Derperella, the (weird) Faverolles, & Friends

[artsyrobin]

ohhhh Derp.....!!! I do miss the stories Fud Lady, but i know you are busy- you have created a bunch of derpaholics here...

 

[CinnamonQueen]

Let's see... Derpaholic would be the third word in our exclusive Derp dictionary??

 

[Poulet Mama]

Ahhhhhhhhh, took me all week, but I read this whole story! I have a Faverolles rooster, Dr. Orpheus - that gorgeous boy in my avatar. He's sweet and gentle with his girls, but a bit clumsy. His girlfriends, an EE and a BR, are missing some feathers on their backs and the backs of their heads, so he's living in a bachelor pad right next door until his hormones cool off along with the weather. They can see each other and he can sing his treat song to them, but I can tell the EE, Miss Digby, misses her man. Stella is just tired of having a bald spot on her head.

The only thing about him is that he's so mellow that when the neighbor's dog tried to attack them while out free ranging, he only got a kick or two in before the dog snatched him up in his jaws and ran off. He just went limp, which was probably smart. A shot to the behind with my weak BB pistol made the dog drop him and he and his ladies spent time in our shop (not their coop, our machine shop) whispering and cooing reassurances to each other.

He is really observant, though, and quick with the warnings. He even warns the girls when helicopters and airplanes are nearby, and does his dinosaur shriek whenever strange dogs or people come by the coop. ...except the neighbor's dog above, who snuck up on them when they were in their evergreen tree fortress, dust bathing.

His crow is rather strange sounding, but low and not unpleasant. He does it for two ten minute stretches about an hour apart. I made a recording of him and sometimes play it about twenty feet away from the coop. His head shoots up and he looks around, then he puts on his show. I hope you don't think that's mean, I think of it as exercising his instincts - much like putting a mirror in front of a beta fish to make him feel like he's defending something.

That all being said, I love love LOVE Derperella stories and quickly became addicted. I have been researching Faverolles for a possible breeding program and found this story and the rest is history. Thank you, Namroth, for sharing your joys and heartbreaks with us. It's good information for anyone with chickens or looking to keep some. It's not all sunshine and roses, there's a lot of poop out there, too.

 

[drumstick diva]

Poulet Mama Mr.Orpheus sounds like quite a character . Better to be safe than sorry warning them of helicopters & airplanes - these days you never know what is going to come down in your own back yard.

Did you know several BYCERS make & sell chicken aprons/saddles that protect hen's backs from too much romance. I don't know of any making anti-rooster Helmets but it seems like a good idea.

 

[Poulet Mama]

He's a special guy. He offers me sticks and lovely pieces of straw, but he'll offer the girls food. I don't take his offerings but I thank him anyway; I like him.

I am aware of the saddles/aprons and I'll definitely look into them for next year. This year, poor girls, they are so stressed they stopped laying. It was time for a break, I figure, and absence makes the heart grow fonder, does it not?

In quarantine I have three Marans - one of them recently died so they are not going to be allowed anywhere near Dr. Orpheus and his girls until after winter just to be safe. They don't really bawk like chickens, two of them honk like geese.

 

[Nambroth]

I do have photos for you all, I do! I swear! I just have to finish a few deadlines... working on my entry for the Federal Duck Stamp contest now.

Anyhow, I thought I'd share a tiny fleck of good news. Cheryl, the lady that I adopted Trousers from, has had her flock tested for Marek's in three different ways and all were negative. Including one blood test sent to Texas A&M. I now truly believe that I got Marek's from the environment here. It would explain why he succumbed so quickly. I have a few thoughts about that in the Trousers thread.
So, she still has Trousers' bother and sisters. This summer she set some of the cochin eggs and they have just hatched. Three cute, wonderful baby chicks! These would be Trousers' nieces and nephews, so to speak.

I ordered Marek's vaccination and had it shipped to her. She hass vaccinated all three. She's going to raise them there until we can tell the gender... that also allows them to build up immune systems, strong with their broody momma hen raising them. I felt this gave the new baby the strongest possible system. If one is a boy, and all goes well, he will come home with me!

(Photo by Cheryl R.)

 

[pdx2phx]

I do have photos for you all, I do! I swear! I just have to finish a few deadlines... working on my entry for the Federal Duck Stamp contest now.

Anyhow, I thought I'd share a tiny fleck of good news. Cheryl, the lady that I adopted Trousers from, has had her flock tested for Marek's in three different ways and all were negative. Including one blood test sent to Texas A&M. I now truly believe that I got Marek's from the environment here. It would explain why he succumbed so quickly. I have a few thoughts about that in the Trousers thread.
So, she still has Trousers' bother and sisters. This summer she set some of the cochin eggs and they have just hatched. Three cute, wonderful baby chicks! These would be Trousers' nieces and nephews, so to speak.

I ordered Marek's vaccination and had it shipped to her. She hass vaccinated all three. She's going to raise them there until we can tell the gender... that also allows them to build up immune systems, strong with their broody momma hen raising them. I felt this gave the new baby the strongest possible system. If one is a boy, and all goes well, he will come home with me!

(Photo by Cheryl R.)

Hopeful news!!! And adorable little fluff-bombs you have there

 

[drumstick diva]

 

[froggiesheins]

I do have photos for you all, I do! I swear! I just have to finish a few deadlines... working on my entry for the Federal Duck Stamp contest now. Anyhow, I thought I'd share a tiny fleck of good news. Cheryl, the lady that I adopted Trousers from, has had her flock tested for Marek's in three different ways and all were negative. Including one blood test sent to Texas A&M. I now truly believe that I got Marek's from the environment here. It would explain why he succumbed so quickly. I have a few thoughts about that in the Trousers thread. So, she still has Trousers' bother and sisters. This summer she set some of the cochin eggs and they have just hatched. Three cute, wonderful baby chicks! These would be Trousers' nieces and nephews, so to speak. I ordered Marek's vaccination and had it shipped to her. She hass vaccinated all three. She's going to raise them there until we can tell the gender... that also allows them to build up immune systems, strong with their broody momma hen raising them. I felt this gave the new baby the strongest possible system. If one is a boy, and all goes well, he will come home with me! (Photo by Cheryl R.)

OHMYGOSH Federeal duck stamp?!?!? Thats some pretty heady stuff there Nambroth!!! You go girl! Hope you are "the one"....... Your post about the 3 peeps being Trousers relatives and the thought of bringing one home with you brought tears to my eyes! THAT would be too special! I will keep my fingers crossed for you....LOL

 

[froggiesheins]

He's a special guy.  He offers me sticks and lovely pieces of straw, but he'll offer the girls food.  I don't take his offerings but I thank him anyway;  I like him.

I am aware of the saddles/aprons and I'll definitely look into them for next year.  This year, poor girls, they are so stressed they stopped laying.  It was time for a break, I figure, and absence makes the heart grow fonder, does it not?

In quarantine I have three Marans - one of them recently died so they are not going to be allowed anywhere near Dr. Orpheus and his girls until after winter just to be safe.  They don't really bawk like chickens, two of them honk like geese.

LOVE your story about Dr. Orpheus! BAD BAD neighbors dog for trying to take him! So glad that awful story turned out well..