My tiny foster flock

[Foster_Mother_Hen]

I have to share my foster flock story. I incubated, watched them hatch, and have come to love them. They got a taste of grass and sunshine for the first time yesterday, love dried mealworms, and are terrified of earthworms. They’ll be going to my friend’s farm in about 4 weeks, so I’ll be able to visit whenever I want!

From what I’m told, they could be any mix of the following: roosters are Amerucana, Silver Laced, hens are Asian black (though I would not be surprised if they are BSL after reading all of the comments on the store where they were purchased), Gold comet, and Plymouth Barred Rock.
They hatched between June 11 and 13.

Dot was the first to hatch and still loves climbing on my hand for elevator rides. Named for the white dots on the head, chest, and wings at hatching. I believe it might be a Barred Rock roo.

Clover hatched second and is my gentle giant. Clover is nearly twice the size of Fin. Will go after the others with no provocation one minute then settle down into my hand and take a nap the next. Best current guess is SLW roo.

Gerri/Jerry if #3 and is so unbelievably shy. It takes lots of patience to wait for a visit. I’m nowhere near any guesses on breed, as this chick is totally unlike any in the flock. Possibly another roo.

Sprite hatched 4th, super friendly, loves to fly up and hang out on my arm. I’m leaving towards Asian Black pullett.

Squeak hatched soon after Sprite, and is a bit more standoffish. Will definitely fly up and snuggle when Sprite is roosting on my arm, and I’m thinking Asian Black roo.

Last but certainly not least….

Fin!! Started as a tough hatch that I had to help and almost didn’t make it through the first night. It l climbed into my hand that night and immediately calmed down to the point of sleep. Since then, Fin has been my buddy and loves to nap and snuggle in my hand, on my shoulder, and now on my head! I hope it’s a pullett mix between the Gold Comet hen and SLW rooster.

If you made it through, thanks!

 

[T-R-O-U-B-L-E]

Cute!

 

[Cold-Blood]

SLW cockerel left, I'll find the chicks in a minute.

 

[Foster_Mother_Hen]

Updated pictures!!

Clover - my gentle giant. Still not sure on breed

Gerri/Jerry - still no clue on breed but beautiful/handsome…and getting a little more brave!

Fin - little daredevil learned how to climb up my sleeve to rest on my shoulder…. and is teaching the others. Also has learned to climb on to my hand if I touch the toes

Dot - more and more barred every day

Sprite

The whole flock, including the quintessential middle child, Squeak, and the ever-curious, ever-protective Dot.

 

[Foster_Mother_Hen]

4-week update!

The chicks are growing like weeds…and are as feisty as ever. I’ve been reading a bit and it looks like Dot may be a barred rock hen (single white bar on the wings, white spot on the head). 475g as of this afternoon:

Clover is still a major cuddler, still very gentle with me, and still a giant. Any time I put my hand down in the pen he climbs right on up and hunkers down. He relaxes and seems to enjoy having his back pet. Here he is at 632g:

Gerri/Jerry continues to be a little skittish but was the first to fly up to the roost bar. S/he is much more friendly and flies to my hand if I put it in front of them while they’re on the bar. I’m leaning towards maybe a Sapphire Gem hen…but, again, resembles no other chickens in the flock. At 325g, here’s the unicorn

Sprite…oh Sprite… will happily fly up to my hand, wiggle the butt feathers, and go to sleep. I saw the most gorgeous blue/purple sheen to the black wing feathers this evening. I haven’t seen that in any of the other chickens in the flock (they mostly have a green sheen). Here, at 495g, is Sprite!

Squeak doesn’t really want much to do with me but isn’t mean at all. Kind of like a cat, Squeak wants to be social when she (going back to that assumption) wants to be no pictures, sadly, but Squeak came in at 497g.

Last and still not least, Fin. I’m afraid there may be a second roo in the lot but that’s ok. Still snuggly, cuddly, and extremely curious, Fin finds my shoulder almost every day during play time. This chick will jump/fly from arm to arm to shoulder to bin to floor and back up to my shoulder. In at a tiny 315g (but steadily growing at around the same rate as the rest), here’s Fin!!

