Oats on a Frosty Morn (pic heavy)

[sheilawagner]

This morning, it was down in the 20s, and we had a thick cover of frost. If it was snow, the chickies would have stayed in their enclosure, but since it was just frost, they were out looking for sunny spots to sunbathe.

I brought them out oats in hot water, so they were very happy to warm up their bellies from the night.

All my birds get along, so I'm very blessed. I keep only docile friendly breeds. Anyone who shows naughty behavior gets culled.

My beautiful Bluebell, a blue Cochin bantam pullet

The Queen of the flock. She is one of the tiniest birds in the flock, but the oldest and most experienced. Seen here conversing with her minions - Buff Orps.

The Queen, a Dutch bantam hen. She was given to us by friends 2 years ago, and is the only remaining bird of our very first chickens. She is very wise and experienced.

Doesn't' matter if you're black or white. 2 black silkie pullets share oats with 2 Delawares.

A red silkie pullet

A blue silkie pullet

3 Buff pullets - a frizzle Cochin bantam pullet, a silkie, and an orp

The birds can feel safe foraging in the open, when they have an Airedale protector watching over the flock

Rummy watches over the flock as they graze

Blue and Black silkie face off

 

[theoldchick]

Wonderful photos! Your Airedale looks so serious about his duties.

 

[happyhappy]

Great pics. love the combination of birds they are just two darn cute and you have to just know that the smallest (the Queen) would be the wisest we have a sexlink that is the head of out flock and she is the smallest Queen of Sheba, she was the first to try everything since she was a chick. Thanks for sharing your morning feed!

 

[stuckinthecity]

Beautiful chickens. What would you call The Queen's color? I have a EE hen with the same coloring.

 

[silkieroo]

Oh thats adorable! very pretty birds! (and dog)

 

[Bammy]

Oh, I am in love with the buff frizzle! I have a black cochin frizzle named Happy because she makes everyone smile.

 

[kfchickenlady]

what beautiful chickens and the dog too! I have been feeding mine sweet cob in hot water, they look for me every morning, part of the joys of owning hens, IMO.

 

[sheilawagner]

Quote:
I think it is a silver Dutch, but I could be wrong. When her previous owners gave her to us, they didn't really care or know too much about names and colors. They just had too many yard birds and were giving away those they didn't bond with.

She is a lot more flightier than all our birds, in fact, she's the most wild. And I can understand why. She's a lot more aloof and detached, not keen on human touch, or eating out of hands. Only this year, I managed to start petting her while she was in a nestbox, and she started eating out of my hands this Fall. Its been 2 years!!

She's feisty and everyone in flock is afraid of her, and gives her a wide berth. She likes to spend time with the big girls, the buff orps, delawares and the rock. Her preferred male is Smokey, but I have not seen any of the boys dare to get funky with her.

 

[jomoncon]

My chicks love oats - and so does my poodle. One day, I had fixed chickies a big bowl, turned my back for a few seconds, and when I turned around I had 8 little RIR chicks & 1 little white poodle eating out of the bowl! Oh, why can't I carry a camera around with me at all times!!

 

[HogbackMtnChickns]

Great photos! Thanks for posting.