Poor Hatch of Salmon Faverolles

[DrKatz]

I've raised a couple of different breeds of newborn chicks that I purchased from different hatcheries (e.g., Barred Rock, Easter Egger, Buff Orpington).
In June, however, I received word from an Ohio hatchery that only 14 of the 50 Salmon Faverolle pullets I ordered had actually hatched. I scrambled
(sorry about the pun) to pick some other type of pullet to fill out the order and eventually chose 16 Dominiques. This seemed to be a big mistake because
the Faverolle chicks seemed to be pecked a lot by the Dominiques, and unfortunately I found two Faverolle chicks dead within the first week.

Perhaps I was overly self-confident in my new skills at raising chicks, but I had not lost any chicks in the two previous springs. I really wanted to save the
remaining 12 Faverolles, so I separated them from the Dominiques. After a few days, both groups of chicks seemed to calm down and I have not had any more
chick fatalities.

Here's my question -- Are Salmon Faverolle eggs difficult to hatch? I have low expectations that one of the the 12 "survivor" Faverolles will be a roo, so I am
worried that I won't be able to build up a flock of Faverolles.

Any advice or comments would be appreciated.

 

[crtrlovr]

I don't have any personal experience with the faverolles, but I have heard comments from many people saying they are difficult to hatch and seem to have a somewhat higher "failure to thrive" or tendency to be a bit more fragile as chicks than some other breeds. Good luck with your babies; seems that separating was a very good move.

edited to add -- Lawd, Lawd! Where are my manners?!! A very warm "WELCOME" from western Kentucky!

 

[DrKatz]

Thank you for your response and good wishes for the chicks.

DrKatz
(psychotherapist turned chicken mother in Athens Co., Ohio)

P.S. Love your handle, BTW.