YO GEORGIANS! :)

[brucifer]

Took the roos out of the coop and run to give the girls a beak. My Cochins seem to be relentless. I think I will pen them for awhile till fall when the weather is cooler. It's just too hot right now for the girls to be bothered. They need a rest. The Hawk is back I don't know what kind it is but it's one of the biggest ones I've seen. The wing span is enormous. It could pick up my little dog without a problem as well as my biggest chicken. The boys are great.at alarming when it's around.

Probably a red-tailed hawk. Although the juveniles can be as large as the adults, they don't have the brick-red tail feathers just yet. We sometimes get red-tailed hawks around here, but the kind of hawk we really have to be on guard for is the Cooper's hawk. Our property abuts a forested area, and Copper's hawks can fly through the forest like it's nothing. Red-tailed hawks can't do that. Fortunately we have a lot of crows around here who have alerted us when there are any hawks in the area. The black-and-white barring on Cooper's hawk's wing and tail feathers make those hawks easy to identify. They also smaller than red-tailed hawks.

 

[Flowerbh]

There are always going to be little errors---especially in lower budget shows where they don't have a huge staff doing every little thing! I think you did great! It's kind of discombobulating when you have cameras in your face and are expected to be "on" the whole time! I thought it was nice that they showed your record keeping and asked pretty solid questions. Hats off to you! Trust me---I worked in TV starting when I was 14, and there were always errors whether you were working for CNN, NBC, or an in-house training video! You were great!

Thank you! It was fun!

 

[brucifer]

The Muscovy are hatching! The first one is out, and several are pipping! It's a Lavender!

Here's a photo or three of the Ayam Cemani (They've been sold.):

Auto-focus didn't like the black. (Those aren't tall trees in the immediate background. I just need to cut grass this weekend. No rain

This one is solid black!

You can see a tiny bit of pink on the middle toe. Other than that, solid black!

 

[brucifer]

I'm going to miss my birds, so I took a few (okay, a lot) photos today. Here's 10:

This is one of our FBCM girls, Cathy (short for Chatty Cathy). This girl loves to follow me and is such a sweetheart. She's laying pretty terracotta eggs now, and they should darken in color as she ages.

This is one of our FBCM boys, Skeeter. He is such a stud. Definitely the alpha cockerel/roo in the yard. I'm going to miss this guy. As big and macho as he has become, he loves for me to hold him and give him treats. Yup, he's spoiled!

Here's a headshot of Skeets. That's one handsome mug.

Here's a photo of Juliette, one of our Chocolate Orpington girls. I tried to get her to face the camera, but she was having none of it and would only show me her rump. For an Orpington, she lays extra-large, dark eggs, but she's a typical Orpington in one respect: She LOVES to eat.

Here's one of the Chocolate Orpington boys. They have all grown into such handsome birds. I've been so pleased with this breed and this variety in terms of beauty.

Here's a headshot of Chocoboy.

This is our lone Chocolate Cuckoo Orpington. His name is Smokey, and he was a gift from Becky. Even though he is gianormous, he is one big chicken. (I think the flash from the camera spooked him.) He's a sweet, gentle soul. I had plans for Ol' Smokes and was hoping to cross him with some of the Chocolate girls. He would have made some beautiful babies!

Here's a headshot of Ol' Smokey.

This is one of our Crele Orpington cockerel growouts. He's a good example of another handsome Orpington variety.

Here's a headshot of the youngster.

 

[sue25]

The pics.are beautiful. Sad that you aren't keeping any of them. Surely you could have keep a.few of your favorites. I could neve processes my pets. I have one Buff Orpington. Her chicks are mixed with my Flower Hen/Islandic roo. I had my Silkies hatch them. There very pretty now.

 

[brucifer]

The pics.are beautiful. Sad that you aren't keeping any of them. Surely you could have keep a.few of your favorites. I could neve processes my pets. I have one Buff Orpington. Her chicks are mixed with my Flower Hen/Islandic roo. I had my Silkies hatch them. There very pretty now.

I'm sure we could have kept some, but the birds had become a point of contention, and I pictured it as potentially extending into the future, so we thought it best just to sell out. I'll spare you the details, but we feel this was the best solution. Anyway, as a result, a lot of folks are getting some excellent birds, and since that makes them happy, we're happy too.

 

[sue25]

There's quite a variety of quail out there. I'm sure you'll have fun with them. What kind of rabbits do you think you will start with? Back when my kids were small we had rabbits that we processed for meet.

 

[brucifer]

I'm pretty sure we'll go with Jumbo Coturnix quail which is the same variety Jack has.

We may try raising pheasant as well. I need to learn more about them.

As for rabbits, I had a New Zealand White as a pet many years ago, and he grew to be huge. That variety is a possibility as is the Champagne d'Argent. I will have to see what grows fast, provides good meat for smoking, and is available.

Prior to WWII, rabbit was eaten more than chicken in many parts of the world. What's great about rabbit is that the meat is practically all lean protein.

Are you considering going back into raising rabbits for meat?

 

[Flowerbh]

I'm going to miss my birds, so I took a few (okay, a lot) photos today. Here's 10:

View attachment 1114935
This is one of our FBCM girls, Cathy (short for Chatty Cathy). This girl loves to follow me and is such a sweetheart. She's laying pretty terracotta eggs now, and they should darken in color as she ages.

View attachment 1114938
This is one of our FBCM boys, Skeeter. He is such a stud. Definitely the alpha cockerel/roo in the yard. I'm going to miss this guy. As big and macho as he has become, he loves for me to hold him and give him treats. Yup, he's spoiled!

View attachment 1114950
Here's a headshot of Skeets. That's one handsome mug.

View attachment 1114953
Here's a photo of Juliette, one of our Chocolate Orpington girls. I tried to get her to face the camera, but she was having none of it and would only show me her rump. For an Orpington, she lays extra-large, dark eggs, but she's a typical Orpington in one respect: She LOVES to eat.

View attachment 1114962
Here's one of the Chocolate Orpington boys. They have all grown into such handsome birds. I've been so pleased with this breed and this variety in terms of beauty.

View attachment 1114970
Here's a headshot of Chocoboy.

View attachment 1114974
This is our lone Chocolate Cuckoo Orpington. His name is Smokey, and he was a gift from Becky. Even though he is gianormous, he is one big chicken. (I think the flash from the camera spooked him.) He's a sweet, gentle soul. I had plans for Ol' Smokes and was hoping to cross him with some of the Chocolate girls. He would have made some beautiful babies!

OMG! They are beautiful! I really love Smokey but I don't want him! I love Juliette. If you don't sell her, I may get her from you.

View attachment 1114982
Here's a headshot of Ol' Smokey.

View attachment 1114984
This is one of our Crele Orpington cockerel growouts. He's a good example of another handsome Orpington variety.

View attachment 1114989
Here's a headshot of the youngster.

 

[Flowerbh]

Don't know where my response went....Bruce, Love Smokey but I don't need him. He turned out so handsome! I like Juliette. If you don't sell her, I will buy her.