Estes chicks...

[IggiMom]

I got my order of chicks from Estes Hatchery today. I got 15 Welsummer pullets plus one Roo, 5 Aracauna pullets, and 5 RIR pullets.

The box looked a little as if the PO had played drop football with it, but the chicks were dandy.

They were all alive, and of course, I dipped their little beaks in water as I put them in their brooder box, and within seconds they were all scratching and drinking and fussing about.

Really, I think these may be the best chicks I have ever gotten from a hatchery.

Catherine

 

[ilroost]

got my first chicks from them 6 yrs ago still have 6 of them all were very healthy

 

[EweSheep]

Let me knkow how the Welsummer chicks are doing in a week!

 

[IggiMom]

Quote:
I certainly will. They are fine today, EXCEPT one of the Welsummers died today for no reason, except that maybe it got its little head stuck underneath the feeder. Goodness knows why. It is just one of the small feeders intended for a small number of chicks, the kind you put a quart jar of chick feed into.

And they were not low on food or anything, I never let them GET low on food, so it isn't as if he was hunting high and low for a speck of food.

Nonetheless, I am perfectly willing to let it go as 'just one of those things' for now, as truly, they seem to be a really vigorous bunch. Sometimes their light attracts a moth and they all go chasing after it. Fun to watch.

Catherine

 

[EweSheep]

Quote:
I certainly will. They are fine today, EXCEPT one of the Welsummers died today for no reason, except that maybe it got its little head stuck underneath the feeder. Goodness knows why. It is just one of the small feeders intended for a small number of chicks, the kind you put a quart jar of chick feed into.

And they were not low on food or anything, I never let them GET low on food, so it isn't as if he was hunting high and low for a speck of food.

Nonetheless, I am perfectly willing to let it go as 'just one of those things' for now, as truly, they seem to be a really vigorous bunch. Sometimes their light attracts a moth and they all go chasing after it. Fun to watch.

Catherine

had that happened to me twice in my whole life raising chicks. Quirky little buggers aren't they?

 

[IggiMom]

I wanted to let you know that those Welsummer chicks from Estes are still doing well. I have not lost any since the one chick stuck its head under the waterer.

They are nice chicks, too, no pecking or anything. I like them.

We will see how they lay, of course.

Catherine

 

[EweSheep]

Good to hear!

 

[mtnhomechick]

I get all my chicks from Estes or Cackle. Both are great.

 

[IggiMom]

I was out sitting with the chicks in the coop yesterday. This is partly because I have a Mad Mama in there, my Black Jersey Giant who has two Serama babies, and she has a tendency to not want the new chicks who were moved from the broody to the nursery wing of the coop to have anything to eat or drink.

So I was sitting out there partly just to watch them, and partly to make sure they got to eat and drink. I am sure Big Mama will get used to them in time.

Anyway, one of the Welsummer chicks came and sat on my lap for a while. I was surprised but enjoyed it. They are not really pets and I don't hold them, but if they WANT to be held, of course, that is different.

Catherine

 

[Opa]

I was more than happy with the Welsummer chicks I got from Estes. They are really nice people to deal with. You are going to very happy with your choice when they start laying. The eggs are very dark and speckled and I found the birds to be very easy keepers. Mine started laying at 24 weeks.