Bluff Country Back Yard Chickens

For you Viewing and Listening Pleasure...

2011-12-10T16:58:00.000-08:00

I am proud to present:

"THE BLUFF COUNTRY CANINES"

The baby Cochins are out!

2011-07-04T07:59:00.000-07:00

Finally! The baby cochins have ventured out into the great outdoors.

I love to see those little, fuzzy feet, hopping around in the grass!

Talk about "Fuzzy Feet"!

OMG. They are just SO cute!

Have a safe and happy Fourth of July!

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL!

The last of the Bluff Country Backyard Chickens...

2011-07-03T05:20:00.000-07:00

I sold all of my adult chickens but am keeping two, broody hens for my sister. When I hatched out a clutch of Blue Laced Red Wyandotte eggs and a bunch of mille fleur/calico eggs recently, I decided to put those broody girls to work!

It's so funny ~ one of the hens takes care of the cochin chicks and one takes care of the BLRW chicks! They are all in the same pen but only the hen with the BLRW has brought her chicks outside, so far.

I have to admit, it's fun having 'chickens in the backyard' again!

Blue-laced Buff Orpingdotte???

2011-04-16T20:39:00.000-07:00

I've been incubating and hatching eggs!

Especially my BLRW eggs.

Just to see what I'd get, I incubated one of the Buff Orpington hen's eggs. She's in with the Blue Laced Red Wyandottes.

Well, there you have it...

A Blue Laced Buff Orpingdotte!

You've got to love it!

:-)

I know that I'm cheating my using a previous post for Farm Friend Friday, but I'm so excited about the name that I made up for a Buff Orpington and Blue-laced-red Wyandotte cross chick! I'm like a little kid showing off. I want everyone to see it!

For lots more chickens, ducks, sheep goats, cows, horses, etc., stop by Verde Farm for Farm Friend Friday!

Don't try this at home...

2011-04-14T21:24:00.000-07:00

I may just have to hire my friend, Tammy, to keep the crazy funny videos that she sends me coming!

Thanks for ALL of the smiles, Tammy!

If you just can't get enough about all sorts of animals and/or life on a farm: hop, run or fly on over to Verde Farm's FARM FRIEND FRIDAY where you'll find links to all sorts of animal blogs.

Have fun!

He's King of the Hill...

2011-04-02T10:00:00.000-07:00

I have to admit: I think this is the most beautiful Blue-Laced-Red
Wyandotte rooster that I have ever seen!

I LOVE the deep, dark blue on this neck feathering and the dark, brick red on his breast feathers.

His conformation is excellent as well!

He positivey takes my breath away!

"Big Blue", as he is affectionately called,

is a very sweet boy.

He is also, now, my only BLRW breeding rooster.

I sold my stunning splash rooster because I have plenty of gorgeous splash hens and don't want too many Splash birds.

As much as I like the dark blue birds, I think that without the contrast of the striking Splash girls, the all dark blue would look rather plain.

Blue is friendly with people but really gaurds his territory fiercely from any unwise cochin rooster who happens to venture where he is not welcome...

The girls are all laying like crazy and I'm incubating and selling hatching eggs like crazy!

$30 for a 1/2 dozen $55 for a dozsen...

Yes! I still have chickens...

2011-03-16T09:08:00.000-07:00

I know that I've been terrible about keeping this blog up to date! I'll work on fixing that.
I promise!

How the heck can they stand like that???

He really does have two legs...

The BLRW are the only chickens venturing outside so far. The temps are supposed to get into the fifties today so, hopefully, the rest of the snow will melt (we won't even talk about all the MUD that means!) and the Cochins get out into the sunshine as well.

The little guys that were brooding in my living room have made their way out into the garage. Wouldn't you just know that they both turned out to be boys? They're so cute! When ever I go out to the garage, they come running up to me, chirpping away. They may just move outside this week. I'll miss them greeting me every morning when I let the dogs out.

I've got the incubator fired up and am going to set some eggs today!

All of my Cochin hens (except one) are setting on eggs now but the BLRW are laying like crazy. I may even hatch a couple of the Buff Orpington/BLRW cross eggs. I can tell which ones they are because they're much darker than the pure Wyandotte eggs. It will be interesting to see what that cross looks like. I have to admit, my Buff Orps are my best layers! Although, now that they're finally figured it out, the BLRW are doing a good job as well. I only have seven females left ~ some guy from Iowa(?) keeps buying all my best birds!

;-)

So, I'm going to hatch out a bunch more...

Because Everyone deserves a Hug...(and a Smile!)

2011-02-21T11:41:00.000-08:00

Sure Signs of Spring!

2011-02-18T13:58:00.000-08:00

For the first time in ages, all of my Blue Laced Red Wyandottes have ventured out into the yard!

My gorgeous, Dark blue rooster is showing off for the girls

The hens however, seem much more interested in scratching around

"Levi" (my 'splash' BLR rooster) seems to be enjoying stretching his legs as well

There's still a lot of snow to melt

(and the cochins have yet to leave their barn!)

but at least (for now) things appear to be moving in the right direction

Think Spring!!!

P.S. You are cordially invited

to join the Birthday Celebration

It is really my 5 year anniversary with my

"A Shepherd's Voice" blog.

We'll be celebrating all weekend with games and prizes!

A little bird told me....

2011-02-10T09:27:00.000-08:00

So, it may have actually been TWO little birds.

Since the poll to select the winner of my "make up a word and definition for that word, from the letters you get when you go to leave a comment on this blog" contest, was on this blog, instead of my "A Shepherd's Voice" blog (where it was supposed to be), I figured that I should probably announce the winner on here as well.

So, with no further ado...

I am pleased to announce,

that the winner is...

