Pipd's Peeps 2014!

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Lightchick, how old are your babies again? Usually Silkies are hard to tell until they're 10 weeks old or older. I got Margie at about 15 weeks if I remember right, and even then I had some doubts--though that was because she beat the tar out of one of my confirmed cockerels not long after I got her! And that's why Marge's full name is Margaret Until Proven Otherwise. But there's no doubt now, of course.

I've rehomed very few cockerels because it's just so difficult finding someone that wants them. :/ Best of luck finding homes for your extra boys! Can't you keep any of them, or are you somewhere where boys aren't allowed?



ChickenChatten, glad you're enjoying reading about the babies! I've done a thread like this every year for the past three years. I just really like having the documentation of the babies as they grow, and my thoughts at the time. Sometimes I look back at them and laugh at what I was going through at the time--such as how convinced I was that Marge was a boy last year!

Anyway, what kinds of babies do you have? As the littles grow and grow, I'm always glad to see more pictures of itsy bitsy liddy biddy widdle babies!

Fingers crossed! I'm so tempted to candle them tonight, but not sure if that'd be a good idea! I already removed an egg that was cracked somehow, and when I broke it open the rest of the way, it was infertile. BUT, it was a bantam egg and I'm not sure whose. Po was really only interested in one bantam, Marge, so I grabbed eggs I thought were hers. I so, so hope I just happened to grab one that wasn't hers... We'll see tomorrow!

 

[lightchick]

My babies are 7 almost 8 weeks.

 

[ChickenChatten]

This is really such a good idea! I take individual pictures of my chicks each week and store them, I love seeing how they change!

I have 3 Salmon Faverolles, 3 Olive Eggers, and 3 Silver-Laced Cochins in my brooder this year! I'll post pictures of them on here later, if you like. I'm on mobile right now.

Any results from the candling yet?

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

It is quite amazing how much they change in a matter of weeks! Love the breeds you have picked out!


On the topic of the eggs... It doesn't look good. I've asked on my state thread about them because there are a few people there that incubate all the time, and I'm waiting on answers. I'll keep y'all posted here, but I don't think at this point that the eggs are fertile.

 

[ChickenChatten]

Aw, sorry to hear that! Do you plan on keeping the eggs incubated in case the candling went wrong?

 

[lightchick]

Aw too bad! I'd keep the eggs until I knew for sure.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

No worries, I do plan on letting Margie sit on them for at least a little while longer. I don't want to ruin any chance, no matter how slim, that there might be a chick in one of those eggs. When I candled them last night, all I saw were dark blobs like yolks, no evidence of veining or embryos in them. I got two responses when I asked about it on my state thread, one person saying that there should be veining by now, and another person saying they couldn't see anything when they candled their eggs at this point in the incubation but had chicks hatch from them anyway. So... I don't know what to think of that right now. But the point is, I'll let Margie sit until I'm absolutely sure nothing will come of the eggs beneath her, whether that means she sits for the full 21 days or not.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

And on to the main attraction--it's Sunday, and so the babies are another week older! The littles are 5 weeks, and the Legbar and Bielefelder are 6 weeks old! They recently started making the sound that always makes me melt because of the cuteness. I don't know if it's just me, but when I'm out with the hens, sometimes I hear them go, 'boooock-bock-bock'. Well, the babies are now making a similar noise, 'peeeeeep-peep-peep'. I just think that's the cutest thing ever.

Anyway, on to the little ones! Here's Elda the cuddler! Don't mind her stance, she was just about to hop up on my leg.

Kit-kit the not-so-little-anymore:

Georgie the possibly-male-but-hopefully-female:

Louise the stubborn French hen, who would not pose except while perched on my arm.

Mabey the Mabey-she-is-Mabey-he-isn't chick:

Poppy the bright-eyed:

And Violet the voracious:

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

While I was sitting with them, the babies settled into nap time. Wondering where the Dorkings are..?

On my lap, of course!

Dorkings are such cuddlers! Here's Elda during her cuddle time. Quite the menacing look!

Kit-kit's not as harsh about getting pictures taken during her cuddles.

As you can see, Elda (on the left) still isn't happy about sharing her cuddle time!

Everyone else is perfectly content. Preen time, apparently!

Mabey Mabel looking at the camera! I'm loving the blue baby eyes.

Poppy bright-eyes, meanwhile, has green eyes!

And to finish it off, here's Elda in my hand, content.

 

[ChickenChatten]

Ah, Dorkings seem so sweet! A few of my Jersey Giants last year were huge cuddlers, always hopping into my lap to fall asleep, and all the friendly ones turned out to be roosters!

Ack, it was very upsetting, but I had ordered a straight run, so I should've suspected...

None of this years chicks are too cuddly, a few are interested in potentially cuddling, but they won't go as far as to seek me out for affection specifically.

You seem to have a lot of breeds! I was wondering of you had a favorite? I'm trying to resist the urge to look for more chicks for next year, but I'm not sure I can!