Jchnny - I had contemplated buying some eggs to hatch out, only thing that puts me off is how late it is in the year. I do appreciate the offer for the use of the bator, however if I was not so lazy I would already have built me own by now. Glad I didn't in hindsight, I would have a squillion (yes it is a real number) of chickens and other various birds.
Shawna - DH refers to things being 'salty' often so I think that's where I got it from. I also hope you find all your little ones.
Mother - I do enjoy the good 'ol slang. Makes more many confusing conversations. I don't notice I am using it half the time which means most conversations leaves the other baffled. How is the little Miss Violet doing?
Browncow - If you only clip one wing they will not be flying in a straight line.
Soft eggs... I think all my chickens have laid soft eggs at the beginning, witnessing one of those recently of my EE. As long as it is not happening often everything should be ok. I do not give oyster shell to my girls and they are all good. One and only time of doing so I ended up with warty eggs. Ok to eat but visually hard to sell.
The brown eggs my girls lay have speckles from time to time. Even though they should be laying plain brown eggs I still get speckles often and they can be scrubbed off too.
Finally got eggs from Momma (barred cochin), they are sooo tiny! She has laid two so far, one cream and one pink speckled with white. I am dead excited about that, guess it is the time of year for everyone to start enjoying eggs. Going to pop them open later to see if they were fertile. With the silkie being the only male around now, if they are fertile he is doing his job.
That's all I can think of to do until he calms down as he matures.
Luckily, you're too far of a drive for me. Brad was not, and that's why I have a Silkie now. 
So tempting! I've always loved those! Why do coops have to cost so much to build? 
