Suede Gets Younger Women Today (Pic Heavy!)

Yesterday, my big old blue Orp rooster, Suede, lost one of his three hens, my Smoky, to crop stasis. We tried for a week to save her, but her crop just quit and refused to get working again, even after surgery. She was one of only two blue Orp hens I currently had. Meg, flaming red RIR/Buff Orp out of exhibition stock, was his #3 girl. Even though Suede is about to turn 5 yrs old along with Meg, and is not an aggressive breeder, I didn't want him to be left with only two aging hens so today, I removed my big, super gorgeous Buff Orp pullets from the main flock and gave them to Suede. Hope and Grace came from Jody Hinkle, who has fabulous Buffs. They are 28 weeks old tomorrow. So far, no huge war going on in the pen. Suede has been dancing his big heart out to impress the new ladies, of course. Thought you'd like to see pictures of the new grouping. *Dusty & Suede are molting so excuse that, and Dusty's comb used to be upright till she tried to dub herself on the fence this year*












Meg, picking dirt off Suede's face-they're really like some old married couple, LOL:





RIP, beautiful Smoky, mother of many gorgeous sons and daughters:

 

Thank you, Ally. I hope the addition of Hope and Gracie helps Suede get over losing Smoky. They are huge and super fluffy and should help that coop stay warm through the winter. Isaac (the Delaware rooster in my avatar) didn't need them, anyway-he still has 19 hens all to himself.

 

Thanks, I think Hope and Gracie are gorgeous. I wanted more eggs from Jody because of my Nugget, also from her flock of Buffs. Nugget is raising her 5th brood (a lone Delaware chick) now-she'll be 4 in April, if I remember. Suede has lived longer than I ever thought he would. He's outlived two BR roosters of mine and outlived three blue Orp hens as well. Such a wonderful rooster, he's always been, calm, sweet, easy to handle, never a moment's trouble.