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Thanks for posting the link Henry. Wow - she has some very nice birds! Is it just me or does anyone notice that Kate's roosters look different, as far as color goes? The red/mahogany looks much darker to me and there seems to be a lot more of it than I have seen on any of the pics posted on this thread. I also notice that her hens are quite uniform from head to tail in their coloring (thank you Dick
for teaching me to look for that). And her blues . . . lovely! Nice site for drooling.
Also, regarding the hatchery Faverolles - my rooster, Emmet, came from Meyer. He didn't turn out too bad.
http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww265/pbroner/Faverolles/Emmetweb.jpg
That picture is from Spring 2010. I need to get a new pic but he is currently recovering from a beating. I moved him to the rooster pen for the winter to grow back his beard, which the hens pull out regularly. He and the other 3 boys got along fine for several weeks but evidently, one of his sons decided on the last day of 2010 that he wanted to be the boss in the new year. We were gone all day that day and when I went out to feed on Jan 1, poor Emmet was on the roost with a very swollen, blood covered head. He couldn't see because the blood had run into his eyes and dried them shut. I was worried that he would lose his left eye for a while because the swelling was so bad. I had to soak it open every morning for a week as it was draining mucus and would dry shut every night. He is recovering nicely though and both eyes are fine but he still looks like Rocky after a fight! Needless to say, he is now in his own private accomodations and his son (a huge GL Cochin cross) is destined for freezer camp just as soon as the weather permits butchering.
Peter, I too spent yesterday working on coops. I am adding 5 (!) new ones (one just for Emmet) this spring. I am limiting myself to no more than 50 birds on the place at any given time. Fortunately there is a good market around here for the "cute" Faverolles pullets that don't make the cut. They are something of a novelty around here and I've already had people asking me if I will have some extras this spring for them to add to their layer flocks. And, of course, the cockerels make good eating.
Last year my limit was 30 and that sounded like a lot. Now 50 doesn't sound like very many ( I have 37 right now). Have to watch out for that "chicken math" - it sneaks up on you! I've told my husband that I will only ever have as many as will fit into my 20 x 20 shed. Technically though, that's about 100 birds . . .
Yes that mahogany is what we should all shoot for in my opinion he is a beautiful male very well bred. If you look at Nikki's (british Faverolles society) birds they are amazing as well. I think Kates pullets are particularly beautiful and she has got those blacks and blues very nice as well.
Thats great sounds like your making more room wish I had that type of space all in good time ha ha.
Sorry to hear about emmet hope he recovers well for you and is up and breeding in the spring.
Thats good you have a market for culls.