Every season I hatch a pile of babies to pluck the next season's breeding birds from. Once gender can be confirmed they get split up, the boys grown out together and sorted through as they mature based on the qualities and temperaments I'm after.
These two fellas graduated from the bachelor pad without a dinner invite, advancing to a group of lady friends!
This BIG guy is about 5 months old, a hybrid that's going to rule the roost in the Olive Egger pen next year. He's gained an assortment of ladies from blue to brown to olive layers, next year's hatches should be interesting out of that pen as the F1's make F2's.
He's been the best gentleman! Not being pushy, gentle wing dances, offerings of food while the girls play hard to get and flirt with him.
This guy was the best example out of all of the Blue Birchen Marans. Saw a lot of flopped over combs, weak color, too many or too few feathers on the feet. He got the body shape I'm after too, for dual purpose. He's trying to make friends with the girls but he's not figured it out yet. So he's been spending time watching the other roosters to see how they do it. Haha
When I first received our Birchen Marans I was a little dismayed to see they had come in Blue/Black/Splash, so I've just been pulling the blues in hopes of getting just that color over time. I have some work to do to get the neck color better on the hens.
The Marans ladies who don't quite make the cut for the purebred pen get moved over for my Olive Egger project.
My other "keeper" boys...
Black Copper Marans, only had 2 to pick from, this fella was better all around than the other, who was intent on flogging me so...
The Blue hen in with him along with 2 other mature hens aided in teaching him manners. Next those ladies will move in with the Blue cockerel to get him in line.
Mr Bresse, out of 5 roosters he had the best shape, growth and demeanor.
Bourbon Red tom gets another season, he's impressed me enough to stay on indefinitely! He's my buddy.
2 of 6 from the Narragansett boys will advance to next year. I pulled out the two who were the biggest with the most consistent color, not too light or too dark. One of them had some really pretty purple iridescence going on that made him stand out. Gotta get pictures of them in the sun!
Can't wait for next season!
These two fellas graduated from the bachelor pad without a dinner invite, advancing to a group of lady friends!
This BIG guy is about 5 months old, a hybrid that's going to rule the roost in the Olive Egger pen next year. He's gained an assortment of ladies from blue to brown to olive layers, next year's hatches should be interesting out of that pen as the F1's make F2's.
He's been the best gentleman! Not being pushy, gentle wing dances, offerings of food while the girls play hard to get and flirt with him.
This guy was the best example out of all of the Blue Birchen Marans. Saw a lot of flopped over combs, weak color, too many or too few feathers on the feet. He got the body shape I'm after too, for dual purpose. He's trying to make friends with the girls but he's not figured it out yet. So he's been spending time watching the other roosters to see how they do it. Haha
When I first received our Birchen Marans I was a little dismayed to see they had come in Blue/Black/Splash, so I've just been pulling the blues in hopes of getting just that color over time. I have some work to do to get the neck color better on the hens.
The Marans ladies who don't quite make the cut for the purebred pen get moved over for my Olive Egger project.
My other "keeper" boys...
Black Copper Marans, only had 2 to pick from, this fella was better all around than the other, who was intent on flogging me so...
The Blue hen in with him along with 2 other mature hens aided in teaching him manners. Next those ladies will move in with the Blue cockerel to get him in line.
Mr Bresse, out of 5 roosters he had the best shape, growth and demeanor.
Bourbon Red tom gets another season, he's impressed me enough to stay on indefinitely! He's my buddy.
2 of 6 from the Narragansett boys will advance to next year. I pulled out the two who were the biggest with the most consistent color, not too light or too dark. One of them had some really pretty purple iridescence going on that made him stand out. Gotta get pictures of them in the sun!
Can't wait for next season!
