Derperella, the (weird) Faverolles, & Friends

[The Red Rooster]

500 posts now!

 

[Garrisonkidsduo2]

Well you were 501 and I am 502 until you are not counting the very first post and then yes you are 500 and I am 501. Wonder what she is going to get into in the next 500 posts. i love Derp. I follow the story and every reread it. I love it.

 

[Nambroth]

So sorry we are behind! I'm dealing with a sick Coho and a very pricey vet bill...

 

[BigDaddy'sGurl]

Oh no! Hope Coho (and your wallet) feel very much better soon!!!

 

[The Red Rooster]

Quote:
Oh my! What's wrong with Coho?

 

[Nambroth]

Quote:
Oh my! What's wrong with Coho?

Here's the thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=8162309#p8162309

I'll have more Derp soon!

 

[Magic Birdie]

Derp disappeared!!!!!

 

[Nambroth]

So far the winter has been good to Derperella!

Snow has happened, and that was very fascinating, indeed! Can you imagine the staring? While all 6 other chickens have been afraid of the snow, Derp knows no fear. Why be afraid of something when you love everything? Derp likes to be friends with everything.

So, for many days, the other chickens stood in the coop, or underneath, where there is no snow, and peeked out. Derp had the whole run to herself! That was fine with her. Her feathered feet act a little like snowshoes, and make walking in the snow easier for her. She also seems to stay warmer than the other chickens... lovely foot feathers, a bead, and muffs all help enormously! The Fud Lady was a bit alarmed to see Derp poking around in the snow during a blizzard, with strong winds and a -10° windchill. She went out to put Derp in the coop, but Derp hopped right back out! She seemed to like it! The Fud Lady checked on Derperella again and lo, she wasn't cold at all. Extra-fluffy Faverolles don't mind the cold, it seems!

Derperella even seems to be comfortable in spite of her new hairdo-- the Monk Look. Gullincame the cockerel is a fine gentleman and gentle with his girls, but Derp is so small! And he is a big fellow. When he hops up on Derp, it's all he can do to not fall off, and he has unintentionally tugged out some of her head feathers. The Fud Lady has kept a close eye to make sure that Derp isn't getting hurt, and already she's growing new pinfeathers back in. Mr. Gullin's hormones have mellowed out for the winter and there have been no motions to further increase Derp's bald spot. So for now, she is sporting a very monk like look.

Derp has noticed (or.. okay, probably not noticed at all) that the weather has kept the camera indoors. The Fud Lady has a bad habit of falling on her rump in the slick ice and snow, and hasn't wanted to risk her camera....

This morning when the Fud Lady went out to tend the chickens, she noticed some blood in the snow. This always cues a moment of terror-- what has happened? Who is hurt?! And how badly?
She inspected each chicken, much to the complaints of Moa, the Barred Rock. Moa is like a big fat Victorian woman, and is offended at the handling. We will talk more about Moa, later.
No signs of injury! She moved from chicken to chicken. Where was the blood from?!
Finally, she looked over Derperella. Aha! Somehow... and who knows how... Derp had managed to break the tip of one toenail off and it had bled a little bit into the snow. Ever the oppertunist, Kua (previously of the Broken Beak) came over and gobbled up the blood-and-snow-icee. That's lovely, Kua. Ever a delight.

Well, Derp's broken toenail was very minor and had already stopped bleeding. Derp couldn't figure out why the Fud Lady wanted to look at her toes, anyhow! What was so specia-... Oh. Then Derp looked at her toes too. A lot. She may have even stared at them.

Well, the Fud Lady brought Derp inside and washed her feet up and put a dab of antibiotic on it, just to ward off infection, since we all know what chickens tend to walk though....
The Fud Lady used a cotton swab. OH BOY!! But Derp didn't get a chance to eat it. The Fud Lady was prepared, this time. She knew that Derp was big enough that she could swallow the entire thing, and then she'd be in a real mess.

To relax Derp after her excitement over the cotton swab, the Fud Lady rubbed Derp's keel. She'd noticed that all the chickens seem to enjoy this and it always relaxes them... yes, even Proper Moa.
But, Derp did a funny thing, then! Instead of simply relaxing, she made excited chirps, and immediately sat down on the Fud Lady's hand, as hard as she could. She drooped her wings, and fluffed out, and drew her head back.. closing her eyes. Is this mothering behavior??

Not having her camera ready, the Fud Lady used her cellphone to take a few photos, so they aren't the best.
You can see the Fud Lady's arm protruding from Derp's belly...

When the Fud Lady went to pet Derp with her other hand, Derp suddenly woke back up and made a warning, screaming 'kreeeel' noise at the Fud Lady! It seemed to say, "Stay away from my babies!"
Derp, your babies are just the Fud Lady's hand....
What do you think? Will Derp be a future broody?

The Fud Lady wiggled her hand out from under Derp, and she seemed to revert back to normal. Suddenly alert and happy-go-lucky once again, Derp fluffed and shook.
The Fud Lady pet Derp's Beard. Derp always enjoys this.

To dry off her feet and lovely leg feathers before going back outside, the Fud Lady put Derp on a towel, on her favorite chair.

"I LIKE DIS CHAIR"

Here's a short video of Derperella, indoors in her chair. Warning: poor audio quality, and my voice is loud. Sorry about that!

 

[drumstick diva]

Love and Joy how good to see Derp again and read about her. Derp the explorer. Maybe she should have winter googles, so she doesn't get snow blind staring at snow if it's sunny outside. I'm thinking she needs a rooster protective cap also - maybe a skull cap, so her head doesn't get cold. Maybe she is trying out her "Girl with a chicken tattoo look."

 

[cheekyerica]

Thank you for the much needed Derp update!

I want to hear more about Moa! (She sounds like me!)