Corinne, from Crosswinds Farm!

Corinne's entry was:

relazi (re lazi) meaning: You have been lazy but have not done it satisfactorily so you have to do it again. Example: My husband has been lying around all day but he feels as though he needs to relazi now by watching the football game for 5 hours

I did it again!

2011-02-09T08:47:00.000-08:00

Once again, I have put a post that was intended for my "A Shepherd's Voice" blog on this blog. Trust me ~ it is NOT necessary for you to tell me what this means! I already know. ;-)

In case you're wondering what the above poll is all about, check out the blog posts on ASV by starting here:

Here's a gratuitous chicken photo, just to make this look like a legitimate post:

Ahhh, what the heck!

I may as well do a real post, since I'm here...

The above photo is of the first (and ONLY) mean rooster I've ever had.

This is the same rooster, after I kicked him half-way across the barn and chased him outside.

He's a pretty boy but I will NOT tolerate an ill tempered chicken!

(I had enough of that with husbands!)

Baby Cochin update!

2011-02-02T14:43:00.000-08:00

I forgot how quickly baby chicks grow and change!

I must admit, I'm enjoying having two little chicks in the house again.

TWO.

Just TWO.

ONLY two.

That's it!

No More!

Mimi's just happy to have a warm place to lay!

Just another day in the chicken coop.

2011-01-24T07:49:00.000-08:00

The chickens lead a pretty quiet life during the winter months.

My cochins won't even venture out into the snow, although the door to their paddock is always open. I've got a bunch of broody hens, setting on eggs, out there.

Last summer's chicks are all grown up.

This lovely girl is from my flock improvement group. Her mama is a show quality buff columbian cochin and her daddy is a gorgeous MFC/Calico rooster. She's in with my Calico rooster now and I'm anxious to see what her chicks will look like.

My youngest batch (only 3 left) of Blue-laced-red Wyandotte chicks are still living with the cochins. I put them under a broody cochin hen when they hatched so they could grow up with chickens, rather than in a brooder. I'll move them out with my other 'Blues' in the Spring.

We had a bit of excitement in the chicken barn the other day.

The piglets, "Holly" & "Ivy" followed me out, when I went to feed the chickens. Well, those pig snouts are great for opening anything that they want opened and my girls decided that they wanted to come into the chicken coop with me!

That poor, little black-laced pullet wasn't real happy about the visitor!

Of course, I quickly picked up the feed pans and waterers. The gilts (female piglets) had a blast rooting through the shavings for dropped feed. I'm sure they found plenty!

The chickens were quite mortified by these 'big' intruders.

I finally had to chase the pigs out so that I could give the chickens their food. If I plan on housing the pigs in with the chickens, (which I think might work) I'll definitely have to rig up feeders that are out of the pigs reach! They quite obviously, love chicken feed!

Have a Great week, everyone!

CHICKEN news!!!

2011-01-22T11:25:00.000-08:00

Guess what I've got in the house again?

BABY CHICKS!!!

I kept my word and have not incubated any eggs but my Cochin hens have been quite busy setting in the nest boxes in the chicken barn.

I was going to try letting the hens raise any chicks that hatched but there were two chicks last week that I found dead on the second or third day after hatching. I think it's just too cold out for them to survive. Especially since my nest boxes are raised. If a chick leaves the nest box ~ which it has to do in order to get food and water ~ there's no way it can get back in. And if Mama hen is still setting on more eggs, the first ones to hatch will most certainly die.

So, I brought these two in and will continue to do so with any more that hatch.

This little goof, immediately fell into the water dispenser but then proceeded to teach her sibling how to drink from it.

I love this photo of the black chick standing in front of the heat lamp.

I swear she's drying her breast feathers!

This morning, the babies are doing great.

They're eating and drinking and love to snuggle into the folds of the towel in the container I'm using for a brooder.

I have to admit:

It's nice having babies in the house again!

With three cats also in and out of the house, it's a good thing Sable is hard at work guarding her newest flock members...

"...sigh! A girl's work is never done! "

I wonder if I could teach my CHICKENS to do this...

2011-01-08T22:41:00.000-08:00

Holly & Ivy's big adventure!

2010-12-27T19:40:00.000-08:00

Today was the first day that the piglets got to go outside.

They were so cute. Followed me right out of the garage and had a blast exploring the snow.

Of course, Sable was there to supervise...

Holly (poor, starving creature that she is!),

discovered the chicken food bucket.

A good time was had by all!

And, then it was time for a nap!

Talk about "Chickens"!

2010-12-24T16:59:00.000-08:00

Meet "Holly" & "Ivy".

They're American Guinea Hogs.

Well, they're just babies right now...

and they're big CHICKENS!

;-)

They're afraid of everything.

Especially "Holly"

She's very shy.

She squeals and runs if I touch her!

We're working on that though.

I sit next to the feed dish and if she wants to eat, she has to let me pet her.

It's working.

Holly's about 9 weeks old and I would guess that she weighs about 15 to 20 pounds.

But, that is SOLID as a ROCK!

"Ivy" is a little bit more confident.

Her breeder spent time handling all of her piglets, daily, and Ivy already likes being petted and scratched. But NOT picked up!

Good Lord, these girls can make a racket!!!

;-)

Ivy's about the same size as Holly but not quite as heavy.

So, Holly tends to push her away from the food dish. I of course, intervene and give Ivy her own dish of food.

They really are fascinating little critters!

Heading into their kennel for a nap!

We at Bluff Country Shetlands and Backyard Chickens and American Guinea Hogs wish YOU a very Merry Christmas ~ filled with Joy and Love!

Chickens in the Snow...

