Cackle Surprise Box - 2018 Identification
In March 2018 we made the decision to order our first ever chicks from a hatchery. I researched several hatcheries, checked reviews, compared prices, and decided our best option to start would be a surprise box from Cackle Hatchery. They guaranteed at least 40 live birds in an assortment of whatever was left over at the end of the day. It could contain all chickens, or it might have ducklings or turkey poults in it too. The price breakdown would mean they'd be a lot cheaper than buying individual breeds, and since we are new and learning, it means we're spending less if things go badly.
April 4, 2018 our chick box arrived at the local post office, and we went and picked them up. We received 54 chicks. No ducklings or turkeys, but a nice assortment of colors and varieties. We lost four chicks in the first four days, which left us with 50 chicks. This breaks down to $1.54 per chick ($76.95 for the box).
Here is a photo diary of the chicks we received as we work to identify them. In the future, if we decide to get another surprise box (or maybe you're here because you bought one too), this can be used as a reference.
April 4, 2018 our chick box arrived at the local post office, and we went and picked them up. We received 54 chicks. No ducklings or turkeys, but a nice assortment of colors and varieties. We lost four chicks in the first four days, which left us with 50 chicks. This breaks down to $1.54 per chick ($76.95 for the box).
Here is a photo diary of the chicks we received as we work to identify them. In the future, if we decide to get another surprise box (or maybe you're here because you bought one too), this can be used as a reference.
Chick #1 is black with white to yellow markings and feathered legs. It has little eyebrow marks, the beak is two colors, and it has cheek markings. I believe this one could be a French Black Marans (possibly a cockerel due to the comb above the beak).
Chick #2 is brown with chipmunk stripes, white chin, and clean legs. Appears to be the same breed as #30. Possibly a Brown Leghorn.
Chick #3 is a reddish brown with chipmunk stripes and clean legs. It appears to be the same breed as chick #7. Possibly a Brown Leghorn.
Chick #4 is solid yellow with no distinct markings and is feather footed. Possibly a French Wheaten Marans.
Chick #5 is yellow, slightly darker on the back, and feather footed. Possibly a French Wheaten Marans.
Chick #6 is black with white on it's head, under the chin, under the wings, and on the belly. It has feathered legs. Possibly a French Black Copper Marans. **This chick has been identified as a French Cuckoo Marans by SJP (thank you for the correction)!
Chick #7 appears to be the same breed as chick #3. It's a golden tan with red and yellow chipmunk stripes and a lighter chest patch. Smooth legs. Possibly a Speckled Sussex.
Chick #8 is black with white markings on the chest, wings, legs, and face. The beak has three colors on it, and it has feathered legs. This one is possibly a French Black Copper Marans.
Chick #9 is yellow, but has a fluffy head and darker eye patches. It is clean legged. I believe this one is a Buff Laced Polish.
Chick #10 is yellow - darker on the back and lighter on the face and underneath. Clean legged. This one is probably a Delaware or a Buff Orpington.
Chick #11 is black with a greyish white patch under the chin, under the wing, and on the belly. Feather legged. This one appears to have a comb already, so my initial thought is a rooster. I'm pretty sure this is a French Black Copper Marans.
Chick #13 is yellow, but is shaded on the back and sides. The beak is darker, and it has feathered feet. Likely a White Cochin (bantam?).
Chick #14 is black and yellow with an interesting face pattern. It has feathered legs. Possibly a Black Cochin.
Chick #15 is a mottled black and yellow, making it look grey across the back. The face is yellow, there's a black spot on the head, and clean legs. This one is possibly a Columbian Wyandotte.
Chick #16 looks similar to chick #15. It is grey to black with a yellow face and clean orange legs This one is possibly a Columbian Wyandotte.
Chick #18 is black and white with feathered legs. It has a lighter mark on the back of its head, under the chin, chest, tummy, and wings. At one week old, it appears to have green eye rims. Possibly a French Black Marans. **This chick has been identified as a French Cuckoo Marans by SJP (thank you for the correction)!
Chick #19 is pale yellow with two grey stripes down the back. Clean legged. Possibly a Columbian Rock.
Chick #20 is dark yellow to orange on the back and paler yellow in the front and underneath. Clean legs. Might be the same as chick #24. This is probably a Buff Orpington, but could be a Delaware.
Chick #21 is black and grey with white markings on the face, neck, wings, belly and legs. Feathered legs. Might be the same breed as #37. This may be a French Black Copper Marans.
Chick #22 is yellow with one tiny black dot on the back of the head. Feathered legs. Possibly a Light Brahma, or White Cochin.
Chick #23 is chipmunk marked with golden cheeks, white chest, a red stripe on the beak, and clean legs. This one could be a Barnevelder.
Chick #24 is yellow, darker on the back and lighter underneath, clean orange legs. This one might be the same breed as chick #20. This one is probably a Buff Orpington, but could also be a Delaware.
Chick #25 is chipmunk patterned, but is a dark red color. Gorgeous eye liner markings, lighter belly, clean legs. Possibly a Brown Leghorn or a Welsummer.