I thought these might bring some light and amusement to anyone reading this… I was trying to get a good picture of Clover and Fin decided to photobomb…then I got one of both of them!

 

[Foster_Mother_Hen]

The chicks are at the farm now and growing like crazy. No crowing from anyone yet, but time will tell! The coloring has gotten so much more vibrant and unique. Their personalities haven’t changed much since they joined the flock. They fit right in, even bumming a few rides on the goats! They all pop their heads up when I visit and call them.

My little Fin - still a sprit spitfire and annoying little sibling! Likes to fly out of the pen to explore.

Squeak has almost reverse lacing (is that a thing??) with some gorgeous iridescent purple and teal coloring.

Sprite has gotten huge and has this beautiful copper and black coloring. Jury is still out on whether this is a pullet or a cockerel.

Dot is still quite the snuggler and kiddo was amazed that I could just let him perch on my shoulder and pet him until he fell asleep.

Clover is no longer the biggest, but has shown zero aggression towards me, the farmer, the kiddo, or any of the other chickens. Hopefully things will stay that way and the gentle giant title will stick.

Last up is Gerri, the little roadrunner. Definitely does not like to be held and way too fast to bother chasing. The toupee had me in stitches when it’s fluffed up.

All in all, I think this venture into flock fostering was a success! The chicks are happy, healthy, and growing.

 

[Cold-Blood]

Welcome to BYC!
#2 I'm not so sure about it being a silver laced Wyandotte. We have several baby SLW currently, I'll send photos if you want to compare
Also, they have rose combs.

 

[Foster_Mother_Hen]

Welcome to BYC!
#2 I'm not so sure about it being a silver laced Wyandotte. We have several baby SLW currently, I'll send photos if you want to compare
Also, they have rose combs.

Thanks, that would be great! At this point, the breeds are guesses. I don’t know what all his original flock had so there are little possibilities that I don’t know about

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

I have to share my foster flock story. I incubated, watched them hatch, and have come to love them. They got a taste of grass and sunshine for the first time yesterday, love dried mealworms, and are terrified of earthworms. They’ll be going to my friend’s farm in about 4 weeks, so I’ll be able to visit whenever I want!

From what I’m told, they could be any mix of the following: roosters are Amerucana, Silver Laced, hens are Asian black (though I would not be surprised if they are BSL after reading all of the comments on the store where they were purchased), Gold comet, and Plymouth Barred Rock.
They hatched between June 11 and 13.

View attachment 3168210
Dot was the first to hatch and still loves climbing on my hand for elevator rides. Named for the white dots on the head, chest, and wings at hatching. I believe it might be a Barred Rock roo.

View attachment 3168219
Clover hatched second and is my gentle giant. Clover is nearly twice the size of Fin. Will go after the others with no provocation one minute then settle down into my hand and take a nap the next. Best current guess is SLW roo.

View attachment 3168220
Gerri/Jerry if #3 and is so unbelievably shy. It takes lots of patience to wait for a visit. I’m nowhere near any guesses on breed, as this chick is totally unlike any in the flock. Possibly another roo.


View attachment 3168275
Sprite hatched 4th, super friendly, loves to fly up and hang out on my arm. I’m leaving towards Asian Black pullett.

View attachment 3168292
Squeak hatched soon after Sprite, and is a bit more standoffish. Will definitely fly up and snuggle when Sprite is roosting on my arm, and I’m thinking Asian Black roo.

Last but certainly not least….
View attachment 3168311
View attachment 3168299
Fin!! Started as a tough hatch that I had to help and almost didn’t make it through the first night. It l climbed into my hand that night and immediately calmed down to the point of sleep. Since then, Fin has been my buddy and loves to nap and snuggle in my hand, on my shoulder, and now on my head! I hope it’s a pullett mix between the Gold Comet hen and SLW rooster.

If you made it through, thanks!

Love Love Love! THanks for sharing all of that with the pics, thats great! They are all so lovely! AS well as the top of your head <3 Good luck everyone!

 

[T-R-O-U-B-L-E]

Hmm, what makes you come to those conclusions? Just curious, as I keep finding conflicting information regarding sex-linked traits.

Comb and wattles.