This fellow is a prize-winning example of the standard. Both my boys aren't quite into their adult plumage, but have elements of the standard including mahogany color. A breeder told me the darker brown the better. Joel isn't as dark but has nice tips on his wings, lined up fairly well.
One of my other cockerels was lighter, had more of an orange coloring, so I didn't want to use him for breeding. I took him to the local auction where he caused a bidding war!
Hopefully he's got his own harem by now.
The breeder is also a judge. She said the SS bantam standard is hard to get just right, and she's been breeding them for 23 years.
I cleaned and refilled the waterers before getting ready for church. As I was about to go back inside I noticed all the Sussex were congregated in one spot, near the back of the hoop coop, and being noisy. I thought maybe one of the hens had finally laid an egg so I went back inside and looked to see what was agitating the flock.
It wasn't an egg, it was a snake. And it was trying to get inside the coop. The markings looked like a Copperhead, so I grabbed a shovel and long handled pruning shears and headed over to where the snake was.
I hit the snake in the middle to cripple it, then took the shears to cut it behind the head. View attachment 3563251
It was about two feet long, and would have posed a danger to anyone walking around the yard, including my dog. It's feeding the woodland creatures now.
If my chickens hadn't noticed that snake and gotten agitated, and if I'd not checked to see what was upsetting them that venomous snake could have bitten someone in the yard.
Today I offered a piece of cardboard that was covered with pillbugs. The flock were hesitant about approaching it, but then Joel checked it out. He picked up a bug and offered it to a pullet, then repeated the process until all the bugs were gone.
Today I offered a piece of cardboard that was covered with pillbugs. The flock were hesitant about approaching it, but then Joel checked it out. He picked up a bug and offered it to a pullet, then repeated the process until all the bugs were gone.
Samuel is darker, which is good. His comb, though, has too many points, should be five. Joel's comb is better, and his wing speckles are lining up nicely.
