Utah! - Page 980

Ugh, I'm sorry it didn't make it on. I ended feeding the calves during the broadcast, so I figured I'd missed it.

 

Whittni, yeah, I gotta admit, that showgirl is not a pretty bird. Poor thing.

 

Sundance, shhhhhhhh. I don't need to hear that there's two left!  I've heard that method of sexing. Some people swear by it, some people say it's not accurate. We'll have to do a few experiments next spring and see what we think.

Interesting you say that about these chicks.  They look just like FBCM..only with puffy cheeks!  Two have that white dot right in front of their eyes like the Marans, and they don't have a hint of green in their legs or feet, not even on the bottom, which is where you usually will find the hidden green in an EE.  Yep, the dad is a Marans, and the hen an EE.  I know they are just black, but I am loving these black colors.  They are sooo black, not the dull black, but real dark.  So pretty.  And, their temperaments are so laid back!  I haven't seen chicks this calm in a very long time.  I pick them up, they look at me like they are thinking...purty aren't I?   lol.  Oh, and a couple already have a hint of red brown tint on top of the head..so, I'm thinking they will have the red go down the neck.  So these babies will either lay the green egg, or the dark brown.  I know which one I am keeping already.  :)  

 

So tomorrow, off to Hectors to get little Fanny and her baby.  Looks to be a splash ameraucana from my last hatch. I had given him a few eggs for the double sitters a while back.  This is one that Fanny the little cochin has.  She's a great mom.

Sphinx, yup that was the same singer. Awesome, sounds just like the original one really!

Cynthia, loving your chicks. I have to laugh because I have soooo many black pullets, I did not mean for it to be that way, but there really IS something about the little black babies, I just love the way they look. These are certainly adorable! And hoping youget your olive egg this time!

Sundance, thanks for the compliment to this old gal Glad you have found homes for most of the d 'uccles!

Iain, crossing fingers the message still runs

Whittni, your showgirl hen--if I did not know they were supposed to look that way I would think that looks like one beatup chicken missing all those feathers lol! Is she a good layer? Let me know what size/color your eggs are, I am excited to see what I get with mine but it will be a ways off.

She lays small cream eggs but is going into a molt, hence the ugly coming on  I haven't even been able to name her because of this. I got her on August 1st. 

(here's that pic again for anyone who missed it)

 

How about Ursula ! I almost named mine that, then we decided on Maynard after the "bachelorette" haha

I think one of my barnvelders started to lay today.  This egg looks like a first effort is small like a pullet and is dark in places like i'm told barnvelders eggs look.  I noticed this morning she had developed a dark pink comb not dark red but still possible.  Egg with it is a normal size egg,  It is noticeably bigger

Tell him I have room if he needs to place the other mom and baby

Hey Birdguy I am coming to Idaho on the Sat Aug 18th. You want a free Black Ameraucana Roo if I cannot find someone here to take him? He is going to start crowing anyday, I better get somewhere lined up to take him. Free dinner (if it must be!) if he grows a bit more? He came from blue eggs. Also, my delaware is still hanging in there as a female, I can't believe how red she was early on though!

Anyone needing chicken shuttling from Logan to Idaho or from Idaho to Logan.....planning on going only to Blackfoot this time unless I need to take my roo to IF. My sister's wedding reception is that day in BF.
Edited by La Casa de Pollo - 8/5/12 at 11:27am

La Casa--I hope you find a very good home for your roo. I would hate to see some true Ameraucana breeding be lost & hope it doesn't have to be. It is taking a lot of pulling together to get true Ameraucanas established in this area (northern Utah). I understand, of course, that sometimes it's particularly hard to find places for the roosters, though.

 

I always try to help other chicken owners be aware of the distinctions between Ameraucanas and Easter Eggers, to hopefully stir enthusiasm in maintaining the selective breeding that can bolster a strong genetic base for this breed.

 

I have posted a new page on www.PoultryPedia.com related to that effort. It was inspired by trying to help decrease confusion about classing chickens as Ameraucanas or Easter Eggers, but ended up broader--"How to tell a chicken's breed". It leads in with the disorienting, little-realized fact

 "We cannot say any chicken is 'purebred'."

Edited by SpeckledHills - 8/5/12 at 12:53pm

Chiko--I just saw your post about your difficult news. I hope you will find comfort during all that.

Is there any other place nearby (a friend's or something?) where you could still 'chicken visit' from time to time?

 

I had to rehome all my chickens about three years ago. It was very, very sad, but I felt it was the right thing for that time. I was able to live a couple months after with someone else who had chickens, & then board a horse at a place that had lots of chickens. Those opportunities helped a good deal, though it wasn't the same as having regular interactions with individual birds of mine.

Gratefully, I was able last year to get back 3 of the chickens I owned before (& here's another THANKS!  to henthusiast for letting me have Pioneer back!). Sadly, my two hens came back (from a different home) having deeply entrenched cases of CRD, which Pioneer caught, & I'm busy pretty constantly giving them various treatments.

 

Based on my experience, as much as you have opportunity, I would try to seek for homes where it seems the chickens will consistently have good care, irrespective of sales price or other pressures. Money will work out in the long run.

 

I respect all the good care & attention I know you've given to your chickens! You are a true chicken lover.