THEY HAVE SHIPPED!

[backyardflock1]

I was only thinking about the 3 chicks, because Cochins especially, australorps, and orphington are known to be nice. I have a buff orphington and she is the alpha hen, she comes to you but doesn't like to be touched. Anyone have any experiences with these, and do you think these breeds are the ones you'd choose for friendly birds? Thanks

 

[ChickMom5711]

Chickmom sorry to hear about your wyandotte.  I know first hand how sad it is to watch them not growing like the others do.  The cross beak I had I finally put down at about 3 weeks of age, she was about half the size of her siblings.  There is hope though you can always tube feed or help them eat.  Your babies are absolutely adorable.  If you get the chance could you post a couple pictures of your roos?  I always like seeing the color varieties on the EEs and roos can be absolutely gorgeous.  Backyardflock, trust me you are not crazy.  I have been browsing meyers recently thinking if I just had the money I would order some more too, well the money and space.  Hopefully next year I'm going to take an adventure into raising my own turkeys for thanksgiving.  So go ahead and order those three chickens.  And make sure you post pictures when you get them.

I'm pretty bummed about her. She isn't doing well and isn't taking any hand feeding either. :/ I'd be happy to show you my Roos!
This is my big guy, Andy.

This is my little Blue guy, Mickey. Not a great picture, but you get to see his color. He is beautiful! I've never been able to call a Roo so quick! His comb and waddle was in at 3 weeks and were red by 5 weeks!

Is your Wyandotte eating?    I think she has a chance.  Someone on the forum had a chick hatch with a crossed beak and only one eye and that chick actually was doing pretty well!   

She's pretty bad. Not wanting to eat or drink on or own to by tube. I'm so sad for her!

 

[SMonroe1990]

Chickmom your roos are absolutely gorgeous especially Andy. If it helps any with the cross beak I had, I had my husband hold her and I used a syringe to pump in a liquid food for her that I made out of chick feed, water, and some yogurt. I wish I had caught mine sooner because if I had she might have been able to make it. I would just use my finger to open her beak a bit and then squirt a bit of food in there and she usually tried to fight me but she still gobbled it up once she realized it was food. She also seemed to be able to eat a bit of mash in a bowl, I would just put her in her own box and she seemed to get a little bit of that. I am really sorry that you have to go through this, it's tough.

Backyardflock I have an australorp now and she is one of my skittish ones at the moment, but I work strange hours and haven't been able to spend as much time with these girls. Honestly my golden buff is one of the only ones that lets me pick her up without making it seem like I'm killing her. My golden buff and silver laced wyandotte are the first to come over to my hand and peck the feed out when I put my hand in there. I think it all depends on how much time you spend with your birds. I have heard good things about orpingtons though and originally they were what I wanted for my flock, but I got started late this year and didn't know about ordering offline until after I already had my EEs. But get them and then come back and update us on how they are and what their personalities are like.

 

[ChickMom5711]

Chickmom your roos are absolutely gorgeous especially Andy.  If it helps any with the cross beak I had, I had my husband hold her and I used a syringe to pump in a liquid food for her that I made out of chick feed, water, and some yogurt.  I wish I had caught mine sooner because if I had she might have been able to make it.  I would just use my finger to open her beak a bit and then squirt a bit of food in there and she usually tried to fight me but she still gobbled it up once she realized it was food.  She also seemed to be able to eat a bit of mash in a bowl, I would just put her in her own box and she seemed to get a little bit of that.  I am really sorry that you have to go through this, it's tough.

Backyardflock I have an australorp now and she is one of my skittish ones at the moment, but I work strange hours and haven't been able to spend as much time with these girls.  Honestly my golden buff is one of the only ones that lets me pick her up without making it seem like I'm killing her.  My golden buff and silver laced wyandotte are the first to come over to my hand and peck the feed out when I put my hand in there.  I think it all depends on how much time you spend with your birds.  I have heard good things about orpingtons though and originally they were what I wanted for my flock, but I got started late this year and didn't know about ordering offline until after I already had my EEs.  But get them and then come back and update us on how they are and what their personalities are like.

