Better pics of her body type is a better indicator than the egg color, as we all know how we can get a variety of shades. They should be a cream tint not brown. Her color and face throws me for not being pure Cochin bantam. Just my 2 cents. As for the Mereks I know I hate reading about those things, but with allowing the chicks to have been brooded in the flock and them live to the age they did I wouldn't suspect it. But then again what do I know!!![COLOR=8B4513]It's been a long, rough week since my vet told me that Screech's Purdue necropsy indicated Marek's[/COLOR]—[COLOR=8B4513]although there is no definitive test for Marek's. Unfortunately, my voice has taken longer to recover following my treatment, so that has hampered communication.[/COLOR] :/ [COLOR=8B4513]However, I have emailed professionals as well as byc people who've been through the experience of having their flock diagnosed with Marek's. And I've read a million opinions and studies. Now I am leaning toward thinking that my flock does not having Marek's. At first, I felt convinced that it did, and I started attributing every little thing as a sign of Marek's—yes, I became paranoid about every little thing and was sure each time I went outside, one of my hens would be dead. I even thought my Silkie, Smalty, was about to die, so I brought her in. She perked up with I gave her some treats, started chirping, and then I realized she was broody!![/COLOR]
[COLOR=8B4513]Since the outside temps were too low to easily transition her back outside, I had to keep her in for three nights until it warmed up! I had Smalty in the basement bathroom and have had @chick rookie 's Bantam Cochin, Lacy, in quarantine two floors up. I have been constantly showering, washing hair, changing clothes, getting rid of bedding and deep litter—imaging the evil Marek's virus dusting everything in sight. Constant stress. Meanwhile, my remaining five flock members are fine and have no symptoms. For the past couple of months, Bonbon has had a slight rocking motion when she's on the perch at night. It's not a Marek's symptom, but my Jersey did that when she had ovarian cancer. Anyway, knock on wood, hopefully my flock will remain healthy. I am still doing everything I can as far as biosecurity. I ordered Virkon S disinfectant and virucide, which I plan to use on the coop during this wonderful warm weather spell. [/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]I have also been worried about contaminating[/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]@chick rookie's[/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]place where I stopped on my way home from my voice appointment in Indy. When I arrived home with Screech's new friend, that's when I found out Screech had died. Bad timing! However, I had been in Indy for two nights before stopping at chick rookies, and I had a newly cleaned dress coat on —not my chicken clothes except for a pair of boots that I had washed and used three different germ killers on before I left home. So, it's not likely, but I've been concerned.[/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]I took this photo the other night of my remaining flock members who gathered for their nightly ritual before eating and going in the coop for the night.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=8B4513]Below: My new Lacy from chick rookie is hysterical! Earlier today, she was in her dust bath that I set up in a plastic lined bathtub. I kept checking on her, but she was always chirping and having a great time, so two hours later, (!) I told her it was bedtime. It reminded me of when my kids were little and loved to spend hours playing in the bathtub. Here she is sitting on the arm of my chair while I'm working. Btw, she started laying eggs! She had been laying at chick rookie's, but I knew she'd have to feel settled here before she began laying again. @ellymayRans Her eggs are light brown, so is she a Cochin mix? She looks like a Cochin, but Screech was much smaller in size and laid tiny cream colored eggs. I still had one of Screech's eggs, so here's a photo of hers on the left and Lacy's on the right. [/COLOR]
[COLOR=8B4513]Just curious, that's all![/COLOR]
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Cochins actually should lay brown eggs according to the standard. Most lay light brown like the egg on the right in your picture, from what I was reading. Here is the standard from an online Cochin breed club that talks about egg color and general points of their appearance: 
It's so exciting to see your own birds circling the home page! 
