out of 12 eggs I got.....

[walldanzig]

I bought 12 eggs from a fella from ebay. They where supposed to be all Rhode Island reds they hatched about 12 weeks ago. In them there was 2 light sussex 2 maran 2 black rocks and 6 rhode island reds. I don't mind that much but what a random mix. I emailed him and he apologized and offered me my money back I said it was o.k. I was quite intrigued to see how these guys work out. But what a mixed bag eh

[seasprout]

Its good for him you where ok with the result, I'd be concerned with his Bio-security if so much cross-contamintaion has happened.

Also he has broken the law under the sale of goods act. He could give breeders a bad name.
Hope it all works out for you.!

[davefromthechipie]

You have to give him a clap and you thinking about it 100% fertility next your tell us they are all hens :P

[Bramble-Poultry]

cool - i've had that a couple of times off ebay, purchased something and they have been a totally different bird - not really a problem except the one lot were a hatch to order!

But a 12 out of 12 hatch for ebay is excellent - with posted eggs it is normal to expect a 50% hatch rate.

Will be interesting to see what you get girls and boys - at least most of those make good table birds if they are boys! (or are they banties)

[walldanzig]

no they are all large fowl he was local so he dropped them off. He did offer to give me 12 more rir. I believe it was a genuine mistake his son had collected them from all the pens and mixed them up without thinking. I forgive him. I'm a bit undecided what my thoughts are on the black rock it's really small and looks like a wild bird my OH is convinced it's some sort of crow

[CoraxAurata]

hmm he should have been able to tell marans eggs from rir on sight! but woo hoo on the 100% hatch rate!

[walldanzig]

thinking about Corax so should I maybe they are crosses because all the eggs where various shades of brown but non so dark as to make me think that it could be different I will get some pictures of them all and see what you guys and gals think as I am a bit new to all this.

[bluemoon]

next your tell us they are all hens :P

I believe at least one of the Rhodies was a boy because he's currently living in our temporary house (that 'temporary' house has had an awful lot of use these past weeks) until he is old enough to stand up to our Rhodie girls. We picked him up at about 6 this evening and he's settled really well, though I think our perches must be a little higher than Waldanzig's as he's spent most of the evening practicing jumping on and off them...and it wasn't elegant! He's eaten, had a drink and had taken himself off to bed by the time we left the plot. He's a lovely, self-confident boy and his name is now Sir Samuel. (Flummery will understand)

[julesapple]

He's a lovely, self-confident boy and his name is now Sir Samuel. (Flummery will understand)

Vimes?

Jules

[walldanzig]

Hi Bluemoon he was from a different lot he's 100% Rodie I know the person I got the eggs from. That's right funny about the perches I can just see it now glad to here he is settling in. The perch in the hen hut isn't very high at all it was one I bought from ebay not best impressed with it. I have another one I am working on. Good luck with him i'm happy he has a good home with lots of ladies

[seasprout]

his name is now Sir Samuel. (Flummery will understand)

I've always prefered Captain Carrot Myself.

[walldanzig]

We have a silkie cockeral and today I asked my OH what shall we call him she said Silkie...Thats not the most original name ever but as he is the only one I am gonna stick with it

[Snadger]

...............................I'm a bit undecided what my thoughts are on the black rock it's really small and looks like a wild bird my OH is convinced it's some sort of crow

Are you sure it's not one of these...a black araucana? My neighbour has one and I keep expecting it to 'caw' like a crow!

[CoraxAurata]

I have to admit my couple of oldest cuckoo marans lay much lighter eggs than my blues and wheatens sometimes almost pink.... am hoping to breed the dark eggs back into the cuckoos but it may take a decade or two if I start with these girls.... so I'll probably not tell them we're eating all the eggs from those two

[bluemoon]

Vimes?

Jules

I've always prefered Captain Carrot Myself.

Yes, all our Rhodie girls are named after 'ladies of negotiable affection', so we thought they might need someone to keep them in line.

Seasprout, the next one is Carrot.

I have to say Waldanzig is a lovely bloke. We'd had a 'carp' day due to my mum's best friend getting the wrong end of the stick and informing me, within minutes of me waking up, that mum was being admitted to hospital. I managed to graze my nose on my specs in my haste to get dressed. We dashed off to see her, but it turns out it's only a possibility if she doesn't pick up in a few days. I stayed and made her lunch, but as my brother was about to grace her with his presence I decided I could leave her for the afternoon. When we got home the dog had been sick all over the dining room carpet. The car started making funny noises when we went shopping so now OH daren't use it until it's been looked at and we're now trying to do everything in the elderly Micra, which is useless, but to which we're emotionally attached - and I suppose it does come in handy sometimes. When I went back to mum's it seems that brother had stayed for precisely 30 minutes, (having driven for over 2 hours to get there) but had left her a 50 quid bouquet - she has a chest infection among other things, all that pollen is not good for her, but even so I felt really churlish moving it from her room.
Anyway then we went to Waldanzig's, saw his beautiful Silkie, which is the exact colours of a stormy sky, and afterwards spent the rest of the evening with our own chickens so I'm actually feeling quite relaxed now.
Aren't chickens brilliant?