Had to share some piccies!
First, my old girls. Old as in, my starters (about 8-11 months old). All three came from Erin (Msbear).
I haven't been able to get any good pics of Millie. Sadly, something funky is going on with her tail and she is not very photogenic. She should start laying in the next month or so.
Mildred has come so far. She has become my favorite, even though Millie used to be. She is much more curious and sweet.
Bridgette is my BC pullet. She is the youngest, around what I assume is 8 months old. She's squatting and may have started laying. Not sure if I missed an egg the one day or if I have two laying. I haven't had two eggs in one day since... But I have had an egg almost daily and Mildred has only laid every other day before.
(Why doesn't she have any black in the hackles?)
Now, on to the new babies in the grow out pen! Out of 15 eggs shipped, 9 hatched. They are now 12 weeks old.
Half of the group:
My daughter's Frizzles:
I am not sure if the Mottled is a he or a she. It's bigger than the others and their is red in the comb and wattles, but they are not as dark or pronounced as the other boys.
She's not a calico/MF, but she's a she! I am only sure of three girls of the 9 that hatched. Both of my BCs are cockerels.
And...
I have 6 Millies, 6 BCs, about 9 black/lav splits and the last 6 are blue/black mottled. All are bantam Cochins! They hatch next week (17th - 19th). All the eggs and chicks in the grow out pen are from Rosalyn (Luckypickens).
My flock is growing - slowly.
I, like you, want to keep everything until I can determine if it is a "keeper". Sometimes that is almost a year, especially for the boys. However, I have scaled down & sold off many so that I can concentrate on improving "type" along with pattern, in the remaining birds. I'm down to 3 roos & a dozen hens with about 25 kids in the grow out pens & 50 in the brooders. All of these "should" have the type improvement I am looking for. Spring 2012 should be exciting ~!
