Sophie asked if I could take photos to show a size comparison between the girls. She said it may be easier said than done and so it proved.
Snowflake by name and Snowflake by nature is difficult to photograph because as soon as she sees the camera she moves away. Gold and Storm are the opposite and as soon as they see the camera or more precisely my hands, they run to me and dive bomb the photo. I cant get back from them as when I step back they follow.
The rest of the flock are easy as they are used to the camera and take no notice. In the end I had to resort to treats to distract them. One of the photos is blurred but I kept it as it showed size comparison well.
I can’t understand why this amazing looking, one year old girl, isn’t laying yet.
Snowflake is wide and chunky and heavy but has short legs and is very low to the ground. Gold is taller but slimmer and lighter. Storm is tiny in body and very light but has long legs and a long neck.
Flame is the largest and heaviest girl. Spot is next in size but is much lighter than Flame. Spangle and Sugar are similar in size to each other with Salmon being a bit smaller. Storm is smallest of all despite her height.
Both Gold and Storm like to jump on me and follow my every move. They “help” me clean up by either riding on my back or pecking around my fingers and toes.
I can’t move in the run without their supervision. When I enter the run Gold steps on to the threshold of the gate and I have to lift her away to go in. She doesn’t mind me picking her up at all.
Snowflake has taken over digging duties and is always digging deep holes. She has quite large feet. I would have liked a photo of her digging one of her huge holes but every time I approached with the camera she abandoned her digging only to return as soon as I moved away.
And in other news it only took two nights in the crate for Sugar to come out of being broody. Two nights and just the one day in between. I think because she had been broody so long she was more ready to come out of it.
Perhaps next time I should try to break her out of it sooner. I would like to leave it to nature but as she was broody a month the first time last year and a month first time again this year I suspect that she will always be this committed.
For now it is great to be in a broody free zone!
Click here to see the history of my flock.
Thank you for the great pics Carol!! I see what you mean – Snowflake doesn’t look a lot taller than the seramas but is a VERY chunky girl!! And Gold doesn’t look much bigger than the seramas. Storm looks very elegant! So pleased that you’ve broken Sugar’s broodiness although she did look very cute in the broody cage. I’m seriously considering getting a ardennaise and a chabo from Pipinchick to keep Jasmine company although you’ve slightly put me off with the description of Snowflake’s massive holes as I would like to free-range them at times. I keep changing my mind though and have even considered hatching some orpington bantams so watch this space! xx
I took half the photos yesterday and half today to get a mix. I wouldn’t let the digging put you off as the soil in my run is so easy to dig and Cinnamon and Smoke managed to dig holes just the same as Snowflake. I have to say though that I am much fonder of Gold and Storm but that’s due to them being so friendly around me whereas Snowflake isn’t at all. There again it took Spot a long time to get comfortable around me. I will be interested to see what you decide to do. Keep me posted. xx
Will do! Forgot to say that Spangle is sooooo pretty!!
Is Gold laying really well still? And how is Snowflake for laying? It would be nice to have some more eggs xx
Gold is an amazing layer and has now laid up to six days in a row with just one day off then lays the next one. Snowflake lays two days in a row then miss a day then two days. xx
Very tempting!! xx
I think you would love a “Gold” xx
Can we place a chicken coop under a flowering apple tree?
We have 2 young female Aquila chickens and wondering where to plié their coop and pen.
I’m not sure what to say here. Personally I wouldn’t. Chickens love sun and the tree would give shade. There could be problems with apples and leaves falling on the roof. If not roofed the tree would allow predators a way in and that would be a definite no, but then again, I wouldn’t have a run without a roof myself. You probably need to do a bit of research.
Such lovley healthy looking girls.
I am loving the variety in the flock at the moment. A lovely mix of pretty girls and all getting along so well.
Lovely photos of lovely birds. Snowflake almost looks like she has a broody stance. 🙂
I thought that too. Watch this space for my next post. Snowflake did a weird two day, almost broody, thing.