So after Pistachio was the only hatch from my shipped eggs, I picked up some Welsummers to keep them company.
I'll post updates about how they're doing and any fun stories about them here as they grow and I learn more about their personalities.
As they find their place in the pecking order, I'll give them ranks of nobility based on their standing - just for fun.
The chicks are 4 weeks old as of Monday, and I just got around to weighing them and taking their pictures today (Wednesday).
First, obviously, we have Pistachio. Pistachio has been doing great, despite their rough start. If you followed my hatch-a-long, you'd know that Pistachio required a full assist, and I was very worried about their health for a long time. But Pistachio has caught up in size to the Welsummers, and is doing just fine.
• Personality wise, Pistachio is a bit more cautious than some of the Welsummers. Pistachio will take treats from my hand, but only after the majority of the others have taken treats. Some of the other chicks square off with Pistachio, but Pistachio will also square off with them.
• On the lower end of the pecking order, but not the bottom
• 8.9 oz
The first Welsummer I named was Custard, who had a lighter head than any of the others and was easy to pick out. Now that their adult feathers are coming in, I have to rely on their leg bands to be sure it's Custard I'm looking at.
• Custard is usually cautious, but an opportunist. Through others, they've learned that hand treats are okay, and will now rush forward at the prospect of treats. They can still be hand shy, but will overlook that if there's a promise of treats. When I opened up the brooder to start weighing them, Custard popped out onto the carpet while I had my back turned. Was very surprised to turn around and see a chicken exploring my room.
• On the higher end of the pecking order, but certainly not the top. Is likely to receive a title of nobility.
• 8.9 oz
The next chicken I named was Shaved Ice. Originally named this because they had a very short neck and was easy to pick out from the crowd. But... then they got bigger and I couldn't tell who Shaved Ice was anymore, so when I put their bands on I picked the one with the shortest neck and called them Shaved Ice. I don't know if they're the ORIGINAL shaved Ice, but they're Shaved Ice now.
• Shaved Ice is a follower, rarely a leader. Like Pistachio, Shaved Ice will accept treats if others are accepting treats, but won't go up first or by herself.
• Probably near the bottom of the order
• 9.5 oz
Next up is Blizzard, who sports a green band. Blizzard was named after all the chicks got their bands, and was named for their pushy attitude.
• Blizzard is by far the most pushy out of the bunch when it comes to treats and was the first to discover that hand treats are okay actually. Absolutely not afraid to bully others away from treats. They'll also scatter the treats out of my hand while eating, which lets the other more shy chicks pick up the mealworms from the ground instead of my hand (no idea if this intentional or not, maybe they just don't want the other chicks to get the "good" treats out of my hand. Who knows.) All of the Welsummers are supposed to be hens, but if any of them wind up being roosters, my money is on Blizzard.
• Top of the pecking order. Most likely going to be Queen/King Blizzard.
• 8.4 oz
Named at the same time as Blizzard, we have Soft Serve. Soft Serve is my oddball of the group.
• Soft Serve is very curious and inquisitive, but fairly gentle. She discovered treats along with Blizzard, but was a bit more skeptical. She'd take the treats very gently (unlike Blizzard who's a repeat offender of nibbling my finger folds). She's also my water percher. If there's a chicken on the waterer, it's usually her.
• Middle ground or upper middle on the pecking order. Unsure of if she'll get a title.
• 8.1 oz
Next, we have the 4 without names. This lot managed to remove their first round of bands so I've had considerably less time to figure out their personalities.
[Red]
• The ORIGINAL Red was an expert at removing bands, and removed their own three separate times. Not sure if this is that same Red or not
• 9.7 oz
[Black]
• Squirrelly. Was considering jumping off the scale but thought better of it.
• 7.8 oz
[Purple]
• The ORIGINAL purple also held their tail high, but only while they slept. I don't think this is the same Purple tbh.
• 9.2 oz
[Yellow]
• Not much info about her yet, a bit of a wallflower, but has her own confidence. Might have originally been Purple.
