BYC's 2025 Spooktacular Halloween Hatch-Along

[redinator]

See that yellow goofball snuggle bunny closest to the camera? That's Connor - half Great Pyrenees, half yellow Lab, 100% wonderful, and 1000% the bestest dog in the world. Full of fun and curiosity, he pulls on the leash like a draft horse (because there's too many people to meet and squirrels that need chasing and trees that are thirsty) but he's still the bestest.

All right, before I launch into more ramblings about the other three, I'll just say I miss my puppies when I'm not home and this year, I've been gone a lot. I should be back before Christmas though.

"trees are thirsty"

 

[african chickens]

All good here.
Picture from when l took them out to clean their cage and take updated pictures

 

[jxp]

All good here.
Picture from when l took them out to clean their cage and take updated pictures
View attachment 4255681

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

If anyone is looking to hatch again be sure to join the New Years Hatch along.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/bycs-17th-annual-new-years-day-hatch-along—2026.1680364/

 

[redinator]

If anyone is looking to hatch again be sure to join the New Years Hatch along.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/bycs-17th-annual-new-years-day-hatch-along—2026.1680364/

 

[redinator]

I'm planning my next hatch, but I'm waiting until the end of January. The two girls that hatched last February (Pot and Buffy) laid all winter. Sweety probably would've too, but she went broody and is still caring for her nearly 3 month old chicks.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I'm planning my next hatch, but I'm waiting until the end of January. The two girls that hatched last February (Pot and Buffy) laid all winter. Sweety probably would've too, but she went broody and is still caring for her nearly 3 month old chicks.

I've had hens that would mother them for 4-5 months. Better than those that ditch them at 3 weeks.

 

[redinator]

I've had hens that would mother them for 4-5 months. Better than those that ditch them at 3 weeks.

They're all spoiled mama's boys and getting rehomed today. I tried waiting it out and separating them but they (Sweety and the chicks) looked so pitiful on opposite sides of the fence pacing and carrying on.

 

[Rooski456]

@Rooski456 @african chickens how are your chicks doing?
@redinator did you get any updates?

We are doing good here, growing so fast! Every day there is more and more barring haha. Starting to see some big red combs but thankfully only about 6 or so of the 19 are super obvious right now

 

[ella2025]

We are doing good here, growing so fast! Every day there is more and more barring haha. Starting to see some big red combs but thankfully only about 6 or so of the 19 are super obvious right now

That's good to hear! I am super unfortunate and all 4 chicks look like roosters. I don't know what I'll do with them. But I'll figure it out.


Looks like Beth has defied all odds and is in fact Fernando the silkie roo's baby.

He has:
1. No beard ( mom and fernando are both hatchery birds, mom is probably heterozygous with a beard, Fernando is beardless.) if he is moony's baby, he would be sure to have a beard.
2. Silkie feathers
3. Pure black eyes. The other chicks eyes are changing colors.
4. Black skin ( apparently not supposed to have black skin because moony is light skinned)
5. Still absolutely tiny

Mom at his age

Dad at 3 wks: