The Adventures of Featherdust Flock

[drumstick diva]

Don't know anything about your new breed but I sure will stay tuned in to learn about them.

 

[Nambroth]

Haha, hello, good to see you both! The Bielefelder chicks are so friendly. They actually get quite upset when I leave the room, which is hard for me to do, but I need them to be at least a little bit independent! They are very cute and I love them so. Here are a few of them this morning, 18 days old.

Derperella is also doing well! I've done some experiments with her to see if she can adapt to going back outdoors, since she holds her head up straight about 80% of the time now (which is great! she's been in the house for over two years now!). Unfortunately, she is still completely unable to navigate simple obstacles such as a 2" high board. There's just no way she could get around outside and go in/out of the coop via the ramp. So, she will continue to be a house chicken, though I may give her some days in the old coop (solo) for fresh air. On days that I'm home I can put her out in her covered pen under my patio, too, but can't leave her there unattended just in case a predator comes by. Why does she have to be solo? Well, she is still a fierce warrior and tries to pick fights endlessly with the other chickens! She will kick and roll herself around like a Derp Tumbleweed, and end up on her back and yelling about it the whole time. The stress seems to bring her wry neck back on, too. I even tried penning her so that she could see the other chickens but not physically interact (I fear they may hurt her... or truthfully she may hurt them too!) and she just bashed herself mindlessly on the pen. Oh, Derp! That's okay, you are a lovely and good house chicken.

 

[PhipN FarmGirl]

I was going to write up a post here about Moa... It's been a week since we lost her, and it's still hitting me very hard. I am alone a lot, and it meant more to me than I realized to have a feathered friend like her that would listen to me, give me hugs (really!), and just spend time with me thoughtfully every day. I found I was having trouble writing it up, and I hate to start out on such a sad note, so instead I will link a small memorial I wrote last week for those that might like to read it: http://nambroth.tumblr.com/post/166846316327/a-tribute-to-moa-may-2011-october-2017-barred

i just read your beautiful tribute to Moa, it brought tears. What a special lady she was.

 

[drumstick diva]

What can you say about Derp except she has been Derp since she was hatched.

 

[drumstick diva]

Derp is consistently Derp

 

[FluffyWyandot]

I too have returned, i just didnt comment

 

[drumstick diva]

Fluffy I don't see any Wyandottes in your avatar

 

[FluffyWyandot]

Fluffy I don't see any Wyandottes in your avatar

Shhhhhh.....

 

[drumstick diva]

Sorry, it will be our secret

 

[KayTee]

Some of us old (in both senses of the word) Derp fans are still around Nambroth!
Two years of Derp as house chicken - where does the time go? I'm glad to see that she is still Derping around as always - any chance of a picture? Warrior-princess or tumbleweed pose - it doesn't matter which!

Your Bielefelders will be wonderful birds - and I'm talking from experience.

My most handsome boy - Ben - was absolutely the most amazing rooster I could ever have asked for. He was kind, gentle and so caring to his girls. Despite his size he never caused any problems to his girls when mounting them - even the smallest production reds. Sadly he died suddenly in the coop one night of heart failure - the vet told me he had just grown too big too quickly and his heart couldn't keep up

His partner - Chipmunk (not original, but she was the only other pure-bred Biely girl I had!) is still going strong, and has just started brooding 8 pale blue Auraucana eggs. She is definitely the top bird in the flock - she lets my new Ayam Cemani roo (Notorious B.I.G. AKA 'Biggie') think he's in charge, but everyone knows who the real boss is!

On a side note, I too have had Marek's in my flock, but my Bielefelders have never seemed to be affected by it at all. I have one more pure-bred (Ben and Chipmunk's daughter) and several cross-breeds (crossed with various types including production reds and black copper Marans), and none of them have ever shown symptoms either. However a couple of the pure breed Marans and production reds have been affected - to the point where I lost two young birds the summer before last. I am convinced that Bielefelders must have some sort of natural resistance to Marek's - and I hope and pray that is the same for your birds.