My Ideal babies arrived :) Any idea what the red beak means? *pic*

[MichiganWoods]

I couldn't believe how tiny the box was. Wow! You should have seen the Post Master's face when I told him it was recommended that I open the box in front of him so he can see if they are alive or dead. His eyes nearly popped out of his head.

So I was like, "Oh, well... let me just lift up the flap here and look. Yeah, they look alive and OK. Thanks!" and whisked them out to my car. I laughed the whole way home.

They look alert and HUNGRY... and keep knocking over the water dish.

I made sure to dip each of their beaks in the water when putting them into the brooder. This time I had to set up a temporary brooder in a cardboard box because my other one, I had it all set and ready to go, and I didn't quite get one of the latches set and when I picked the thing up, of course it fell and all of the feed and water and bedding went everywhere. Thankfully, I hadn't put the chicks in it yet!

I know to keep an eye on the box in case of a fire. I'm checking it inbetween getting the other brooder ready for them.

I ordered 8 pullets and 1 male, all Ameraucanas. They included 5 extra Ameraucana males for warmth. I lucked out and whoever filled my order wrote down the breed on my invoice! So there is a total of 14 chicks in this order.

Question on beaks... some of them look like they've got some sort of internal bleeding inside of their beaks going on. I didn't order debeaking and they don't look like they got debeaked. I called Ideal and they were very nice, but unsure of what I was talking about.

Can anyone tell me what's up with the beaks?

 

[Pumpkinpup]

I have had chicks with the beaks like that. It clears up in a few days. Don't worry

They are cuties!!! Congrats!

 

[Chirpy]

I don't believe there is anything wrong with those 'red' beaks, normal coloring that will change in a while.

Really, really cute babies ya got there!

 

[onthespot]

That is naturally occuring pigment. Their beaks can change quite a bit in color and color distrubution as they mature.

 

[Lanissa86]

Aww I just LOVE Ideals Easter Eggers!!! They are so adorable! I like how they used More EE's males as your packing peanuts instead of some totally different breed! Lucky you! Make sure you post pics as they get feathers! I like to see the variety and color differences in EE's!

Edit to add: The beak being red is VERY normal..is will go away in a few days or lighten up as they get older...

 

[toletiquesbysam]

They are adorable!! I love that one with the green forehead! Cuties!!

 

[Ugly Cowboy]

Oh, that's normal, it'll change when they get older. Congrats on the chicks!

 

[MichiganWoods]

Thank you all very much! They are super super cute! And they peck at EVERYTHING. I love it!

For those unfamiliar with the color coding... the red smear indicates it's the male I ordered. The green smears indicates the "packing peanut" males.

So glad to hear that the red is normal. None of my first hatched had that, so I wasn't sure if it was significant or not.

You bet I'll be posting pictures as they grow up!

 

[verycherry]

Oh, I want some! No I don't, YES I do, no I don't, YES I do! Noooo!!! They are soooo cute, but I've got the last of my 3 batches of my fall chicks going out this week, and I have no room for more, lol! My Ameraucanas spent the night out last night, but I waited just a little longer on my silkies and bantam cochins.

I got my first Ameraucana from Ideal too.....through our farm store here. They are pure Ameraucana but are mostly mixed colors, so a lot of people call them Easter Eggers, even though some Easter Eggers aren't 100% Ameraucana like these are.

I just took a picture of my 6 month old cockerel a few days ago. One of yours might turn out a lot like him, so I'll post a photo for you.

Good luck with your babies! They look super healthy.

 

[joshplus10]

Ameraucanas!

My Surprise Assortment from IDEAL had 5 chicks that look like yours so I'm thinking they might be Ameraucanas, too!

Cool! Thanks for the great pics!