Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[ochochicas]

Dad is a barred rock and mom can either be barred rock, RIR, buff Orp or blue Langshan. I know it's not the greatest pic but does anyone have any guesses?



Brian

If you could get a better pic that would be great. It is not a barred rock and probably not an RIR. All the RIR crosses I've hatched have been solid dark yellow or red (not gray) and a barred rock chick would be black. I would guess Langshan, but don't they have feathered legs? Does your chick have clean or feathered legs?

 

[Ashley Stroud]

Morning all. Great news... We had our first hatched chick this morning.

Congrats! It's so cute! What a way to start your day!

 

[Farias1124]

If you could get a better pic that would be great.  It is not a barred rock and probably not an RIR.  All the RIR crosses I've hatched have been solid  dark yellow or red (not gray) and a barred rock chick would be black.    I would guess Langshan, but don't they have feathered legs?  Does your chick have clean or feathered legs?

That's a very good question! I'll have to take a look. I did go back and look at pictures of the Langshan when she was a chick and I'd say you're right but the feathered or clean feet will tell all. Chick #2 just hatched but again I'm not trying to cause mom or chicks any hassles right now. I'll give them a bit and look them over. Both seem to be identical.

Congrats! It's so cute! What a way to start your day!

Thanks! Will post more pics a little later today.



Obviously in my picture you guys can see I didn't put these guys in a incubator or brooder. I chose to hatch them with the rest of my flock. They should be fine right? "Mama" and my roo should take care of them and fend off any other girls from trying to harm them? Thanks everyone.

Brian

 

[Hinotori]

Quote:
Broody mamas are vicious. My silkies turn into satan if anyone threatens their chicks. I just leave them in with the flock normally.

 

[CarolynF]

Quote:
Broody mamas are vicious. My silkies turn into satan if anyone threatens their chicks. I just leave them in with the flock normally.

Some people will partition of the area where mamma and baby are so they don't get hassled by the others in the flock. Hinotori has lots of experience, so I'd follow her advise, and make changes only as needed. Super cute baby, have fun!

 

[Hinotori]

Some people will partition of the area where mamma and baby are so they don't get hassled by the others in the flock. Hinotori has lots of experience, so I'd follow her advise, and make changes only as needed. Super cute baby, have fun!

Thanks. With large fowl or just mean birds, I'd give mama and babies a separate area.

I think my flock is unusual. All the large birds are pretty easy going. I've never had issues just adding in new birds after their quarantine. I stuffed the blue silkie rooster and his New Hampshire girls in the main pen with the mixed flock and ameraucana rooster and there wasn't any picking or fighting. Now I know I couldn't have done that with most roosters, but these two are so laid back and the silkie was very subordinate to the ameraucana from the get go. I couldn't put the other silkies in there. The head silkie rooster leads his flock in bullying the large fowl to much. (Isn't that backwards?)

 

[MargaretYakoda]

Broody mamas are vicious. My silkies turn into satan if anyone threatens their chicks. I just leave them in with the flock normally. 

Yep. Our six month old Jersey Giants are scared spit less of our Orpington broody - and she's half their size.

 

[ochochicas]

My broody mommas were all very cooperative. Hatching with a broody is way easier than doing it with an incubator, so I don't blame you at all for doing it the natural way.

 

[Farias1124]

If you could get a better pic that would be great.  It is not a barred rock and probably not an RIR.  All the RIR crosses I've hatched have been solid  dark yellow or red (not gray) and a barred rock chick would be black.    I would guess Langshan, but don't they have feathered legs?  Does your chick have clean or feathered legs?

Well chick #1 has clean feet/legs. It's colors still make me agree with you that it's a Langshan. Is the feathered feet a dominant gene? Here's more terrible pictures of #1 and #2 that hatched about 10am. #2 is all black with a small white spot on it's head. Barred rock?

Chick #1 thought to be barred rock x blue Langshan.

Chick #2 I'm thinking full barred rock.

Should they be eating and drinking by now?

 

[ochochicas]

I would guess that you are right on the breeds. The leg feathering I think is a mixed bag. I have half faverolles that have heavily feathered legs. I have half marans chicks that have maybe 2 feathers on each leg.

The chicks can survive for up to 3 days without eating. However, food and water should be available to them starting now. You should have chick starter and a shallow water pan available to your hen. She will show the chicks how to eat and drink. The hens will crunch up food for the babies and cluck to them as she drops it on the ground. The chicks will come running and eat the food. It is really cute to watch! You can also join the broody hen thread and get a lot of good info there.