2010-12-17T06:40:00.000-08:00

You might be wondering why there aren't any pictures of my chickens in the snow. Everyone knows how much I like taking and sharing photographs of my animals. And winter in the Bluff Country of SE Minnesota ~ with it's crisp, lovely white-ness, makes for such a lovely background.

There's only one problem. My chickens will NOT go out into the snow.

Uh-uh. No way. NOT going to happen.

Chicken in the barn photos just aren't as fun....

Do your chickens venture outside during the winter months? How do you lure them out?

Maybe my chickens are just wimps!

If you can watch this and not smile...You're no friend of mine!

2010-12-11T15:09:00.000-08:00

Baby it's COLD outside!

2010-12-10T06:20:00.000-08:00

I just had to share this picture of one of my "big-blue" roosters. He's resting on a roost in my big barn. Nobody's venturing outside much since we got a foot of snow. The big barn is where I keep the bachelor boys who are destined for the freezer. :-( I hate the thought of having some of these guys processed but I can't feed fifty roosters all winter long!

My cochin hens are laying up a storm! I have fifteen hens and pullets and am getting seven or eight eggs a day. Apparently, they didn't read the part of the poultry manual that says chickens stop laying eggs during the winter months...

Stay warm and enjoy the Holiday Season!

Some things just HAVE to be shared...

2010-12-04T16:27:00.000-08:00

Enjoy!

If you didn't smile, you're not human!

~ Happy Winter ~

Bad Timing!

2010-11-29T06:24:00.000-08:00

Poor Oprah!

I've noticed, over the past month or so, that she appeared to be losing weight.

She's also staying in the barn much more than usual.

I was getting worried.

I thought she was dying.

Normally, Oprah and Goldilocks look like identical twins.

That's Goldilocks above. You can barely see Oprah's head behind her.

They certainly don't look like twins, NOW!

They WERE the same size.

POOR OPRAH!

The good news is:

Oprah's not dying.

She's not shrinking.

She's MOLTING!

Maybe I should put a heat lamp in their coop?

Busy Shepherdess...

2010-11-20T14:21:00.000-08:00

I've been needle-felting like crazy!

Getting lots of "Bubbles" made up for my on-line store, "Sheep Hugs & Soap Suds". Last night, I even introduced a new flock mate for Bubbles ~ named "Hugs"!

She looks just like the sheep on my new Logo!

One of these days, I'll make "Dream".

I hope you're all remembering to VOTE in the Photo Contest!

Remember, you can vote every day between now and November 30th!

First prize is Five Hundred Dollars and I'd sure appreciate your support!

You can click on either of these photos to go to the site and cast your vote:

SHEEP

("Ewes in the Mist")

CHICKENS

("Chicken Nuggets")

OK.

I see what I did.

I posted this on my Chicken blog.

It was supposed to go on my Sheep blog.

I'm getting old.

Don't forget to VOTE!!!!

Talk about BLUE chickens!

2010-11-19T23:41:00.000-08:00

The baby Blue-laced-red Wyandottes, born last spring, are growing up.

I just can't get over how BLUE this cockerel is!

He's got beautiful lacing as well.

I have not messed with the color on these pictures,

he really is that blue!

This is one of my favorites of the young pullets:

I've just never had such BLUE, blue chickens before!

There are actually three girls that look like this.

I think they are absolutely EXQUISITE!

:-)

I hope you remembered to vote for one of my photographs in the on-line photo contest that I entered! Just to make it easy for you, you can click on the picture (below) that you like the best and it will take you to the site where you can vote.

CHICKENS

SHEEP

Thank you SO much for voting! First place wins FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS!

That would sure buy a lot of chicken feed!

Remember, you can only vote once a day

But you can vote every day from now until Nov. 30th.

I appreciate your help!

TWO contests: Chickens vs Sheep and a Photography contest.

2010-11-17T07:14:00.000-08:00

I have entered an on-line Photo Contest.

My first (and personal favorite) photograph entered was:

"Chicken Nuggets"

You can enter up to eight photographs so I actually used a series of pictures

of Star with her day-old chicks

to tell a little story.

First prize ($500.00!!!) in the contest will be determined by which photo gets the most votes.

That's where YOU come in! ;-)

If you would be SO kind as to VOTE for my photo, today and every day, through November 30th, I would be MOST grateful! If you're so inclined, you could even ask your friends to vote and/or share this link on Facebook or Twitter!

For added incentive,

"Dream", from my A Shepherd's Voice blog has declared this is a show-down between the SHEEP (another photo I entered)

and the CHICKENS!

Who will win?

Cast your vote, today and every day, through November 30th. The winner will be announced on December 15.

If, by some miracle, one of my photographs should happen to win, we will be celebrating with a BIG give-away, on BOTH of my blogs.

Please Vote!

The boys gotta go!

2010-11-10T12:25:00.000-08:00

I'm finally listing my extra (over fifty!) roosters for sale.

I've got some incredibly beautiful boys ~ MFC, Calico and BLRW. I am NOT going to feed all these guys through the winter so I'm offering them for sale now and what ever is left over, will make a trip next week, to the Amish community and come back in little white packages.

This is probably my personal favorite of the MFCs.

He's got gorgeous type (he's alerted in the top photo, so not showing it the best) and awesome markings.

All of the boys are moulting heavily right now so none of them are in their best form in these photos but I think you can still see there are some VERY nice roosters here...

Babies...

I have Calico cockerels

Mille Fleur boys

Gorgeous cockerels from the Flock Improvement Group

The one above, is from my Buff Columbian (bantam cochin) hen, crossed with my MFC/Calico rooster, "Cracker Jack"

CJ is also the sire of these gorgeous Black Mottled X Calicos

I am keeping "ICE"

Shown below with his tail feathers blowing in the wind.

I joked that he looks like a TURKEY!

Ice is a son of Cracker Jack (CJ) and he will be the flock sire for the next generation in my Calico project. I have several, younger cockerels who look a LOT like Ice did at their age that are available for sale.

But you better act fast ~

before they're GONE...

"Chicken-herding sheep"

;-)

Sheep and Chickens and Blogs and Websites and a New Business, Oh MY!

2010-11-06T10:25:00.000-07:00

It feels like forever since I've posted on this blog!

I have SO many beautiful chicken photos to share but I've been unbelievably busy trying to get my home-based business up and running!

I was accepted into the Minnesota Small Business Development Program and they are working with me (and teaching me) to get my business off to a good start! There is so much to do and learn and many of my usual pursuits have been put on the back burner.

I did finally achieve what was for me a MAJOR accomplishment:

I decided on a name and a logo for my home-based business. Without further ado, here it is:

I love how the graphic artist that I chose (Donna, at "Gone Country Graphics"), Incorporated my sheep and sheep products, along with chickens and soap into the design.

Now, to get business cards printed and a new website built...

Baby Blue Chickens are Getting Big...

2010-10-12T14:57:00.000-07:00

My juvenile group of Blue Laced Red Wyandottes are getting big.

Laverne and Shirley have started to lay now, in addition to Splash.

Just like the Cochins, the Blues combs and wattles get dark red when the pullets start to lay eggs.

I sure do enjoy my beautiful Blue Chickens!

Three minutes and fifty eight seconds of smiles...

2010-10-07T14:30:00.000-07:00

;-)

Time to Move!

2010-09-29T08:36:00.000-07:00

It is time to move the last of the ram lambs and the rapidly growing cockerels into bachelor quarters! The boys are getting big enough to 'get into trouble' so I need to get them away from the females!

This aught to be fun. (not!) I don't have a pen set up for the forty-thousand (OK ~ that might be a SLIGHT exaggeration) roosters that I have. I better sell what I want to sell, quickly and get the rest into the processor...

Poor roosters!

Deworming the chickens...

2010-09-18T17:44:00.000-07:00

It's not quite as bad as you may think!

In fact, I rather enjoy deworming my chickens.

Just as much as I do deworming my sheep!

You see...

I use PUMPKINS!

The seeds from pumpkins are a natural dewormer.

The chickens (and the sheep) LOVE them!

I actually plant a large pumpkin patch

JUST for the sheep and chickens.

Then again, I also plant a bunch of tomato plants just for the chickens!

Which they seem to appreciate VERY much!

sigh!

A shepherdess/chicken farmer's work is never done...

Population explosion!

2010-09-17T15:11:00.000-07:00

Just as one group of babies begins to look like chickens,

the next group hatches!

I couldn't even tell you how many chickens I have!

I have to admit...

It's SO much easier letting the mama hens raise the chicklettes!

These babies are growing up outside.

They learn how to find food and how to get along with the flock.

The;y have lots of good role models.

They are very good students.

I have six Blue Laced Red Wyandotte eggs in the process of hatching in my little incubator. I'm thinking I may just slip the chicks under a couple of my broody Cochin hens...

They're such wonderful mothers!

I love this little Buff Columbian split to Calico chick...

Awesome feathering for a four week old chick!

"I have pretty feathering too!"

You most certainly DO!

The End

Chickens in the Garden...

2010-09-16T15:31:00.000-07:00

My Blue-laced-red Wyandottes have been

enjoying cleaning up the garden.

The Buff Orpinton hens have been helping out as well.

I'm so lucky to have such eager "helpers"!

I only wish that they had left

at least ONE cantaloupe

for ME!

The Hen Motel...

2010-09-07T07:50:00.000-07:00

No time to post but I just HAVE to show you this:

It's my new nest boxes!

I got it from a friend who was moving into town.

In the top photo, I only have the roosting board down on the middle row.

That's also the only row that I put shavings in.

So far.

;-)

I'm going to replace the boards for roosting on with new ones

but other than that it's good to go.

The hens seem to LOVE it!

I'm getting eggs in all five boxes that have shavings. and they've quit climbing in with the broodies to lay their eggs!

Isn't it just the CUTEST nest box ~ hen motel ~

you've ever seen?

HAPPY HENS LAY HEALTHY EGGS!

BEAUTIFUL CHICKENS LAY BEAUTIFUL EGGS!

Nitey Night...

2010-08-29T12:04:00.000-07:00

I took these pictures last night as it was getting dark and I was getting ready to come into the house. A group of my younger BLRW prefer to roost (in a pile!) on an old stump in my backyard, rather than in the barn with the rest of the flock.

(yes, the cockerel just to the left of front/center,

does have a single comb ~ it happens sometimes!)

I love having the variety of colors

(so far, I only have several shades of Blue laced and Splash laced) in my Wyandotte flock

Remember "Daisy", the cat who thinks she's a chicken?
(she also thinks she's a sheep and/or a dog, but that's a story for another blog!)

It gets a bit crowded in 'the pile', so Daisy can't actually "roost" with the young chickens,

Not that she wouldn't love to!

The stump sits right outside of my chicken barn and the chicks can still see those that are roosting IN the barn. I don't close up the barn at night. I leave it open so the chickens can come and go as they please ~ in case of rain or me sleeping late in the morning.

Daisy takes up her post as "guard cat" on the railing by my patio...

Peace reigns in the Bluff Country!

Communal Bathing...

2010-08-28T09:55:00.000-07:00

Anyone with chickens knows how much they enjoy a good dust bath.

And they often enjoy doing it in groups.

But this...

This is is my "tabby-co" kitty, Daisy

Daisy considers herself a part of ALL the flocks on my little farm.

She enjoys taking part in their daily activities.

