MFC Chick Update..

*As always, click on any image to enlarge*

Blanche continues to be a wonderful 'foster Mom' to the five, rapidly growing  Mille Fleur Cochin chicks.

All five of the chicks were born with yellow (or blonde) down.  Two of them had a slight 'blush tint' to the yellow down and those two both show a more golden/coppery tone to their feathers.

This little guy is #2

he had yellow down with a blush saddle

His colors are a lot more contrasting than the golden chicks

He's also starting to develop some speckling on his chest.

It's fascinating watching the colors and patterns change and develop!

This is #4 ~ the all yellow down chick from the last two eggs to hatch.

For a while, she almost looked black & white but is now showing more bronw/red coloring coming in.

Blanche with the two youngest chicks

I wonder if she has any trouble telling the chicks apart.

Or if it even matters to her!

She seems to love them all equally.

The Gifts Just Keep on Coming....

I had a wonderful surprise this afternoon!

My beautiful "Opal" (the chick who almost died!),

Who looks more and more like my Beloved "Candy" as she matures,

Laid her very first EGG!

These photos were all taken on Nov. 28 ~ while it was still green outside.

Opal and Crystal and "Red" (the proud rooster) are living in my garage this winter.

It's going to be a Happy New Year in the Bluff Country!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Meet "Sable"!

She's a pure-bred, Great Pyre/Bermese Mountain Dog cross

(OK, with maybe a little German Shepherd thrown in for good measure!)

and the new "flock gaurdian" in the Bluff Country!

;-)

She is SO smart!

And poor "Bellamica" is SO jealous!!!

"I don't LIKE that new puppy!"

"I think we should send her BACK where she came from!"

I'm sure that Bella will come around.  She's still young enough that she wants to play.  She just doesn't know what to make of this noisy little furball that's invaded her home...

"Well, maybe IF she shares her toys..."

It's going to be a Joyous Christmas in the Bluff Country!

Wishing the same for you and yours!

Don't Blink...

Oh my gosh!  It's been over a week since I've posted.  One of the problems with raising baby chicks is that they grow and change SO fast!  Here's what's been happening in the past week...

Whew!!!

Data Collection ~ Ten Day Old Chicks...

Oh My Gosh!  LOOK at the wing feathers on this 10 day old Mille Fleur Cochin (project) chick!

Since day 10 was where I 'left off' with Hope, I thought I would pick up there with the three oldest of Rose's chicks.  These are the babies that are being raised by Star.

I want to document the development of these (and ALL of my) MFC chicks to try to learn what pattern develops into what type of adult bird.  So, tonight I photographed, weighed and put temporary leg bands (little cable ties) on each of the chicks so that I will know which one is which as I monitor their development.

I need to name these babies but want to wait until I know if they are boys (cockerels) or girls (pullets). 

Until I know, the colored leg tags will help me keep track of who's  who.  These first pictures are of the largest of the three chicks.  It weighed 57grams.  This is the chick that is mostly yellow with a 'buff saddle/butt' and the most defined markings on it's wings.  It now sports a blue leg band on it's left leg.

The smallest of the three chicks (45 grams) is the one born with all yellow down.

"She's" always been the smallest and has the lightest markings on her wing feathers.

As you can see, the all yellow chick got a yellow leg band.

The "middle child" is the one born with a slight buff tint to it's down.   This one weighed in at 50 grams and got a black leg band.

They're even starting to get feathers on  the back of their thighs and look at that little cush!!

Poor babies were NOT happy with all the handling and being taken away from Star!

"Oh, Mom!  It was just AWFUL!!!"

"She was so MEAN!"

"I think I might have PTSD"

Eight Day Old MFC Chicks...

I just can't get over how fast the oldest three chicks are growing!

Look at the beautiful wing feathers on these Mille Fleur Cochin chicks!

They are SO funny! 

This one's peeking underneath Star.

While this one is contemplating flying up on it's favorite perch...

It's a LONG way up!

Ta-Dah!!!

"I'm a VERY talented chick!"

"Show off!"

"We prefer to keep our feet on the ground!"

"Besides ~ the FOOD's down here!"

Movin On Up....

The Mille Fleur Bantam Cochins in the Bluff Country won't be using cat litter boxes for nest boxes much longer!  Thanks to the generosity of "FarmMan" and his wife, Pam, they will be bestowing their gifts in hand-made Hens Pals Nest Boxes!.  Not just ANY Hen Pals nest boxex either ~ no, No, NO!  They'll be luxuriating in a 3-hole BANTAM nest box!

These beautiful/functional nest boxes come in many sizes ~ ranging from Standard to bantam to Pigeon and are handcrafted right here in the USA!  Be sure to check out the Life on a Southern Farm blog and HenPals website to learn about how you can make YOUR flock feel like Royalty!

Needless to say, my girls are excited...

"Did you hear the News?"

"We're getting HenPals Bantam Nest Boxes!"

"No more cat boxes for ME!"

"I told you ladies, stick with me!  I'll take good care of you!"

"Yeah, right!"

"But, I DO want to thank Mom for campaigning so hard to win us a nest box.  And the wonderful FarmMan and his wife for putting on the Give-away!  And all of mom's friends and her daughters for working SO hard to get us these beautiful new nest boxes!  Most of all, of course...

I want to thank:

DREAM"

"Aw, shucks!  It was nothin."