So, last McMurray order arrived this morning. Post office didn't call this time. And tracking showed the chicks still in Anchorage.
But timing wise, I was thinking they would be there in Homer waiting for me. So, I showed up at the back Post Office door at 5:45, and yep, chicks.
1 was DOA, one had an odd neck thing. Didn't look like star gazing... but probably that or related.... eh... so helped that one pass.
I got a number of breeds...
I ordered: all sexed female except where noted:
2 black copper Marans
4 pearl white Leghorn
4 Speckled Sussex
4 Buff Orpingtons
6 male rose comb brown Leghorns
The DOA was a Sussex, the funky neck was an Orpington.
I have maybe 2 or 3 more (2 of the male Leghorn and 1 more Sussex) that look a bit iffy. And 1 of the remaining Orpington looks good, but stupidly isn't eating as much a the others... doesn't yet have a full crop.
And... this is my third time with the pearl white Leghorns. I used to breed Leghorns, and tried out a number of different lines of Leghorns. The point being, I am not new to the breed.
And good grief! I got frustrated with the 4 in this batch, and put them in their own box!!! This is why people cut your beaks off!
They keep trying to peck the eyes out of the other chicks! I sat there for awhile, getting them to drink water every time they tried to peck eyes... their crops are full....
Whatever, crazy cannibalistic chickens. They are now in their very own box. I will wait a few days, until everyone is good and peppy, and then reintroduce then.
Or, hummmmm, maybe a should wait 3 days and then put them in with the 2 week old Chanteclers. That might be a better fit.