• 8.7 oz
I'll post updates about how they're doing and any fun stories about them here as they grow and I learn more about their personalities.
As they find their place in the pecking order, I'll give them ranks of nobility based on their standing - just for fun.
The chicks are 4 weeks old as of Monday, and I just got around to weighing them and taking their pictures today (Wednesday).
First, obviously, we have Pistachio. Pistachio has been doing great, despite their rough start. If you followed my hatch-a-long, you'd know that Pistachio required a full assist, and I was very worried about their health for a long time. But Pistachio has caught up in size to the Welsummers, and is doing just fine.
• Personality wise, Pistachio is a bit more cautious than some of the Welsummers. Pistachio will take treats from my hand, but only after the majority of the others have taken treats. Some of the other chicks square off with Pistachio, but Pistachio will also square off with them.
• On the lower end of the pecking order, but not the bottom
• 8.9 oz
The first Welsummer I named was Custard, who had a lighter head than any of the others and was easy to pick out. Now that their adult feathers are coming in, I have to rely on their leg bands to be sure it's Custard I'm looking at.
• Custard is usually cautious, but an opportunist. Through others, they've learned that hand treats are okay, and will now rush forward at the prospect of treats. They can still be hand shy, but will overlook that if there's a promise of treats. When I opened up the brooder to start weighing them, Custard popped out onto the carpet while I had my back turned. Was very surprised to turn around and see a chicken exploring my room.
• On the higher end of the pecking order, but certainly not the top. Is likely to receive a title of nobility.
• 8.9 oz
The next chicken I named was Shaved Ice. Originally named this because they had a very short neck and was easy to pick out from the crowd. But... then they got bigger and I couldn't tell who Shaved Ice was anymore, so when I put their bands on I picked the one with the shortest neck and called them Shaved Ice. I don't know if they're the ORIGINAL shaved Ice, but they're Shaved Ice now.
• Shaved Ice is a follower, rarely a leader. Like Pistachio, Shaved Ice will accept treats if others are accepting treats, but won't go up first or by herself.
• Probably near the bottom of the order
• 9.5 oz
Next up is Blizzard, who sports a green band. Blizzard was named after all the chicks got their bands, and was named for their pushy attitude.
• Blizzard is by far the most pushy out of the bunch when it comes to treats and was the first to discover that hand treats are okay actually. Absolutely not afraid to bully others away from treats. They'll also scatter the treats out of my hand while eating, which lets the other more shy chicks pick up the mealworms from the ground instead of my hand (no idea if this intentional or not, maybe they just don't want the other chicks to get the "good" treats out of my hand. Who knows.) All of the Welsummers are supposed to be hens, but if any of them wind up being roosters, my money is on Blizzard.
• Top of the pecking order. Most likely going to be Queen/King Blizzard.
• 8.4 oz
Named at the same time as Blizzard, we have Soft Serve. Soft Serve is my oddball of the group.
• Soft Serve is very curious and inquisitive, but fairly gentle. She discovered treats along with Blizzard, but was a bit more skeptical. She'd take the treats very gently (unlike Blizzard who's a repeat offender of nibbling my finger folds). She's also my water percher. If there's a chicken on the waterer, it's usually her.
• Middle ground or upper middle on the pecking order. Unsure of if she'll get a title.
• 8.1 oz
Next, we have the 4 without names. This lot managed to remove their first round of bands so I've had considerably less time to figure out their personalities.
[Red]
• The ORIGINAL Red was an expert at removing bands, and removed their own three separate times. Not sure if this is that same Red or not
• 9.7 oz
[Black]
• Squirrelly. Was considering jumping off the scale but thought better of it.
• 7.8 oz
[Purple]
• The ORIGINAL purple also held their tail high, but only while they slept. I don't think this is the same Purple tbh.
• 9.2 oz
[Yellow]
• Not much info about her yet, a bit of a wallflower, but has her own confidence. Might have originally been Purple.
• 8.7 oz
. One is bad enough, but three so close together, especially Pistachio, is absolutely heartbreaking. Thank you for sharing your pictures and hoping that you patch holds!