Thank you! Love all my chicken babies!

I can help with the Orpington review! I have 8 lovely ladies that just started laying! They are such gentle, sweet chicks! They didn't mind me picking them up and even looked forward to me doing it after a while! They are quite nosey and curious. I did some pretty extensive reaearch on breeds before I started my flock and decided in the buffs specifically for their temperament and cold hardiness. They tend to bully my Americauna babies, but I suppose that's normal. They take very well under my Roo, Andy, who I didn't get until they were around 12 weeks. I do not regret my decision! They are super sweet girls and I highly recommend them for any flock!

 

[backyardflock1]

Well, I'm back home after the vacation, and the chicks have grown a bit lol. I will post a pic tomorrow of them. I just cleaned their brooder and am tired. I think I've decided to wait a couple months before getting any more chicks, I need to spend quality time with the chicks I have . Some sad news though, we found our guinea pig, tennison, dead. We are very sad and don't know what happened, we might get an autopsy. We adopted him less than a month ago, the people said they cured him of a respiratory infection and that he was a little older now. the last pics I got of him was him with the baby chicks a couple days ago and I posted that on here. I will get a Cochin, orphington, and possibly a Australorp. Thanks and I'll post pic of chicks in the morning

 

[Jacqdiva]

I was only thinking about the 3 chicks, because Cochins especially, australorps, and orphington are known to be nice. I have a buff orphington and she is the alpha hen, she comes to you but doesn't like to be touched. Anyone have any experiences with these, and do you think these breeds are the ones you'd choose for friendly birds? Thanks

I have Australorps and Orpingtons. My Australorps are hens and came to me as mature birds one is shy but feeds at hand. The other is cheeky and has become my little stalker. I have a blue orpinton trio and Orlando my roo is an absolute gent. He saw a baby crying on the floor and ran to it. I was concerned he might peck it but he offered it a lettuce leaf lying nearby. Theory are very friendly and comfortable with me and follow me everywhere. One of my girls pearl jumps up on my lap. However they don't like being picked up as they are just too big I guess. It feels clumsy too, to pick them up as they are so large. Hope this helps. love them and recommend the breed highly!

 

[Teila]

Hi

I have just read the 27 pages and posts. I thought waiting 3 weeks for eggs to hatch under a broody was both stressful and exciting but you guys and gals had me perched on the edge of my seat!

I know it was 3 weeks ago, but I had to read the whole thread to see how they were all doing.

Congratulations to you all! All your beautiful pictures and joy at having your little ones has reminded me just what a wonderful experience it is. While I love my gals to bits, I now can't wait for my next broody who I will, of course, have to give into and buy her some fertile eggs

 

[SMonroe1990]

Backyardflock sorry to hear about tennison. I always hate finding dead pets, it's so heart breaking. Whatever was his cause of death, just remember you gave him a wonderful home and he is no longer suffering.

Teila when you decide to hatch out more eggs, or if you have baby chicks now feel free to post pictures. I love seeing all these chick pictures.

 

[backyardflock1]

It's funny broody hens came up this morning because my sister who was watching the pets while we were gone didn't take any eggs. Our orphington and our light brahma are broody- definitely the orphington more so. Buffy the orphington was sitting on 3 eggs but when lily the light brahma got up to eat Buffy went and is sitting on around 15 eggs now. Tbh we can't have that many chickens at this time lol, we have chicks in the brooder. I might buy some fertile eggs of certain breeds I want for her to try, I'll look to see if chicks or eggs are less expensive. And tennison was so good, he sat in your lap to watch tv or whatever you wanted to do, so it was sad to come home to see him like that. Thanks for the reviews of breeds and support for the loss of tennison.

 

[SMonroe1990]

Backyardflock when you decide what you are doing let us know. I'm still in the process of trying to get my DH to build me a second bigger coop next year so I can get more chickens and then raise turkeys and I swear if I had a pond in my backyard I would raise ducks also.