On a sunny afternoon in May, 2013, I drove to my mentor, Walt Leonard's house to pick up bantam eggs which he has collected for me to give to my 5 yr. old hen, Henny, who was very determined to brood eggs. In the past, I was able to change her mind about brooding; but, this time she was quite adamant about having her own chicks.
"I hope some of these eggs hatch for you. When they hatch, all will be tiny, look fragile but, don't worry; they will be surprisingly strong and vigorous" Walt said with his usual calm voice. I opened the lid of the egg carton and saw 10 beautiful tiny, little eggs. These were from top of the line, award winning birds, and one was a very special Ko Shamo egg which I wanted very much. I was quite taken by Ko Shamo breed, was looking forward to having a pair. Also, they would be the muses for some of my future paintings, and art work. I was beyond happy and very grateful.
Twenty days later, Rosebud, the tiny Ko Shamo hatched along with her clutch mates of: 1 Leghorn, 1 Nankin, and 4 Modern Game Bantams. Yes! all were surprisingly tiny. Well, actually, I shouldn't have been surprised because they had to fit into those tiny little eggs.. I was only familiar with Orpington chicks; needless to say: they were much, much smaller; looked very fragile which I was scared to handle them. I mean, they were the size of a cotton ball with needle thin, almost transparent pink legs and feet, and huge eyes. I sat by the nest box many long hours to get glimpse of the babies when they poked through their mother's feathers. Oh, yes! Henny was very happy, protective of her precious minute chicks, and raised them until they were almost 8 wks. old. They added endless joy into my life..
I was familiar with adult Ko Shamo appearance; but, not how they looked and behaved like until they reached adulthood. I was very disappointed not to be able to find photographs, detailed information on the internet. There are several good sites about the formal history, and color variations of Ko Shamo, but all are about mature adults. I wanted to see what they looked like, and behaved during different stages of their development, as well as get information about other techniques of caring for these very special tiny little birds who are deemed to be the National Treasure of Japan.
I have bred, and raised parrots for over 24 yrs. and found Ko Shamo to be as much, and in some cases to be more responsive and intelligent than the parrot species I have had.
I would like to dedicate this thread to all things Ko Shamo! To share photographs, stories, information about housing, breeding, and most of all, how to care and preserve these Magnificent, Intelligent birds Ko Shamo, with the fellow admirers, keepers and breeders.
Please do join me to share your stories, photographs, and all things Ko Shamo.
Lual Shannon
4 wk. old Rosebud, and 1 day old Shogun.
7wk old Rosebud, and 3wk. old Shogun(starting to develop his black male feathers)
Rosebud - 8wk. old, and her best friend Lilly- 8wk. old Leghorn Bantam. They were clutch mates who were definitely an interesting couple. They developed liking to perching on the fruit basket when ever given the chance. They love bananas but their beaks are not strong enough to go through the peel yet.
Rosebud with her clutch mates: elegant, friendly Modern Game Bantams & Nankin.
All the birds pictured above are Walt Leonard-fowlman01, birds.
"I hope some of these eggs hatch for you. When they hatch, all will be tiny, look fragile but, don't worry; they will be surprisingly strong and vigorous" Walt said with his usual calm voice. I opened the lid of the egg carton and saw 10 beautiful tiny, little eggs. These were from top of the line, award winning birds, and one was a very special Ko Shamo egg which I wanted very much. I was quite taken by Ko Shamo breed, was looking forward to having a pair. Also, they would be the muses for some of my future paintings, and art work. I was beyond happy and very grateful.
Twenty days later, Rosebud, the tiny Ko Shamo hatched along with her clutch mates of: 1 Leghorn, 1 Nankin, and 4 Modern Game Bantams. Yes! all were surprisingly tiny. Well, actually, I shouldn't have been surprised because they had to fit into those tiny little eggs.. I was only familiar with Orpington chicks; needless to say: they were much, much smaller; looked very fragile which I was scared to handle them. I mean, they were the size of a cotton ball with needle thin, almost transparent pink legs and feet, and huge eyes. I sat by the nest box many long hours to get glimpse of the babies when they poked through their mother's feathers. Oh, yes! Henny was very happy, protective of her precious minute chicks, and raised them until they were almost 8 wks. old. They added endless joy into my life..
I was familiar with adult Ko Shamo appearance; but, not how they looked and behaved like until they reached adulthood. I was very disappointed not to be able to find photographs, detailed information on the internet. There are several good sites about the formal history, and color variations of Ko Shamo, but all are about mature adults. I wanted to see what they looked like, and behaved during different stages of their development, as well as get information about other techniques of caring for these very special tiny little birds who are deemed to be the National Treasure of Japan.
I have bred, and raised parrots for over 24 yrs. and found Ko Shamo to be as much, and in some cases to be more responsive and intelligent than the parrot species I have had.
I would like to dedicate this thread to all things Ko Shamo! To share photographs, stories, information about housing, breeding, and most of all, how to care and preserve these Magnificent, Intelligent birds Ko Shamo, with the fellow admirers, keepers and breeders.
Please do join me to share your stories, photographs, and all things Ko Shamo.
Lual Shannon
4 wk. old Rosebud, and 1 day old Shogun.
7wk old Rosebud, and 3wk. old Shogun(starting to develop his black male feathers)
Rosebud - 8wk. old, and her best friend Lilly- 8wk. old Leghorn Bantam. They were clutch mates who were definitely an interesting couple. They developed liking to perching on the fruit basket when ever given the chance. They love bananas but their beaks are not strong enough to go through the peel yet.
Rosebud with her clutch mates: elegant, friendly Modern Game Bantams & Nankin.
All the birds pictured above are Walt Leonard-fowlman01, birds.