Daisy's a pretty "laid back" kitty!

The chickens don't seem to mind her presence at all.

Just one, big, happy Family!

Bath time is over ~ time to go check on the sheep!

FINALLY! Calico and Mille Fleur Cochins...

2010-08-22T13:00:00.000-07:00

I took over three hundred pictures of my Calico and Mille Fleur bantam Cochins yesterday! I've got more chicks hatching (under hens) every week and several of my "Flock Improvement Group" pullets are now in with the breeding flock as well. They are all sired by Cracker Jack so I am excited to see what their chicks will look like...

Senior Calico breeding Rooster:

"Cracker Jack"

Junior Calico breeding Cock:

"Ice"

CJ and Ice are the two boys in with my breeding hens and pullets.

Here are some of the girls:

CJ with a Java daughter...

Ice with some of the young chicks.

I love how gentle Cochin roosters are with the chicks.

Any boy caught picking on babies or hens or pullets immediately gets tossed into the 'bachalor pen'.

I will not breed a mean rooster!

One of the FIG pullets.

She is sired by CJ and out of a show quality, black/mottled hen.

Another FIG pullet:

(CJ x Buff Columbian hen)

CJ hard at work!

5 week old pullet:

A nice looking chick...

(about 3 weeks)

Obviously, I have lots more pictures.

How about I save some for tomorrow?

;-)

Tomorrow: Daisy (the Tabby-co cat) dust bathing with the chickens...

Blues in the backyard...

2010-08-21T06:38:00.000-07:00

I know I've been posting a lot of photos of my Blue Laced Red Wyandottes lately,

but they're SO beautiful...

These shots are of some of the babies that I hatched this Spring

I love the variety of colors

This little pullet is so light, she's almost a

buff laced white!

"Goldilocks" (Buff Orpington) and "Splash"

(BLRW)

Of course, we can't forget "Levi", my Splash rooster...

LaVern (or is it Shirley?) is looking good!

Everyone shares the water bowl in the backyard...

I still think that Splash is my favorite BLRW hen. PLUS:

she's laying eggs now! I've just been putting them in the fridge but I may start saving some soon. I'd like to have some BLRW babies to take to the Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival next month.

One last shot of Levi, before I go....

Tomorrow, we'll check in on the Calico Cochins.

I promise!

;-)

The BBB (Big Blue Boys)...

2010-08-14T08:29:00.000-07:00

I do SO love my

Blue Laced Red Wyandottes!

"Levi" is a 'Splash' BLRW cockerel

"Gibbs" is a dark Blue, BLRW

(the wind was messing up his tail feathers in this picture)

This is "LaVern"

LaVern is one of my Splash BLR hens

I also have "Shirley", who looks just like LaVern.

And this is "Splash",

my favorite splash hen. I love the deep, mahogany color of her lacing.

Did you notice that 'Splash's comb and wattle are bright red?

That's an indication that she is laying. Which, she is! I'm starting to collect her eggs now. Can you just imagine the chicks I'll get from her and Levi or Gibbs?

I can't wait!

I do have a few, younger, BLRW cockerels and pullets for sale.

The weather should be good for shipping beginning next week.

At least it is supposed to be, here in Minnesota!

Started pairs will be $50.00 plus shipping.

Friday Photo

2010-08-13T09:06:00.000-07:00

Their first tomato!

No excuses...(except the Heat, humidity, my back and my column)

2010-08-06T11:19:00.000-07:00

I know it's been a long time since I've posted. I could run down the usual list of excuses but I won't. After all, the Bluff Country is certainly not the only part of the country dealing with un-Godly heat and humidity (with which I do NOT deal well) and seemingly never-ending rain. My property is located on a hillside (the "foothill of a bluff", actually), so at least I don't have to worry about flooding. My back going out certainly has not been conducive to me posting. It's hard to be creative when one is in pain. And I am, most definitely in pain. It seems that my back does this once or twice a year. I'm pretty much non-functional. It hurts to walk. It hurts to stand. It hurts to sit. It hurts to lie down. Feeding the chickens is excruciating and I've pretty much ignored my beloved sheep...

I've tried to keep up with my Examiner.com column because I actually get paid to write that. I am amazed at how much time is involved in researching a freelance column! I am excited to say that I will be featuring a series of interviews with Rob Ludlow, the owner of BackyardChickens.com website and Forum, in upcoming columns!

I did also manage to snap a bunch of new chicken pictures, the day before my back went out. It's fun to see the hens and chicks outside:

I've decided which of the cockerels from the Flock Improvement Group I'll be breeding back to the F.I.G. hens:

I like this guy, a LOT

His sire is "CrackerJack" ~ my Calico rooster

His dam is my gorgeous, black, mottled hen, "Abby"

Hopefully, by crossing him back to my show quality hens (including his dam), it will lock in the type in this line of my Calico Cochin breeding program.

The hens have started laying again.

I can't wait to see the next generation of chicks!

Blue Chickens...

2010-07-27T06:04:00.000-07:00

This is "Levi"

My Blue-laced-red-Wyandotte cockerel.

Levii is the "Splash" version of the BLRW.

Isn't he awesome?

Above and below are photos of my Splash, BLRW hen

I love the deep, brick red color of her lacing!

My "big blue chickens" (that's what I call them)

are almost as big as the Buff Orpingtons now.

But I've got a batch of blue babies ready to move out to the chicken barn later this week!

OMG!

They are just the CUTEST things!!!

You just HAVE to love those

Blue Chickens!

;-)

Mystery Birds...

2010-07-24T17:42:00.000-07:00

Do you remember the unusual chicks with the yellow down and the chipmunk stripes?

Remember the one with the ugly green feet?

Well, they're grown up!

