Frizzle, yep those look like young rooster cochins in the older juvenile stage. Females have an almost non existent comb. They are a little lanky but they go through a stage like that if they are going to be a big bird. The other suspected rooster is certainly acting like one. Not good news I suppose. Sorry!
Hey Danz-How's the little GP momma? Is she showing any signs yet?
Our two are out having a heyday this morning. They love this cold weather. They were running through the yard and of course the guineas thought they were going to get eaten so they raised a ruckus and got the dachshund (the chicken killer) all excited and he started barking. When I went out to see what all the fuss was about there wasn't a chicken in sight and the dogs were just running and chasing each other around like a couple of playful pups.
Ivy-- yay!! SO exciting to start in on your eggs! I wish my silkie hens were laying already, I'd be hard pressed NOT to try my new incubator! My MIL has it right now and I'll be opening it for xmas, but she said that if they started laying, she'd give it to me now. I think she is just as excited as I am to start! ha! On the down side, I think I am going to have to separate out my little Splash pullet from my cockerel. I posted very clear pictures of her on the silkie thread and they said that the red tinted feathers coming out in a V under her neck are a disqualifier. Not only that, but they said if I did breed her, that she would pass on those genes that are leaking out the red into her feathers and they said it's nearly impossible to breed out. So it would be irresponsible to do it. As much as I want to have little babies of hers, I guess I better not. So best not to breed her at all. So sadly, I think she will just be a pet. Which means, I'll have to just use my cockerel and my black pullet to produce Blue (Splash X Black = 100% Blue) and then I can breed back my Blue to my cockerel to produce a splash that hopefully won't leak out red. Whew. There is SO MUCH to this breeding business i had no clue about! Apparently my Splash X Blue = 50% Blue, 50% Splash! Also thinking of buying some eggs from one of the ladies that have Splash so hopefully I can get a pullet with no red leakage. Which means more incubation!! YAY!!! I might just become addicted to this....
So my WCB Polish is standing up and grooming herself and feeling pretty good today. She was standing up for most of the day yesterday, too. She's doing very well eating and drinking. She is in her new kennel on my buffet table in the living room. I think another day or two, and I'll move her out to the garage with a heat lamp to help with the transition. Do you all think she can handle the garage at this point... or give her more time to come around?? It's VERY cold out there. But even with the heat lamp...??
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I didn't superglue it yet. I felt it yesterday and it seems pretty solid now-- so maybe the blood and everything have formed a nice bond on it?? I don't know. I hated to mess with super glue when she is feeling better and flappy and flightly now. She's been grooming herself with her beak and doesn't seem to be in distress with it anymore. It does look awful... but think it should be fine? Or should I still do the superglue? It's not too horribly crooked -- just kind of mashed in a bit.
I don't know, I just kind of freaked out a bit when I was touching her beak and she wasn't holding still and getting upset and struggling. I guess I should have done it back when she was laying down with her eyes closed.
Thanks for the input, everyone. Cohin or Langshan, the one with the pretty lacing ran out this morning and tried to crow. Anyone want some roosters?? Free!!
I have to get them out of town before I get turned in by whichever neighbor has such a problem with them. I've talked with 8 of my neighbors, and they miss hearing old Harriet/Harry, so I know which ones didn't turn me in. Actually, I'm over my limit of 12 chickens, also, but I have a deal with they guy next door- it was even his idea. The extra ones are HIS chickens, but they just got over the fence. He'd love to have his own, but it doesn't work for him, since he's somewhat immobile. I told him all the really pretty ones are HIS chickens. He loves to sit in his house and watch them in my back yard. I need to take that dear heart some eggs.
Chickies-duckies-etc, the screen name actually came from that show. I teach elementary gifted kids, and I used to have a lizard that would run up my arm and sit on the loose bun on top my head. The kids started calling me Ms. Frizzle, so I ran with it.
Here are my two silkies. The white is about 11 or 12 weeks, and the gray one is 2 or 3 weeks younger, I'm going to have to do a better job keeping records! Each one was the only silkie in the whole store (different Atwoods stores) and I just couldn't leave them there ALL BY THEMSELVES. I know YOU all understand, even if my family doesn't!! Is this a barred rock? Is it a girl?? I have 2 of these, about the same age as the silkie in the background.
Hawkeye, Your little polish should be fine in the garage with a heat lamp. In fact I'd gradually move it away from her day by day until she didn't need any heat at all. She looks fully feathered so she should be fine. You just don't want to shock her after being in the warmth of the house. I'm so glad she is doing well.
Why don't you breed your little silky anyway. You have her so use her. She is going to lay eggs anyway. You don't have to show her or her babies. You can sell the babies as pet quaility and she could become a broody mama so put her to use for her upkeep. Some people just don't care that much about having show quality birds.
I just hatched 26 Seramas and three more silkies. Of course the survival rate won't be that great. I have a couple more eggs pipped so I guess we'll see if those develope into anything more.
I've got to get two batches of eggs shipped out today but I sure hate going out in the cold to look for the boxes this morning.
I am all of a sudden feeling a Christmas crunch. I was hoping to go shopping maybe Monday or Tuesday but they are calling for snow so I have no idea when I'll get my shopping done. Still no decorations or a tree yet.
Do you remember if the barred rocks had a big yellow spot or a small one on their head? Big spot is boy small spot is girl. Can you take a side profile of one of those birds? I might be able to tell by their build.
