fuzzi's Chicken Journal

[fuzzi]

Mine did hard-ish molts this year as well, seemingly more so than in the past. My rooster is quite prickly underneath and seems to be spending a lot of time resting. It just looks so traumatic and uncomfortable!

Zacchaeus continues to look like a show boy! It is fun to see him doing so well having been able to follow him from hatch time to now!

Thank you. I am encouraged by Zack's behavior. He may not meet the Speckled Sussex Standard, but he's still a Pretty Boy.

 

[fuzzi]

I entered Abigail in the Worst Molt contest!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...cken-molt-pictures-2024.1641076/post-28032421

 

[NanaK]

Let's see your Abigail, could you post a photo?

Abigail also has a full set of spurs!
I will get a photo of her after I finish in the garden this morning.

Speaking of stink bugs, look at this neon green one I found in the garden yesterday. I have never seen such a bright one. Looks like he would glow in the dark! He did not live long after this photo was taken.

 

[NanaK]

Sorry, I don't know why the photo posted 2 times and would not let me edit out 1???

 

[fuzzi]

Sorry, I don't know why the photo posted 2 times and would not let me edit out 1???

BYC has been wonky this morning. I was able to delete a duplicate post, though.

Pretty shield bug, are you sure it's a stink bug?

 

[NanaK]

Pretty shield bug, are you sure it's a stink bug?

I have seen them in a few different colors but not like this one. My first thought was "oh no a new invader".
Now I wonder if maybe he was immature.
He did emit that particular odor when I squish him.
He was a pretty color.

 

[NanaK]

I took a couple of photos of Abigail. She was trying to avoid me while a few others were running interference for her. It was like they had a plan. I am sure they were laughing at me!

Meet Abigail who is not in her best feather. She has no tail, hackle and crest are thin and wing feathers missing.

Her butt is more bare than this photo shows. She needs a skirt!
**Notice her spurs?

 

[NanaK]

This photo was taken last fall.
Her name is Rachel. She was having a really rough molt.

When they molt like this some of mine try to sleep in a nest box. I will let them. Sometimes the other hens will try to pluck and eat these new feathers because they are full of blood. (Protein)
They also do not like being handled when they are like this.
If you zoom in you will see it looks like a porcupine.

 

[fuzzi]

Poor babies.

I'll remember that about letting them sleep in the nesting box. Martha's been trying to sleep in there at night, and I thought she might be going broody.

 

[fuzzi]

Silas, from the May 24th hatch. He's very handsome but way off of Standard. I would not use him to breed. So far he's not pushing Zacchaeus, much.

Zack continues to develop into a Good Roo. And his plumage is much closer to Standard than Silas'.

If nothing changes by Spring I will probably find Silas a new home, and focus on breeding the best to the best.