They're my ~~"Easter Chins"!~~ "Easter Silkies!"

Their Mama's a wheaten Easter Egger

And their Daddy is a ~~Mille Fleur Cochin~~ Silkie cross.

(both bantams)

They're my "Easter ~~Chins~~ Silkies"!

;-)

OK. I screwed up (again). I was thinking the Dad was a mille fleur cochin ~ based on the color of the dark chicks and the fluffy feet. But, when Matt pointed out the crests on their heads, in the comments, I remembered that Star (the mom) was in with the Silkie cross roosters...

What can I say? I'm old!

They're actually quite attractive and very personable chickens.

Unfortunately, they can't stay here. For the very same reason that I sold their Mama, these youngsters will have to find new homes ~ their eggs will look just like bantam cochins.

That's how I ended up with these...

Backyard Chcikens are in the News...

2010-07-20T13:32:00.000-07:00

Today's post can actually be found HERE

My Grandson, Nick, would love to know what you think of it...

;-)

Not Exactly a Chicken...

2010-07-14T20:35:00.000-07:00

But Oh-So-CUTE:

Flock Improvement Group Offspring...

2010-07-12T07:48:00.000-07:00

These are the first generation of chicks out of my

"Flock Improvement Group"

The 'F.I.G.' consists of a show quality Buff Columbian, black, and mottled bantam cochin hens. They're exquisite! They were all bred to Cracker Jack; my flashy Calico rooster.

In these photos, the babies are only about 5 weeks old.

They're much bigger and fluffier now (3 weeks later).

I have a number of 6 to 8 week old cockerels that look mostly buff columbian but do show a little bit of pattern peaking through. The best one will be bred back to the show quality hens ~ to lock in that gorgeous cochin 'type' ~ and then the offspring from those pairings will be bred back to my Calicos.

It would seem much faster to just breed these FIG chicks to the Calicos that I have now but if I REALLY want to lock in that type, I need to breed them back to their parents first.

Nobody said it was going to be EASY raising quality Calico Cochins...

;-)

I've been Busy...

2010-07-07T21:54:00.000-07:00

I apologize for the lapse in posting!

I've been quite busy doing some freelance writing for "Examiner.com"

I write a Backyard Chickens column for the LaCrosse, WI. Examiner.

There's finally a movement going in LaCrosse to make keeping chickens legal within city limits and I've been following the story.

If you'd like to read my recent columns, just click on this Backyard Chickens link

Feel free to leave comments (or subscribe!) on the Examiner site!

I actually get paid to write ~ based on how many people read my articles. If anyone else is interested in doing some free lance writing for the Examiner, let me know and I can help you get started...

In the meantime, I WILL get back to posting on here!

Maybe I'll tell you about the two, wonderful women that I met when I interviewed them for the Examiner last night...

We had a Blast!

;-)

Back to Chickens...

2010-06-30T07:58:00.000-07:00

One of my breeding pairs of Calico Cochins

(bantams)

I shipped out 5 gorgeous Mille Fleur Cohins, to their new home in New York yesterday.

I wish I had the time to take photos of them as I was so impressed with how NICE they were! The rooster in the above photo is in with both my Mille Fleur and my Calico girls.

I still have lots of MFCs left for sale...

There are many more ~ but you get the idea!

;-)

Time to go get ready for my Beautiful Baby Girl's visit to the Bluff Country!

Have a great Fourth of July Weekend, Everyone!!

I'm Falling Behind...

2010-06-29T07:35:00.000-07:00

I am having a devil of a time catching up to my ewes and lambs!

I like to chronicle everything on here because it is my "record keeping system". I use my blog to keep track of dates born, ets. :-)

Angel had an incredibly crimply fleeced, BIG, white, ram lamb with HUGE horn buds on Sunday night, June 27th. I'm calling him:

"Bluff Country Polar Bear"

Not a speck of black on "Bear" ~ even the skin around his eyes and his nose are pink!

Don't you just love white, lambs?

I sure do! I'm so glad that Angel gave me a white ram lamb. If he doesn't sell, I'll probably wether him and keep his as a fiber pet. Especially since his mama is sold! LOOK at the awesome, uniform crimp on that fleece!

For my Beautiful Baby Girl, who is worried that Zodiak's "other" lamb, Clover, is getting lost in the glow of her flashy sister, Daisy...

Not to worry, La Mia Bella Bambina!

Clover's not hurting at ALL in the cuteness department!

In fact, Clover and her sister, Daisy are both already sold!

I'm gonna miss those girls! Wait 'till you see Daisy chasing the roosters!!!

But, first I need to catch you up on Zaria's twin, HST, ewe lambs!

;-)

Post Script:

Oh, good Lord! If there was ever any doubt that I am losing it, this should be the clincher. I (obviously) posted this to the WRONG BLOG. I'm too tired and in too much of a hurry to try to change it over to the correct blog (my "Shepherd's Voice" blog) so I'm just going to put a note over there, sending my readers over to THIS blog.

Boy! Life is Complicated!

Back to the barn...

No Time to Post...

2010-06-28T09:44:00.000-07:00

Things have been CRAZY busy around here.

I've got Shetland ewes lambing every day and a houseful of company coming for the Fourth of July weekend. I'm getting NOTHING done!

I've got quite a few people interested in the Mille Fleur bantam Cochins that I have for sale so I will at least try to get photos posted, daily, to highlight some of the beauties that are looking for new homes where they can contribute to this beautiful new variety. If there is something that you specifically would like to see, feel free to contact me and I will make a point to get pictures for you.

In the meantime, I hope you enjoy...

"Gem"

Sophia

Lots of young pullets!

The cockerel in the last photo is NOT for sale. He's staying here to be part of my Calico Cochin Project!

