FeatheredFlockMama
Chirping
- May 17, 2022
- 16
- 52
- 61
Back in April a decided to embark on my first hatching egg journey. I had been wanting to try for a while. I inherited my first flock of chickens when I bought my house and when we switched to silkies I got them as pullets, So I missed the chick stage twice. The pullets seemed lonely in the coop by themselves— because where there’s space, there’s chicken math — it felt meant to be.
I struggled with my cheapie tabletop incubator, and that showed in my hatch. Only one lone chick from my shipped eggs made it. Absolute heartbreak! I felt like a baby murderer. Our little survivor, who my husband dubbed “Zeke” spent his first 3 weeks living with a pair of Cayuga ducklings, whom he very much enjoyed snuggling with and vaulting himself off of.
I decided that before he started quacking (and before the ducklings exploded in size) that little Zeke needed his own digs and some brooder mates. Luckily for me I found someone with older silkie chicks who’s hatch day was days from Zeke’s.
So this is my little tribute to my first time raising chicks, and of course to Zeke my first hatchling:
Zeke is a warrior. A legend of chicken kind. Cool as a cucumber, but also, occasional brooder rabble rouser. Zeke is a chicken FOR the chickens.
And the adopted babies:
Cali is not brave. Cali can and will dive under their brethren to avoid the hands of the great gods who watch over them.
Ginger not only wants you to give them love. They demand it.
Bet you know where the name came from. Look at that face. A hellion from the beginning.
Quiet, docile, slightly adventurous. Motto is: “I can fly there”
I have some early wild guesses based on temperament and plumage/posture started, but I’m curious what you guys might think so feel free to share your guesses! I’ll be adding more updates each week because I find their feathers changes fascinating and fun to watch and record, especially since the four adopted babies came from a Millie project pen, which is why there are some very big faults for silkies. Also, both Dixie and Ginger are satins!
I struggled with my cheapie tabletop incubator, and that showed in my hatch. Only one lone chick from my shipped eggs made it. Absolute heartbreak! I felt like a baby murderer. Our little survivor, who my husband dubbed “Zeke” spent his first 3 weeks living with a pair of Cayuga ducklings, whom he very much enjoyed snuggling with and vaulting himself off of.
I decided that before he started quacking (and before the ducklings exploded in size) that little Zeke needed his own digs and some brooder mates. Luckily for me I found someone with older silkie chicks who’s hatch day was days from Zeke’s.
So this is my little tribute to my first time raising chicks, and of course to Zeke my first hatchling:
Zeke is a warrior. A legend of chicken kind. Cool as a cucumber, but also, occasional brooder rabble rouser. Zeke is a chicken FOR the chickens.
And the adopted babies:
Cali is not brave. Cali can and will dive under their brethren to avoid the hands of the great gods who watch over them.
Ginger not only wants you to give them love. They demand it.
Bet you know where the name came from. Look at that face. A hellion from the beginning.
Quiet, docile, slightly adventurous. Motto is: “I can fly there”
I have some early wild guesses based on temperament and plumage/posture started, but I’m curious what you guys might think so feel free to share your guesses! I’ll be adding more updates each week because I find their feathers changes fascinating and fun to watch and record, especially since the four adopted babies came from a Millie project pen, which is why there are some very big faults for silkies. Also, both Dixie and Ginger are satins!
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