I'm so in love with these d'Anvers babies! Aubrey, I cannot
thank you enough!! JJ, you, too, have been a huge help with info. I've still got so much to learn. SpeckledHen, your stories and pics are what gave me the final nudge. Thank you for posting here!
Update: The six chicks are now 2 weeks old, and growing even some breast feathers now. The coloration of the feathers coming in, no matter what the down color was, is a very vivid, rich, vibrant glowing caramel. We aren't sure yet, but we think we may possibly have 3 boys, 3 girls, judging by the jumbo-feets on the boys, wider combs, bigger heads, etc. Guess we'll know for sure in a few weeks!
Right now, my fiance is building them a large, covered pen, for the future when they're feathered out in a few more weeks and can be moved to their own seperate, secure d'Anvers coop.. which we just ordered yesterday! The d'Anvers pen iwill allow our existing flock of 4 standard-sized hens will be able to ogle them from outside the pen, and get accustomed to them for a few weeks before we suddenly innundate our 4 big girls with 6 d'Anvers in our large fenced backyard-- so they'll have room to escape any hazing. We'll add several extra water and food dishes, too. I actually also have two separate types of calls to bring either the 4 big hens.. or the 6 d'Anvers... to me, if need be, like just before sunset, when I want the d'Anvers to go into their own coop. Eventually, some of the d'Anvers will go to bantam-savvy homes, and we'll keep a few with our flock.
I've fallen in love with two so far. Remember this girl?
I think that she may be my girl. Calm and trusting little Zen master. She came from a super-small egg, was the smallest chick, and everything about her nature is soft, soft, soft. What do you think of "Emmaline," Emmy for short?
