Our current breeder had told me that she often has bigger girls to sell by September. I had been waiting to get some events behind us before calling her. The wedding we catered for, a funeral, a weekend away and then a weekend afternoon tea.
Now I was ready to call her but she beat me to it with a text saying that she had saved me a black serama and a blue one as they were colours that I had said I would love to have. I knew she worked during the week so asked if we could go over at the weekend but she replied that she had Wednesday and Thursday off.
I said we would go over Wednesday afternoon and that I would like to choose a few more girls if she could spare them.
I was excited to see that she had a variety to choose from and asked if I could have five. They were all straight feathered as the silky girls she had were the same colour as Sienna and Jasmine and the few frizzle girls were already spoken for.
I am happy with straight feathered girls as it’s the variety of colour that appeals to me the most. I said I would take the two she had saved for me which she had been hiding so that no one else would see them and want them and then I chose three more from her other stock.
I separated off the bottom part of the run rather than the usual corner as the corner has the high nest box which the game girls use. I set up a feeding station and little coop/nest box plus a water bottle.
The new girls stayed very close together. I tried to show them the water bottle and the food dish but they weren’t interested. My husband suggested putting Sienna and Jasmine in with them to show them the food and water. This didn’t actually work but was good as there was no hassle between them. The silkie girls took no notice of the new girls. There is probably a certain safety in numbers but this was a good start.
Five new girls
Staying close together
I am sticking with my theme of descriptive names and have called them, Marmite, Smoke, Salmon, Vanilla and Spangle. Closer photos with their names further on.
The silkie girls join the new girls
Sienna and Jasmine take no notice of the new girls
By bedtime the new girls didn’t know where to go and were sounding distressed. I picked them up one by one and put them in the coop.
Bedtime
This morning I was awake early so I opened their coop and left them to come out in their own time. They have gained confidence today and explored their part of the run. This morning all the new girls were at the water bottle which I was relieved to see.
I ground up some growers pellets for them to make it more like chick crumb. I was pleased to see that they soon found the food dish and the water dish. I think they will probably find their own way into the coop tonight now that they know where to go.
In the food dish
Marmite
Vanilla
Smoke
Salmon in the middle
Spangle
I think they have settled in really well and I hope to integrate them quite quickly.
Click here to see the history of my flock.
Aw they’re lovely Carol!! So you’re up to a dozen now – that’s a nice number 🙂 xx
That’s what I thought. I have been up to ten before but with the size of my run and the small size of seramas I thought I could go to twelve. I thought it would safe guard against possible losses too although I hope not to lose any more girls obviously.
Lovely girls – especially Salmon. Lucky you ?
Of my first lot of chicks all the boys have gone to their new homes now (gutted to hear that one of the pekin boys disappeared the day before yesterday ☹️) and the only hen (Cammie the Campine) is settling in well with my 3 remaining girls.
The second lot of chicks are doing well and I’m pretty sure I have one of each pekin and that the Wyandotte bantam is another boy. 2 hens from a total of 8 chicks from 15 eggs – not great but at least it gives me room to get some more next year ?
It’s good that you were able to re home your boys. This is why I wouldn’t hatch my own. I couldn’t risk having boys. As you say you have room for more though which is always exciting.
That is a suprise, they are lovely, I like your choice of names.
You will have plenty to blog about now.
I knew it would come as a surprise but it was such a quick decision between the breeder contacting us and us being able to go to her. It will give me plenty to blog about for a while.
More hens! I’m so jealous. We are full here with just five, I’d love more.
The new ones are beautiful and I love your descriptive naming.
Tx
After a long time of feeling like the flock was small I finally feel back to a full flock again and I am loving it. I love the different colours and am really happy with the new girls. Glad you like the names.
Spangle was the most difficult to describe. She is both tortoiseshell and reminds me of the little seaside birds, turn stones. Suddenly Spangle came to mind as it describes the pattern of her feathers and her colour reminds of the “old English” spangle sweets of my childhood. Showing my age here!
How exciting. They are absolute beauties. Sorry I missed this from the outset – just back from holiday.
I thought you were probably away. They are lovely and we have only had them a week and a half but it feels like longer because they were fully integrated within a week and it’s been so easy. I have put all the girls on growers to get round the food problem. It should be nearing the end of egg laying and there is grit and oyster shell always in the hopper and the egg shells have been good and hard so I am happy this is okay.