BYC's 2026 Valentine's Day Hatch-Along

[redinator]

She is my oldest girl (well her and one other who hatched at the same time.) Nearing 6 years old. She had slipped tendon as a baby and by a complete miracle was able to be healed and has never had any adverse effects. She is such a good broody mama. She recently adopted a 6 week old baby that was a singleton raised by another broody mama. The other broody was sick of the baby and done raising her. She raised the 6 week old baby as though it was a brand new chick, for about 6 more weeks Here they are together.

You may've just turned me into a Silke NN lover.

My first broody kept babying her chicks until her sons were bigger than she was at nearly 15 weeks old. It was funny to watch them chase the girls around then try to hide behind/under mom when the dominant cockerel came after them. I finally had to break up their little love fest and rehome the hormonal boys.

 

[Slothinc]

You may've just turned me into a Silke NN lover.

My first broody kept babying her chicks until her sons were bigger than she was at nearly 15 weeks old. It was funny to watch them chase the girls around then try to hide behind/under mom when the dominant cockerel came after them. I finally had to break up their little love fest and rehome the hormonal boys.

That is so sweet - what a good broody mama you have!

 

[Debbie292d]

I have 8 chicks now! 4 black, 1 lav, and 3 paint/white. The most recent 2 that hatched have the NN gene. One has two copies of the NN gene, making it a “stripper” rather than a “showgirl”. Never had a stripper before, I am not a big fan of them lol. I hope I can find it a great home

I nor my hubby are fans of anything missing feathers on its neck, so when I buy hatching eggs and get some, they are for sure sold.

We did have a NN paint hen that, for whatever reason, I kept until she was a hen, then sold her. I kind of miss her though.

 

[Debbie292d]

I nor my hubby are fans of anything missing feathers on its neck, so when I buy hatching eggs and get some, they are for sure sold.

We did have a NN paint hen that, for whatever reason, I kept until she was a hen, then sold her. I kind of miss her though.

Pearl

She had two things against her though, she was satin too. I do not breed NNs or satin silkies.

 

[redinator]

Pearl
View attachment 4295239

She had two things against her though, she was satin too. I do not breed NNs or satin silkies.

I didn't know NN had head poofs. Is she a Polish cross? Polishes are the only breed that comes to mind that has the very round poof instead of a crest or head tuft.

 

[Debbie292d]

I didn't know NN had head poofs. Is she a Polish cross? Polishes are the only breed that comes to mind that has the very round poof instead of a crest or head tuft.

Purebred NN paint silkie

 

[gullinkambe]

The rest of the babies popped out during the night. Five little fluffballs! Looks like 4 pied and 1 magpie (a bit hard to tell, actually, before their feathers dry). I'll use the magpies for my breeding project. The one magpie in front in the first picture looks promising, can't wait for it to dry!





Meanwhile, the next clutch of 5 is on day 29. I've stopped turning 3, as they have movement.

 

[Slothinc]

I didn't know NN had head poofs. Is she a Polish cross? Polishes are the only breed that comes to mind that has the very round poof instead of a crest or head tuft.

Silkie NN girls have those round head poofs! That’s why I love them. They look like little poodle chickens

Debbie, your girl is gorgeous I am sorry she didn’t fit with your breeding program.

As an update, two of my babies died in the shell They never externally pipped. The last one I gave a little assistance last night and it pushed its way out of the egg overnight and is doing great this morning. Final count on this first batch is 9 chicks - 5 black, 3 paint, 1 lavender. Two of the blacks are NN, the rest are not. The lavender chick looks possibly mottled! If not mottled, it is definitely a mottled carrier. @Debbie292d does this look mottled to you or just a carrier? I do believe the rooster carries mottle and I have hens that carry it as well.

 

[redinator]

I just got great news!

The seller I got the first batch of eggs from (the BTRs, LAs and CPs) contacted me at the end of last week to let me know her Cream Legbars were laying again. During the course of the conversation she asked how the chicks from the previous hatch were doing. I sent her a picture of the chicks and she noticed I only had 1 Crele Penedesenca. She asked why I only had 1 CP so I sent her the candling videos and for that hatch. I paid for the Cream Legbar eggs, but I wasn't expecting this:



I'm still expecting replacements for the CCLs that didn't develop, but it'll be a couple of weeks at least.

 

[Slothinc]

I just got great news!

The seller I got the first batch of eggs from (the BTRs, LAs and CPs) contacted me at the end of last week to let me know her Cream Legbars were laying again. During the course of the conversation she asked how the chicks from the previous hatch were doing. I sent her a picture of the chicks and she noticed I only had 1 Crele Penedesenca. She asked why I only had 1 CP so I sent her the candling videos and for that hatch. I paid for the Cream Legbar eggs, but I wasn't expecting this:

View attachment 4295340

I'm still expecting replacements for the CCLs that didn't develop, but it'll be a couple of weeks at least.

Love it, that is so awesome!!! There are still good breeders out there