What did you do with your flock today?

[FBMcrazy8]

That sounds romantic and lovely... or was lol.
I'll take you along my big basket weave adventure with photos- and ask for help when needed - @Shetland lover & @ChicksnMore

So dh and I had to go fill some bags with compost this morning. Gal who came to pick up and I started chatting about chickens etc. The etc was garden and then ducks, where I suggested she get Indian Runners (like I know these things lol) We can technically only get Muscovy on island but I know someone who I helped get IT'S, and who has asked and offered to have me hatch. Welp. Almost time to take her up on it. She said yes, but they are molting right now so I will wait till they are back their quasi normal selves. I'm pretty sure this means I will need to start a breeding pair. May have to scour the bushes for some new IR blood too. So, Jurassic Park adventures continue?

Welcome to the duck club!

 

[ChicksnMore]

My boys foot is getting better! So happy about that. Still no black, but I’m not holding my breath that it won’t show up. Both blisters on the bottom are shrinking. And the one that popped on the top is still doing good. Crossing my fingers he keeps going well. I don’t know what I would do if anything else goes wrong. I know that there is ups and downs raising animals but this is a lot in such a short time. Once I get my bearings I know things will get easier cause I will know how to handle it but until then, just have to remember to breath.

He's looking really good Hopefully you won't have another winter like this one for a long long time.

 

[Shetland lover]

Well I should have taken a closer look at his mom. She has the lacing. Now just curious if the whites splash or something else.View attachment 3362497View attachment 3362498View attachment 3362499View attachment 3362500

Is that his mom? She seems to be red/buff mottled with localised splash markings on her head. She's very pretty!
Penelope and Ferdy's dad was lavender (with blue breeding in his line somewhere as the reverse of his flight feathers were steel blue) and their mom is blue mottled.
If dad carries blue or lavender and passes on the gene, your lovely little boy could be splash.

 

[Shetland lover]

My boys foot is getting better! So happy about that. Still no black, but I’m not holding my breath that it won’t show up. Both blisters on the bottom are shrinking. And the one that popped on the top is still doing good. Crossing my fingers he keeps going well. I don’t know what I would do if anything else goes wrong. I know that there is ups and downs raising animals but this is a lot in such a short time. Once I get my bearings I know things will get easier cause I will know how to handle it but until then, just have to remember to breath.

Wow! They are looking much better. Fingers crossed it doesn't go black

 

[ChicksnMore]

Is that his mom? She seems to be red/buff mottled with localised splash markings on her head. She's very pretty!
Penelope and Ferdy's dad was lavender (with blue breeding in his line somewhere as the reverse of his flight feathers were steel blue) and their mom is blue mottled.
If dad carries blue or lavender and passes on the gene, your lovely little boy could be splash.

I'd never seen lavender until I got these guys. I thought the blue were lavender at first... probably because reading says lavender exists in the breed (though there's gene pool breeders from Oland that say it doesn't ). When I saw pics of actual lavender I was enchanted! Such a lovely color .

Both mom and dad from that boy definitely carry blue. I just want to know what splash looks like in these birds...lol. Just curiosity

I traded a few chicks for a few aloha chicks and I was told those are dun birds. One looks an awful lot like a giant blue dwarf. The other three have different markings similar to some of the dwarf pics I've seen, just messier less uniform markings with no feather pattern. I think. I should go hold them and look closely Anyway, brief reading says dun is a separate color so want to learn about that too.

Think I'm too old to really learn too much about genetics though. Would be nice to at least learn about my own birds though.

 

[FBMcrazy8]

He's looking really good Hopefully you won't have another winter like this one for a long long time.

Hopefully not, HOWEVER, I have a plan for next time and will know what to do and what to expect. Not knowing how to handle it or how my coop would even be during that made it hard. Also trusting them to get out of the weather was a bad idea. Now I know…

 

[FBMcrazy8]

Wow! They are looking much better. Fingers crossed it doesn't go black

Believe me I’m crossing them! And my toes .

 

[FBMcrazy8]

I'd never seen lavender until I got these guys. I thought the blue were lavender at first... probably because reading says lavender exists in the breed (though there's gene pool breeders from Oland that say it doesn't ). When I saw pics of actual lavender I was enchanted! Such a lovely color .

Both mom and dad from that boy definitely carry blue. I just want to know what splash looks like in these birds...lol. Just curiosity

I traded a few chicks for a few aloha chicks and I was told those are dun birds. One looks an awful lot like a giant blue dwarf. The other three have different markings similar to some of the dwarf pics I've seen, just messier less uniform markings with no feather pattern. I think. I should go hold them and look closely Anyway, brief reading says dun is a separate color so want to learn about that too.

Think I'm too old to really learn too much about genetics though. Would be nice to at least learn about my own birds though.

You’re never too old! Learning about the genetics would be fun, even for one’s own birds. Sometimes reading that stuff though gets confusing and I get lost in the sauce

 

[ChicksnMore]

Ready for tonight's firework explosion . We have two dogs that just loose their marbles in fear. The little black and white one here and a big shepherd mix. Hoping to keep my kids mouse from having a heart attack at least. The big dog will have to settle for hiding under a blanket on the couch.

Hope everyone's pets stay safe and calm!

 

[ChicksnMore]

Think my back might be sore by bedtime