I've got more girls and LOTS of stunning cockerels for sale. I'll try to post more photos throughout the week. OMG ~ the cockerels are running ALL OVER the yard!

;-)

PRICES: $25.00 per bird plus shipping. Shipping usually runs about $55.00, plus $15 for the box, for two birds.

Babies, Babies, Everywhere!

2010-06-21T12:10:00.000-07:00

Babies in the barn...

Babies outside...

Babies with their Mamas...

Babies on their own...

BIG babies...

(3 month old Calico & MFC pullets)

(4 month old BLRW cockerel)

Little babies...

Flock Improvement babies...

Calico babies..

Hungry babies...

Tired babies...

And my favorite...

I swear,

this chick is NOT dead

OR sleeping

It's DUST BATHING!

OMG!

I laughed so hard I almost peed my pants...

GEE! I Love These Chickens...

2010-06-15T09:28:00.000-07:00

My Blue Laced Red Wyandottes

continue to change, almost daily!

Above is "Laverne". She and her sister "Shirley" look very much alike.

In fact, I can't tell them apart. Therefore, whichever one I see first is Lavern and the second one is Shirley. It works for me!

"Pearl", who used to have black lacing, has lightened to a beautiful, deep, dusky blue. Absolutely gorgeous!

My "blues" free range in my back yard

with access to the pasture.

They are NOT supposed to go into the paddock by the Cochin barn (which is where I feed my ewes that have triplets). The lambs love to chase the chickens. That'll teach them to go where they don't belong!

"Darn sheep!"

And You Think Your Hens are Broody....

2010-06-14T07:29:00.000-07:00

TELL me about it!

:-)

Have a great week, everyone!

Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder...

2010-06-10T08:46:00.000-07:00

Do you remember that adorable little chick with the ugly green legs?

The one that looked like a Wheaten down (yellow) chick with e+ (chipmunk stripes) combined? I'd never seen anything like it and was concerned about one of my Cochins throwing a chick with green legs! I did get several more chicks with the same down color/markings, but (thankfully!) none of them have green legs.

These chicks are growing up with chicks from my Flock Improvement Group and they're a month old now. The green legs just keep getting uglier and UGLIER!

I think they're NASTY!!!

The chick it's self isn't too bad...

But it's sure not as good of quality as my other Cochins!

In fact, I keep looking at it and thinking

it doesn't even LOOK like a COCHIN!

Neither does it's little cousin with yellow legs!

What's up with THAT???

THIS is what my four week old Cochin chicks look like:

Not this:

Then it dawned on me.

The eggs that hatched with the strange colored chicks all came from the barn where my FIG group is. In fact, "Star" (my Easter Egger hen) had hatched out three of them. I had let her set on some eggs because she was making me crazy by sneaking into the broody hen's nest boxes and laying eggs all the time. Star's eggs are not blue-green. They look JUST like my bantam cochin eggs.

Duh!

The reason these chicks don't look like the rest of my Cochins is because they're NOT purebred Cochins! They are 1/2 Easter Egger!!! Star is a partridge EE. You can clearly see the partridge coloring on the goofy chick's wings.

No wonder they have such crappy Cochin type!

What a relief!

But I can't afford to be feeding mixed breeds! In fact, that's the reason that I gave Star away. As much as I loved her, I didn't want her eggs mixed in with my Cochin eggs. I always tried to pull hers out, but apparently, I missed a few.

FREE TO A GOOD HOME:

BEAUTIFUL, bantam Easter Egger X Chochin chicks

;-)

It Takes a Village...

2010-06-04T10:54:00.000-07:00

A.K.A.:
Communal Chicken nest box!

My beautiful, black mottled hen, "Abby" has been setting on some eggs for a couple of weeks now.

Frequently, the older chicks ~ being reared by Sunshine and Silk ~ visit with Abby so she doesn't get lonely.

And occasionally EVERYbody climbs in to keep things cozy!

It gets a little CROWDED sometimes!

Actually, these girls are part of my "Flock Improvement Group."

They are bred to my best Calico rooster (Cracker Jack) to improve the Cochin "Type" in my line of Calicos. As much as I love the Calico coloring, I want it on a Cochin that looks like a Cochin!

Check out this 8 week old little guy:

He will be a flock sire for my Calico line in a couple more months;

I am VERY pleased with how good he looks thus far!

He's an F1 (first generation) "pure Calico" ~ both his sire and dam were Calicos.

I've got a little pullet that looks almost just like him too!

They will DEFINITELY be a breeding pair, producing my first F2 generation Calicos.

I sold six of my Mille Fleur Cochins this week and two Calico pullets. Shipped them off to New York and Ohio!

I do have some Calico cockerels that I will be offering for sale ($25.00 each), but I'm not going to be selling any more Calico girls for a while.

I want to see those little dolls grow up a little so that I can decide who I want to use in my Calico breeding project!

Life is Good in the Bluff Country!

;-)

Wordless Wednesday...

2010-06-02T19:31:00.000-07:00

Black and Blue???

2010-06-01T07:50:00.000-07:00

Look what's happening to my 4 month old, "Black laced" Blue Laced Red Wyandottes...

"Gibbs"

"Pearl"

"Gibbs"

"Pearl" dust bathing

I posted photos on the Wyandotte thread on BYC, asking if anyone else had Black laced, BLRW that turned blue. I only got one reply, but it was from an experienced BLRW breeder and she said:

"I don't believe the blacks turn blue.....it's more that they're a very dark blue that can be mistaken for black when they first start feathering in.

I've never had one change from black to blue anyway and I've hatched out lots of chicks over the last 4 years."

Yeah, but...

One month old, shown with a couple of Blue laced

There is some glare from the flash in the above photo but that chick sure looks black laced compared to the two blue laced, to me!

