ok.
Day 18 for the shipped eggs all looked to be developing well, also checked the shipped eggs and only the blue egg had good developement. The last pure Wyandotte egg was clear after all.
On the last day of January one of the local eggs pipped and on February 1st the first chick hatched. It was black with a white dot on its head. This little baby was very lively.
On February 2, 2011 the other 6 local eggs all hatched one after the other. When I got home from work the bator looked full of fuzzy cuteness. I made sure the brooder was ready for them and checked the last egg which was the blue shipped egg to make sure there were no pips. All was good so I opened the bator and quickly took the new hatchlings out. Then added fresh water. The new chicks slept alot on their first day but would burst into energy spurts throughout the day testing their legs and exploring their new home.
The first chick with the white spot was named Piper, the yellow chick that looked a bit rough was named Scruffy, Scooter is the yellow chick that was the weakest and scooted around alot (I gave Scooter some Poly Visol and it helped it perk up), Spot is the yellow chick with a black spot on its back that is like a birth mark, Cole one of the black chicks, Esther is black chick with black beak, and Phebe the other black chick.
2-04-2011 after much stress over the blue egg it finally pipped Friday evening. I was so excited that it pulled through.
02-05-2011 the blue egg hatched and out zipped another yellow chick, accept this one has a rose comb. All of the chicks from the local eggs have what appears to be start of single combs. I let the new chick dry up for a few hours but because I felt bad for it to be by itself I put it in the brooder with the others. The yellow on this chick is like the color of butter and it reminded me of the character Butters from South Park. Just hope Butters does not develope an alter ego like this character.
Butters immediately hobbled over to the other chicks as Butters wanted to be cuddled with. The 2 day old chicks were not sure what to think of Butters and they just gave him/her funny looks. Fresh food was placed inside their home so everyone ran over to get their share. Butters was not really hungry as he/she was still full from all that yolk that was absorbed. However, not wanting to be left out Butters followed the bigger chicks chirping for their attention. The others were too busy eating as fast as they could.
Piper, who is quite bossy, decided to tell Butters to go away and gave a swift peck to Butters. Butters just cried and ran to Phebe for comfort. Phebe looked confused as she could not understand what to do for Butters. Phebe walked in circles around Butters and lightly pecked her (cause I am hoping for girls) not to be mean but more in a hey it is ok kinda way. Cole stopped what he was doing and glanced over not sure about the new chick. Spot just gave Butters the stinkeye. Piper seeing her point was not made decided to push Phebe out of the way and pecked poor Butters again. I fussed at Piper for being so naughty and put Butters in the sleep spot under the light where Scooter was already counting crickets (I doubt they count sheep for sleep). Piper just gave me a defiante look and went back to scratching all the food out of the styrafoam dish.
The chicks have discovered a fun game with the styrafoam dish as it is light enough for them to pick up; but, a bit bulky to move. Piper discovered that if she stepped on the side with her foot the dish would stand up and then when she pecked it the dish made a neat sound. The other chicks wanted in on the new game and began pecking the back of the dish. After a good game of drumming the dish the group went to the sleep spot by the quiet hen (stuffed toy) for a nap. Butters was excited that everyone came over and tried to cuddle with each chick. Poor Butters still was too fresh on her legs so was clumsy which upset the others who already learned to be balanced. It took a while for everyone to settle down.
In the afternoon it was time to check on the brood to see how everyone was getting along. Butters was standing just as well as the others and moving about. Scooter, who takes more naps than the others, decided that the best spot to nap was on top of the stuffed hen. Piper did not like that Scooter was at a higher level then her so she pecked poor Scooter's toes till Scooter came down. Piper was showing her diva side. Piper then hopped up on the hen standing tall and enjoying the view. Butters wanted up too! However, Butters still was not strong enough to hop up there so would lean against the hen and try to push herself up with her leggs. Poor Butters began to tire and fell asleep standing against the hen. Seeing Butters having a rough time of it I picked Butters up and let her cuddle in my hands and held her for a while. Butters was content and made happy chirps then fell asleep.
Most of the afternoon Butters would either follow Scooter or Phebe about and do what they did. Butters still could not hop onto the hen though. Piper and the others kept the dish in submission and would take turns playing their drum game. Everytime their caregiver put food in it, they would quickly kick the food out so they could play with the dish.
At the end of the day all were sleepy and decided to go to their sleep spot. Phebe was snoozing on the hen when Piper spotted her. Piper immediately jumped up to boot Phebe off. Seeing an opportunity Scooter also jumped up to steal the coveted spot. In the end as everyone wanted it they all agreed that no one should sleep there so all found a spot near the hen and went to sleep.
