Easter Egger club!

[User395221]

My little girls are getting big.

I was told that my black girl (Grace) was araucana/australorp cross but she has some lovely colours in her feathers that I didn't notice when I had australorps before (maybe my australorps were different - black, instead of blue?). She has a lovely shade of purple, also she has some lovely brown colours in there. I'm useless at taking photos, I can't capture the colours she has, but her feathers are really pretty.

 

[junebuggena]

My two black sexlink pullets are officially Easter Eggers! One lays blue, one lays green. Their brother likely carries a blue egg gene as well.

 

[Anniebee]

My little girls are getting big.

I was told that my black girl (Grace) was araucana/australorp cross but she has some lovely colours in her feathers that I didn't notice when I had australorps before (maybe my australorps were different - black, instead of blue?). She has a lovely shade of purple, also she has some lovely brown colours in there. I'm useless at taking photos, I can't capture the colours she has, but her feathers are really pretty.

Great photos' potato chip ....

Chooks are notoriously difficult to photograph ( don't know why !! ) ... but you've done a grand job in showing as much as you could. Lovely pix.

Depends on the light ( I have found ) as to what colours show up. Had a beautiful all black cat named Felix - he lived until 18 years of age .... black as coal. However, in the sunlight his coat shone a magnificent shot bright mahogany colour through the black ... first time I ever saw that I was amazed - - did not know at all, that his coat was anything but solid black.

Horses, dogs, cattle - much the same. Difficult to get the right colours of them in photographs ..... ( unless one has super duper equipment, and is near to being professional !! )

Cheers .........

 

[User395221]

but you've done a grand job in showing as much as you could. Lovely pix.

I didn't do anything..... it is very hot, the sun was blazing and I couldn't really see the screen on the camera. I just kept clicking and luckily 2 of them showed chickens, more or less in frame. LOL Thank goodness for digital cameras.

You can see a little bit of Grace's pretty colours on her back, if you look closely, there are peacock shades there.

 

[mymilliefleur]

My two black sexlink pullets are officially Easter Eggers! One lays blue, one lays green. Their brother likely carries a blue egg gene as well.

Exciting news!

Now I need some sexlinked EE's.....

 

[Anniebee]

I didn't do anything..... it is very hot, the sun was blazing and I couldn't really see the screen on the camera. I just kept clicking and luckily 2 of them showed chickens, more or less in frame. LOL Thank goodness for digital cameras.

You can see a little bit of Grace's pretty colours on her back, if you look closely, there are peacock shades there.

Yes .... there is the blue / peacock type colouring on Graces' back feathers. Lovely hens - both of them.

 

[User395221]

Lovely hens - both of them.

Thanks, I think so. I don't know whether Grace's colouring has recently intensified or whether I just haven't noticed it before. Yesterday, she was looking very "blue". It has been hot, and the sun is bright, maybe that's why she is "glowing".

I just wish they trusted me more, they run from me....

 

[Anniebee]

Thanks, I think so. I don't know whether Grace's colouring has recently intensified or whether I just haven't noticed it before. Yesterday, she was looking very "blue". It has been hot, and the sun is bright, maybe that's why she is "glowing".

I just wish they trusted me more, they run from me....

potato chip ..... your two girls look rather young, and I expect that might be the reason they run from you. Still in the wary almost wild stages. .

Took months for my chickens to respond and be friendly - comfortable being around my legs, and listening to me. ( ??

). My Mindy Araucana - 3.5 years old is STILL wary - but in the evenings, when she is docile, will 'roost' on my arm quite happily. Likes sitting on my lap too to be dried off with a towel ( evenings ). If she gets saturated during the day, I towel her off ( with much protest and attempts at escape ) ... and leave her then to dry off in her coop. I don't like hens going to bed wet though !!

My 3 girls will still move quickly away, if they want to - they are laws unto themselves. However, if there is the merest hint of food in my hand, they are there at my feet, being pests and one flies up to try and see what I might have in hand or in bowl. They are never starved in any way, always have their layer pellets to eat - but they adore anything that might be different tucker. They get sooo excited at the prospect.

Try getting closer to them in the late afternoons / early evenings - it's when they are at their best for handling ( for any reason ) as they begin to 'settle' for the oncoming night, and get docile and dopey.
Also, I expect they might not be squatting just yet, but when they begin that, it's a good time to give them a good scratch on the back, around the neck etc., --- they will submit to that, then get up, fluff themselves up - and that's the end of it.

Good luck,

Cheers -----

 

[User395221]

Try getting closer to them in the late afternoons / early evenings

ha! that's when the "game of chasey" goes on, when I'm trying to get them into their house for the night.

They are fine with being handled once I've got them, they don't try to get away, they are happy being patted and everything, it's just getting to them to be able to pick them up....

My older girls are greedy gutses, they come running whenever I appear because they think I'll have tucker for them. The little girls aren't like that (yet?)

 

[Anniebee]

ha! that's when the "game of chasey" goes on, when I'm trying to get them into their house for the night.

They are fine with being handled once I've got them, they don't try to get away, they are happy being patted and everything, it's just getting to them to be able to pick them up....

My older girls are greedy gutses, they come running whenever I appear because they think I'll have tucker for them. The little girls aren't like that (yet?)

potato chip - - - I don't have the game of 'chasey' as I have taught my girls ( the two big girls - Molly RIR and Mandy Welsummer ) to respond to the word "BED" which they do perfectly. But to be fair, they respond only when twilight is descending. If I tried that at midday, they'd run as far as their reasonably sized run would allow. No "BED" at midday, thank you. "Get lost, Mum" ....

If you are able to handle them once they've been caught - and they don't try to get away - that in my opinion is more than half way to success. As I might have mentioned ... once they are into a lay situation, and they squat for you ( thinking you - or anything that moves is a rooster !! ) ... you will be able to pick them up easily. Do that underneath their chests and what would be a stomach area. They might flap a bit, but tuck them under your arm and all will be well.

Patience is needed in waiting for chickens to decide they want to be handled ( or mated they think !! ). Give it all a couple more months, and I am sure you will find changes in their behaviour ( although not necessarily ALL the time ) .... and things will get easier. When I first had chickens, I think I expected them to respond like dogs and cats do - to command, and to be friendly. Nope - doesn't happen.

That was a bit of a shock !!

Believe me, the 'little girls' will become like the big girls - gutzes, when they learn that your appearance might mean some kind of yummy tucker. All chooks are gutzes - in the long run. And it takes quite a while for them to learn their 'manners'. !!

All will be ok ....

Good luck ......

AB. ..