Talullah and Little Missy

Talullah talking to me on my lap.

Today we are rehoming one of the Silkie roosters. A woman who has chickens said she wanted another rooster.  So...the better of the two is leaving in a cat carrier. :-)  He never got a name, and when I put him in the cat carrier he did typical rooster behavior and force his way out.  I have seen roosters at chicken shows kill themselves trying to get out of the cage.  He calmed down and is sitting in our air conditioned shop waiting for his ride in a cat carrier.  I put in some water and food, but he's not touching it.  I hope he's okay.

Little Missy a bantam buff Cochin sitting on me.

Talullah and Little Missy continue to show me more love and affection than our cat.  I sit in my folding chair in their run, and one sits on one leg, one sits on the other.  Occasionally while sitting on my thighs great jealousy erupts and one starts pecking the other, until they hop down.  They are very vocal, and I do the baby thing and say: "Oh really, you don't say"...as they are really talking to me.  You can see how red their combs and waddles are getting.  Their backs are also broadening as they get ready to lay.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6UYmM3YecI

Click on the link above to see a 19 second video of Little Miss and Talullah on my lap.

Thanks for reading.  Each day is a gift. Open now!
xo,
Suz

Chicken Clucks

My friend sent me this photo from a chicken keeper in Slovenia!

Two days ago I posted an add on Craig'slist to sell our two Silkie roosters that were supposed to be hens.  I saw their combs growing about a month ago.  They started stalking the smaller hens.  About a week ago I heard their pitiful attempts at crowing.  Silkies have funny crows to start with. One rooster is the non neurotypical guy, "Bobbles" who has Tourettes ticks, and petit mal seizures.  I have a soft spot in my heart for him.  He beat all the odds of being pecked by the bigger and stronger birds.  I would keep him if I can just sell the other.  Our dog Buddy howls now when he hears them crow. What a symphony!

"Little Missy" a buff cochin banty hops on my lap and coos when I pet her.

Puberty has hit my flock with a vengeance.  The one normal Silkie rooster is trying to hop on the big hens.  They are so much larger, that they just turn their heads backward and pick him off like a bug. :-)
The smaller hens and babies run every time they see him coming.  The combs and waddles are turning from pale pink to red.  Their under belly where the eggs come from are beginning to soften on some.  That means it's time to get those nesting boxes ready, and the final coop made. The other tell tale sound is a "bagawk" call hens make letting the world know they are laying an egg.  There are lots of those...but no eggs yet. Keep your fingers crossed I get an email from someone who wants to broaden their flock...

Morning "mash" of leftover veggies, crackers, and milk.

They looooove my set chair!

Thanks for reading. Each day is a gift. Open now.
xo,
Suz

Granny Smith apples on our tree.