What can I learn from this outcome??? Pics - One ODD CHICK!

[DawnSuiter]

I did.. I collected around 3 dozen eggs and put them in the incubator.
Only 1 was developing at day 7 and the same one is hatching RIGHT NOW

I am doing every little spirit dance I can in hopes that it pops out black like the other... this time I made SURE that the black orpingtons on the property were 3 pens AWAY

 

[Krys109uk]

Goodness, only 1 out of 36. That's not good. Wonder what's happening there then. He wasn't with a lot of females was he? I had a lot of trouble getting fertile eggs off a rather bulky mottled male this year. I wondered whether he was falling off.

I started to get fertile eggs when I took most of the females out.

 

[DawnSuiter]

Quote:
He only had 2 girls, he likes one more than the other, neither girl likes him

but I guess his IS fertile... sort of

I've sold him & the two gold lace wyandottes. I really don't have room to keep everyone, they are going to a home not far from here. They are moving next week.

 

[Krys109uk]

So little chick is hatching out as we write? Do let us know what colour it is when it hatches.

Have you got any pics of the other chicks, the expected gold chicks? I'm curious to see how they've feathered up.

 

[DawnSuiter]

Yes the little chick has pipped the shell, I think he or she is taking a rest now before the zipping starts. Yes, very excited and will update you for sure.

I will try to go take some better photos of the others now

 

[DawnSuiter]

Ok here's a recap

Made these chickens.. straight combs, showing almost NO markings

and potentially this one too

Made these chickens.. all rose comb showing varied neck & tail markings...cockerel example

and the pullets

Almost everyone...

 

[deerman]

One thing to remember, hen can be fertile from a rooster for up to 3 weeks, that maybe why the black chick!!

 

[DawnSuiter]

Quote:
Yes we've discussed that already.
The hens were with the rooster for almost 2 months before the eggs were collected (prior rooster was blue). After they were collected she was put in with a buff orpington rooster and those first couple of days I grabbed her eggs anyway. The dark chick hatched from the 2 eggs collected her first couple days with the new buff orpington rooster.

added..
you know.. if his "siblings" had hatched with rose combs, I would've believed straight away that he was the product of accidental mating through the wire or some unseen or unknown pen breach... but they too have straight combs...so I know the rooster carries the straight comb. But the dark color & legs... the LEGS! How could a yellow legged & white legged chicken have produced a slate? That seems to be the last frontier for proving conclusively one way or the other where he came from. I do not know enough yet about it, but am continuing what I can in the way of research.

another addition..
in the end, I will probably not be able to use him in my project because of his questionable parentage. I just want that to be clear to everyone. I am in the midst of feeling the "project criticism" that always inevitably happens in these situations. Lets all just remember please that I'm doing this for my own satisfaction at this time, because I want to see lovely orpington type chickens with the gold lace plumage. It is not my intention to offend anyone, and I will carry on as I have, trying to learn more so I can do a better job. That is in my nature, rest assured.

 

[DawnSuiter]

Quote:
It's buff with black markings on the head...

I guess I will just have to proceed as if they dark chick is NOT who I thought he was, and exclude him from the program.

 

[lildinkem]

To everyone here, there is no better Buff Orpington Breeder on this entire site. I am proudly in line for some of her birds, when she has them ready. IF anyone should be making a new Orp color in this country, they should only be so lucky to have such a nice type Orps to start with. Dawn you keep doing what your doing. You don't need to justify what you do to anyone.
And let Steve play with some of those gorgeous girls, I want some.