Chick #26 has a pseudo chipmunk marking with two black lines, but no lighter marks. The head and back stripe are a red color, with the rest of the body a golden color, and a pale yellow underside and wing line. Feathered legs. This may be a Partridge Cochin.
Chick #27 is blue on top and yellow underneath. It has an uneven facial marking and feathered legs. Possibly a Blue Cochin, or Splash Cochin.
Chick #28 is black and yellowish white with interesting facial markings and clean legs. The beak is black on top and pink underneath. This chick looks similar to #17. This is possibly a Black Australorp, or Birchen Standard Old English.
Chick #29 is red with faint black striping on the back. It's lighter around the face, and pale underneath. The beak is pink with a brown spot. Clean legged. Appears to be the same breed as #33, #39, and #44. I believe this one is a Rhode Island Red.
Chick #30 has chipmunk stripes. It's golden colored with a deep red stripe and eye markings. It's nearly white under the chin, and clean legged. Appears to be the same breed as #2. Possibly a Brown Leghorn, Welsummer, or Red Jungle Fowl.
Chick #31 is among the smallest in the lot. It has a chipmunk pattern, patterned wings, incomplete eye liner marking, and clean legs. Tiny and super fast! Possibly a Silver Duckwing Old English Bantam.
Chick #32 is yellow, feather footed, and has extra fuzzy wings. Possibly a Light Brahma or White Cochin.
Chick #33 is the same as chick #29, #39, and #44. Red, with yellow around the eyes, tan chest, clean legged, and faint black stripes down the back. I believe this one is a Rhode Island Red.
Chick #34 is black with a white chin, grey chest, head spot, and wing patch, and feathered legs. This one might be a cockerel (comb above beak). At one week old it appears to have green eye rims. Possibly a French Black Marans. **This chick has been identified as a French Cuckoo Marans by SJP (thank you for the correction)!
Chick #35 is golden red with a white chin patch and golden chest. Dark brown stripe and eye liner, dark marks over the beak that is multi-colored. Clean legged. Appears to be the same breed as #40. May be a Speckled Sussex?
Chick #36 is a pale yellow with a darker yellow shoulder patch. Feather footed. Possibly a French Wheaten Marans.
Chick #37 might be the same breed as #21. It's black with white to grey markings around the eyes, chin, chest, belly, and wings. Feather footed. This one may be a French Black Copper Marans.
Chick #38 may be the same breed as #2 and #30. Brown chick with chipmunk stripes, which chin, clean legs, darker shoulders. Possibly a Brown Leghorn or Red Jungle Fowl.
Chick #39 appears to be the same breed as #29, #33, and #44. Red, with a slightly paler face and chest, clean legged, brown spot on beak and faint black stripes down the back. I believe this one is a Rhode Island Red.
Chick #40 is the same breed as #35. Brown with a red chipmunk stripe pattern, dark nostril spots, a dark spot on the beak, clean legs, and a white chest and chin. I believe this is a Speckled Sussex.
Chick #43 is black and white with yellow markings. This one stands upright more than the other chicks. Black beak, clean legs. Interesting facial pattern. Possible Black Sumatra or Black Australorp.
Chick #44 is red, with lighter color around the eyes, a little black strip of eyeliner, and clean legs. It appears to be the same breed as #29, #33, and #39. I believe this one is a Rhode Island Red.
Chick #45 is black with brown wings and a red face. It has clean legs. It appears to be the same breed as #46. I believe this one is a Gold Spangled Appenzeller Spitzhauben.
Chick #46 is black to brown with a red face and clean legs. It appears to be the same breed as #45. I believe this one is a Gold Spangled Appenzeller Spitzhauben.
Chick #47 is brown with a dark stripe down the back. Feather footed. This chick is highly aggressive. On day 1 and 2 it was repeatedly attacking the goslings, which tower above the chicks and are several days older. It may be a Partridge Cochin.
Chick #48 is super friendly. The entire time I was trying to take photos, it as trying to jump into my son's lap to snuggle. This chick is black and yellow with speckled face and beak. Clean legs. This one is possibly a Black Australorp, or a Black Sumatra.
Chick #49 is another chipmunk marked, but this one is almost a wheaten color with a yellowish chest. Clean legged. Especially tiny, and fast moving. Possibly a Silver Druckwing Old English Bantam.
Chick #50 is black with white markings along the wings, under the chin, and under the belly. Black to brown beak and feather footed. Appears to be a cockerel. This one may be a French Black Copper Marans.
Chick #51 is yellow with feathered feet. Possibly a Light Brahma or White Cochin.
Chick #52 is black to blue with cream underneath. Markings on the face and beak and wing tips, and clean legs. This one is possibly a Black Australorp , or Birchen Standard Old English.
Chick #53 is a rusty red brown mottled with black. Chest, belly, and wing edges are grey. Legs are clean and orange. It does remind me of the brown faced chicks above, but this one has a pattern on it's back reminiscent of a faded chipmunk pattern. It does have interesting markings behind the eyes. I'm pretty sure this one is a Black Laced Red Wyandotte.
Chick #54 is yellow with feathered feet. This chick kept startling every time the camera would flash the red light just before taking a photo. It's jumpy! Possibly a Light Brahma, or White Cochin.