Here is the chick update.
I got 4 chicks that were "guaranteed" by the breeder to be pullets at the beginning of March.
A library friend, Mr O'Malley even gave me holy oil from St Josephs church in Montreal so I could anoint them in hopes they would
stay pullets. (female animals here tend to turn into males. Read all about the duck diaries starting March 2012)
I sprinkled all 4 with holy oil and then one of the black pullets turned into a rooster very quickly.
This very rare Blue French Copper Maran started trying to crow when he was just 3 weeks old.
The chicks were still in the brooder in my bathroom, when he started practicing his crowing at 5:30 am.
There was no mistaking that sound.
His black feathers started turning a smokey blue, feather by feather.
Incredible to watch.
A beautiful light blue.
The Blue Laced Red Wyandotte is staying a pullet, so far.
However, I do not know what this chick is. I am grateful this chick has also remained a pullet.
She was suppose to also be a Blue Laced Red Wyandotte (BLRW) But she does not look like one.
Her feathers are a different color.
Also very beautiful, but I do not think she is a BLRW.
Got any ideas?
I am keeping her.
Will probably name her Mystery.
The chicks have been spending the days out in the Chicken Winnebago. Its 12 feet long and in the spring sunshine. I have a tree limb and lots of hay and straw inside. they scratch for the food and fly around.
Sometimes the hens come to visit them. it is a perfect way to raise young chicks. At night I put them in a wire dog crate in the coop. They have their own roost and space, protected from the obnoxious, hormonal ducks.
Last weekend I put an ad on craigslist for the rooster.
In an hour I had several responses.
The next day I saw the 2 black chicks fighting with each other and surmised I might have 2 roosters!
How can this be ?
Even though the other rooster hadn't developed a larger comb yet, he has the longer tail feathers of a male. Will have to "wait and see" if the comb grows and he starts crowing. It should be soon, since they all hatched on the same day.
A nice family from my town came and picked up Rooster #1 on Sunday.
They have 30 guinea hens and a dozen hens. They want to breed and raise hens that will lay a darker brown egg and this rooster is part of their breeding plan.
I get visiting rights.
And ironically, I have been driving by their farm for several years and admiring their Irish Dexter cattle and soon I will be getting a tour and meeting their cows up close and personal!
Talk about LUCK!
I am thrilled that this rooster will avoid the stew pot and be a noble rooster on a nearby farm.
Of course I had to ask if they would be interested in being part of the Tour D'Coop that we are planning for our 250th celebration. Since they have a
very unusual kind of chicken coop, they happily agreed to be included in the big event. (stay tuned for photos of that tour this summer)
Now I need to do TWO things:
Get ready to find a home for Blue Maran #2 "if" it turns into a rooster (still praying its a pullet).
and get some more real pullets!!
Here are photos of what the chicks looked like the day I picked them up.
Click here.
~
