Yesterday I told you all about the new breed of chicks I got, now today you get to see for yourself that they do indeed exist (in case the video didn't convince you).
I would like to introduce you to my 4 Black Copper Marans chicks. (although one of them may be a Black Copper Marans/Lavender Orpington cross).
I won't be naming the chicks until they've developed a bit of a personality. If I were a parent I would wait until my child was the age of 5 before I named them. Until that point I'd call them Whiskerbuttons and carry them around in a bowling bag.
Here they are ... my new chicks.
Notice the furry/feathery legs. I love those little feathery legs. I could just eat em. And in fact have on occasion.
That's the actual shell this chick hatched out of. We recreated the moment for you through the magic of photography and a particularly slow afternoon.
I have high hopes that this one is a gal. Rumour has it that the boy Marans get their tail feathers more slowly than the hens. And this one started sprouting tail feathers almost immediately out of the shell. That would mean I have at least one girl in this group of 4.
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Below you can see the actual shells my chicks hatched out of. The woman I bought the chicks from gave them to me. So I can expect my chickens to lay this colour egg or darker, or lighter. It's a crapshoot really.
These eggs came from the middle of her hens' laying cycle which means they're lighter than they are at the beginning of the laying cycle. They're a fairly dark egg and because the rooster also came from a dark egg, chances are I too well get nice dark eggs.
You can see the brown egg that I normally get from my one brown egg layer (Walnut). It's more pink than brown really.
So once I get to add the Marans eggs into the mix in 6 or 7 months I will have a mixture of eggs that look like this.
From left to right these eggs come from Walnut, (my soon to be Marans), Cuddles and Cheez Whiz. You can see how the Marans egg is shiny compared to the other, more flat looking eggs.
That's it for the chicken coverage for this week, but I'll of course be posting photos, videos and updates in the weeks to come.
If I have time that is. Watching baby chicks romp and sleep is awfully time consuming.
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jeannie B
So cute! They look like tiny Muppets. "Bwok, Bwok, Bwok, Bwok!"
Ruth
I'm waiting around for someone to eat one of my strays so I can figure out who the owner is.... I suddenly have the urge to strike a deal for the next set of baby chicks now that they no longer seem as 'common' as they did last week....
My son and I have been having the chicken conversation, because they seem to be the most useful pet we could think of (Dogs don't lay eggs, and we don't want their poop in our compost.) Of course, there's the little issue of a coop.... hmmm
Jake
That's it, I'm never, ever going to eat eggs or chicken again (along with beef,lamb and fugly fish) that leaves pork. Thank god pigs are not really all that cute or I may starve.
kelli
Guess what? Chicken butt.
they are adorable, and those little furry legs - squeee!
I think Whiskerbuttons is a 'do' - the perfect name for the fluffiest one of all.
LazySusan
Adorable! What cute little fluffer butts!
Jan In Waterdown
hmmmm, so I'm guessing the folks who invented "eggshell" finish paint didn't know about those shiny ones eh?
Kim from Milwaukee
Fuzzy butts fuzzy butts!! Give me more fuzzy butts!
Dagmar
Awwwwwe. The one in the 9th photo looks like it has a little heart shaped feather-birth mark. Cute, cute, and cutest. So how many grown ups now, and how many new chicks? Sorry I can't keep up? But I do admit that the first day when you put the video up, and I passed out watching it over and over again - when I came to at 3:13 am I actually googled what kind of chicks you got, because I was dying to know more. Is that cheating, or am I just over zealous ? Judge for yourself. Congratulations mamma, would you like anything for a push present?
susan w
The little furry/feathery leggins are awfully cute but the chickie butts are cuter.
Only after writing this, do I see that many share that feeling for for the little fluffy bums.
very pretty little birds.
Maryanne
FUZZY BOTTOMS!!!!! Your chick pics were a great way to start the day - a guaranteed smile :) I look forward to hearing about your/their adventures.
Terri
so precious :)
Melissa in North Carolina
What a wonderful way to start my day...with lots of fluffy bums and furry legs! LOVE them babies!!! I know you are having tons of fun with your new babies. Enjoy!
Tigersmom
Holy crap! When they bend over, they have fluffy white heart-shaped butts! So, what your saying is you want a girl with a heart-shaped ass. (Bonus points if you get the reference.)
The one you have high hopes for not only has tail feathers, but wing ones, too. She must be an early bloomer!
Sorry, I haven't had enough coffee yet to be able to resist making a chicken pun.
Your babies are beautiful.
Kathy
Very fashionable! They look like they are wearing skinny jeans or leggings, you pick! Cute!
judy
Very FIRST Rule of displaying cute adorable entrancing wee things is DO NOT mention the tastiness of their body parts! I was going to have grilled chicken today and now I have to overcome the Darling versus delicious syndrome. Shouldn't take more than two days max! Me loves Chicken........................Also eggs& Bacon. Love your blog-one of the Best.
Karen
Thanks Judy! And if you think that's hard, try BBQing while staring directly at a fluffy, live chicken. ~ karen!
Kipley
I just got 2 new chix to add to my flock of 2... introducing the babies to the adults is a bit of a challenge. They are all together now and the pecking order is being established without too much kerfuffle.
Su
thanks for letting those of us who cannot have chicks live vicariously thru you and yours.... sigh
marilyn
i love their little bums..will the eggs taste different
Karen
They should taste the same as my other fresh eggs. Although the woman who I got them friend has a friend who swears the Marans eggs are better. ~ karen
Ruth
There you go... my strays may not be mutts after all. Every JA citizen knows that
'common fowl'Marans eggs are the tastiest, and yolks could pass as orange in colour. Some regard that as a testament to the benefits of having them roam free, but I think it may just be a breed thing.I'm sure you know I'll be watching all your chicken-related posts with interest from here on in..... as if I wasn't already doing that. :-D
Suanne
What cuties! I've pseudo named them (for my purposes....I'm anxiously waiting to see who they REALLY are!)........
Eeny, Meany, Miney & Moe. :)
jainegayer
They are adorable!! What is the average life span of a hen?
Karen
Anywhere from 3 days to over 10 years! ~ karen