Pippin (tentatively), is the lone survivor from a batch of 14 shipped eggs. My trials and tribulations are in the June, 2025 Hatch-a-long. Long story short, the Hova-bator 1602N incubator I used would not keep a stable temperature. In retrospect I think I might have gotten a 50% hatch if the incubator had cooperated.
Pippin is from an egg produced on a Georgia Farm whose owner specializes in exhibition quality cochins. I just particularly like the look of these birds but didn't want the drive which is why I chose the shipping gamble. Next time we'll make the drive!
One lone chick is not a good thing. I've found out from my reading that it is possible to raise a singleton with dedication, and while I would love to just have it in a little brooder at my computer so I could socialize with her, we have six indoor cats and that's just not feasible.
It was a long shot as we're getting late in the season, but I recalled that the last time we went to Tractor Supply for feed that they still had chicks and among them had "Assorted Bantams".
We were there only 15 minutes or so after they opened. Score! They still had chicks, and they did have bantams. I asked the clerk if any of them were feather-footed and he didn't know, you really can't see them from outside the cage, so I just told him to grab four (they have a four chick minimum,) and that would be fine. I did decline one that looked like it might end up blue as s/he had a bit of pasty butt starting and I didn't want to deal with that.
I didn't even look at them until I got them home and lifted out of the box to put with Pip. Two yellows and two chipmunks. The yellows have fuzzy feet. Score! Won't know for a while if they're white or buff or something else. Who knows what the clean-legged chipmunks are. Innumerable chicken breeds, including bantams, have chipmunk chicks. They may be OEGB in which case they'll probably ultimately be going to new homes (assuming they thrive,) as I'm not really all that fond of games.
Pip doesn't really know what to make of the new kids as even though they're quite young, they're still at my guess 3-5 days, maybe as much as a week old so quite a bit larger than 1.5 day old Pip.
In any case, everyone has figured out their food and water and now calm prevails as all five are cuddled up under the brooder plate.
Pippin is from an egg produced on a Georgia Farm whose owner specializes in exhibition quality cochins. I just particularly like the look of these birds but didn't want the drive which is why I chose the shipping gamble. Next time we'll make the drive!
One lone chick is not a good thing. I've found out from my reading that it is possible to raise a singleton with dedication, and while I would love to just have it in a little brooder at my computer so I could socialize with her, we have six indoor cats and that's just not feasible.
It was a long shot as we're getting late in the season, but I recalled that the last time we went to Tractor Supply for feed that they still had chicks and among them had "Assorted Bantams".
We were there only 15 minutes or so after they opened. Score! They still had chicks, and they did have bantams. I asked the clerk if any of them were feather-footed and he didn't know, you really can't see them from outside the cage, so I just told him to grab four (they have a four chick minimum,) and that would be fine. I did decline one that looked like it might end up blue as s/he had a bit of pasty butt starting and I didn't want to deal with that.
I didn't even look at them until I got them home and lifted out of the box to put with Pip. Two yellows and two chipmunks. The yellows have fuzzy feet. Score! Won't know for a while if they're white or buff or something else. Who knows what the clean-legged chipmunks are. Innumerable chicken breeds, including bantams, have chipmunk chicks. They may be OEGB in which case they'll probably ultimately be going to new homes (assuming they thrive,) as I'm not really all that fond of games.
Pip doesn't really know what to make of the new kids as even though they're quite young, they're still at my guess 3-5 days, maybe as much as a week old so quite a bit larger than 1.5 day old Pip.
In any case, everyone has figured out their food and water and now calm prevails as all five are cuddled up under the brooder plate.
