Red Partridge Orpington informational hatch thread

[K0k0shka]

The broody's babies finally agreed to follow her outside, on day 3 of the barrier coming down. Nice sunny day today, perfect for playing outside. They are still very timid and don't want to copy what she shows them, like dust bathing. The chicks in the brooder have been dust-bathing for days now, without anybody showing them, but the broody's chicks don't do much even when their mom is actively showing them. I'm very surprised by this, though it's been a very long time since I last observed a broody with chicks, so I don't remember much.

She's showing them everything though, even brought them to eat with the aunties (this is the wet mash I make for them because it's their favorite; the chicks still have their chick feeder and waterer with regular stuff).

She tried to dust bathe with one of the chicks, but all it did was try to shove itself between her feathers the whole time:

The dust bath is pretty deep (to keep the dust in), so I got worried that it wouldn't be able to climb back out, but by the time I went to get more bricks to make steps, it had already come out of there somehow. I still made a couple of steps up on the inside though.


The aunties are a little curious, but I haven't seen them make contact with the chicks yet at all, or make any kind of moves towards them. The yellow ones are very fearful of the broody and will run away screaming if she comes close

Enjoying some sunshine:

So far integration is going very well! I'm happy and relieved.

 

[K0k0shka]

Aaaaand this is why I don’t do poop boards. Eeeeew!!! This is just 2 days, from 4 butts. It was a temporary setup and now that I don't need the partition anymore, I took the crate out and moved the feeder back away from the roosts. The pine shavings can take care of the rest until September, when I'll be doing my next cleaning.

 

[K0k0shka]

UPDATE: The partridges are 10 days old now, and growing and developing slower than the mixed breed chicks, even when I adjust for the small age difference of a couple of days. But last year my one partridge was the runt of the brood, too, so maybe they are just slower growing. Which I like, actually, because they can stay at the cute fuzzy baby stage longer Their wings are coming in, all looking different. I hope they still get the partridge pattern eventually, despite their individual differences...

@Caitiemc88 how are the cousins doing?

 

[Caitiemc88]

Here’s the cousins the right which was the lighter one appears male the darker on now looking lighter appear female the little guy in the corner is a crele baby unrelated

 

[Caitiemc88]

Here’s the cousins the lighter one appears male the darker on now looking lighter appear female the little guy in the corner is a crele baby unrelated

Also you claimed to have some without chipmunk markings I’m wondering if they are the blue Partridge. Neither of mine are blue. They seem to be feathering out correctly. I would guess only one pullet in there tho, the reddish one at the top.

 

[K0k0shka]

Here’s the cousins the right which was the lighter one appears male the darker on now looking lighter appear female the little guy in the corner is a crele baby unrelated

Awww they are so cute! I agree, the one on the right looks male, and the one on the left looks female. Combs, but also the feather pattern. The boys have a lot of black and the pattern looks mottled and uneven, vs. the girls are more uniformly patterned throughout.

Here's a picture of my partridge orp from Papa's from last year, at around the same age. He ended up a boy - my only one, and the reason for this year's hatch:

 

[K0k0shka]

Also you claimed to have some without chipmunk markings I’m wondering if they are the blue Partridge. Neither of mine are blue. They seem to be feathering out correctly. I would guess only one pullet in there tho, the reddish one at the top.

I only ordered red partridge, so there shouldn't be any blue in there... But he said he's out-crossing to other colors to improve genetic diversity though, so I'm guessing that explains the inconsistency. Blue partridges should be chipmunked when young, too, anyway.

I'm still holding out hope for more females... Because the chipmunk pattern is so inconsistent, I'm wondering if the rest of the pattern would be as well, and how much I can rely on it for sexing? I want to see more feathers first anyway.

 

[K0k0shka]

There are no appetite problems in this house!

@aart this reminds me of your comment from last year

 

[aart]

@aart this reminds me of your comment from last year

Something about a full lunch bucket?

 

[K0k0shka]

Something about a full lunch bucket?

No shortage of groceries in the house, or something along those lines, I think It is interesting to note that the mixed breed chicks are bigger and certainly eat well, but don't show such exaggerated crops. It's mostly my partridges that look over-stuffed. I hope they don't end up like their buddy from last year, the one lone partridge who ate himself to death and who is the reason I'm doing this again this year