Even at one week:

The lacing appeared black.

I guess it really isn't important, but I LOVE the dark blue on the dusky grey background and would love to get more BLRW like this! Unfortunately, I'm not sure which breeder the eggs came from that my "black laced" hatched from. So far, nobody has stepped up and claimed that their chicks start out looking black laced and change to blue...

I guess my chickens are just SPECIAL!

;-)

Where Did All of These Chickens Come From?

2010-05-29T08:09:00.000-07:00

Oh, I KNOW!

I asked that question facetiously.

But, good Lord, I've got a lot of chickens!

These are the newest additions

A bunch of Blue Laced Red Wyandotte chicks!

I'm not sure how many are there ~ I haven't counted them yet!

They hatched Wednesday and Thursday.

Here are a few of my Calico and Mille Fleur Cochins:

The lambs LOVE to chase them!

Which is why...

the lambs aren't even supposed to BE in the chicken paddock!

Get 'em out of there, Chance!

No chickens (or sheep!) were injured in the making of this blog post.

I do normally keep the sheep out of the chicken paddock but I had to open the gate to get in there an mow. I was in danger of losing chickens and lambs!

The Time Has Come...

2010-05-25T04:17:00.000-07:00

To say good-bye

I have posted the first AUCTION on Eggbid for a pair of my Mille Fleur bantam Cochins.

My first offering is for "Trouble" , my gorgeous, dark mahogany, beautifully marked rooster and "Rose", a typey hen who is a proven producer and a great mom.

Trouble has been my main MFC flock sire. He's an awesome rooster and has given me many beautiful Mille Fleur chicks. He's only one year old so has many years of siring stunning Millie Cochins for someone new.

He's an effective yet gentle breeder who settlies his girls without ever being abusive. I have never had a hen missing head or back feathers from being in the breeding pen with Trouble.

This yearling pair will give somebody a great start toward a Mille Fleur bantam Cochin project of their own!

If you'd like to place a bid on Trouble and Rose,

CLICK HERE

The Ultimate Discretion...

2010-05-24T03:26:00.000-07:00

I moved Cracker Jack and the rest of the Calico Cochins out into the main chicken paddock with the MFCs. I have decided to sell all of my Mille Fleur Cochins and focus all of my time and resources on my Calico project.

In the above photograph, Opal is dust bathing in their new pen.

Apparently, CJ finds that arousing...

I hope no one is offended

but I thought there was something really beautiful about that picture.

CRAZY Busy...

2010-05-21T11:43:00.000-07:00

Aren't we all?

;-)

So you like my BLRW, huh?

Me too!

I love the way they look

I love their size

I love their personalities!

I had my NPIP flock inspection/certification yesterday.

The inspector was here from 9:15 am until 4:00 pm!

He's raised, bred, shown and judged chickens for over 50 years!

What an incredible treasure of information he is!

One very important thing that I learned from him (among MANY) is:

Don't believe everything that you read on BYC!

I LOVE My BLRW!

2010-05-18T08:23:00.000-07:00

Maybe it's just their contrast to the short, round Cochins but I just think the Blue-laced-red Wyandottes are such elegant birds! They are quite friendly too!

A Sunny Saturday in the Bluff Country...

2010-05-16T08:47:00.000-07:00

Star is at it again.
That hen is broodier than my Cochins!

The lambs have discovered the chickens...

"I'm gonna get me a chicken!"

"Who invited THEM???"

"I'm outa here!"

I hope you're all having a wonderful weekend!

Good Morning!

2010-05-14T05:50:00.000-07:00

No particular reason for this post today

I just really like these close up pictures of

"Cracker Jack"

(my Calico rooster)

and I thought I'd share them!

Have a great weekend!

My Grandsons Feeding My Chickens...

2010-05-11T16:08:00.000-07:00

My daughter, Pam, and her husband brought my three Grandsons out to my place for Mother's Day. We had a WONDERFUL day! We went for a walk down to the creek where the boys love to "throw rocks in the river" (a tradition that began when my oldest Grandson, Josh, was just a little boy). When we got back to my place the boys wanted to see the chickens.

My youngest Grandson, Nick, making friends with "Tawny".

How about offering them some hot dog buns?

That certainly got their attention!

Even CJ (Cracker Jack) got in on the act.

"Grandma, he took half the bun!"

Middle Grandson, Matt, decided to join the fun...

The Calicos really liked Matt!

And he likes them!

It was a GREAT day! My incredibly wonderful son-in-law grilled us burgers and we finished off a deliicious meal with a Spice Cake made by Nick and frosted by Josh ~ (who was apparently hiding when we were in the backyard!)

That's OK.

Pam took this picture of me with all three of my boys on the bridge over the creek:

I'm still smiling!

Happy Mother's Day...

2010-05-09T10:30:00.000-07:00

Calico Cochins...

2010-05-07T05:23:00.000-07:00

Calico Cochins are a project that I am working on from the excess white "sports" that occassionally pop up in the Mille Fleur Cochin project. Sigrid Van Dorte, co-author of "Genetics of Chicken Colors" , theorizes that it is a recessive gene for hysterical mottling (formerly thought to only exist in Seramas) that causes the excess white on the Calico Cochins. My breeding program focuses on that theory and by breeding only Calico to Calico, I hope to lock in the genetic code to produce these brilliantly colored cochins consistantly. Here are some of the Calicos that I am using and/or have produced thus far:

"Crystal"

1 year old hen

A promising young cockerel:

A very pretty pullet:

Another nice 2 month old pullet:

Cockerel on the left, pullet on the right:

A PILE of Calicos!

Hen and 2 month old chicks

Relaxing with the LGD:

And Flirting with the Rooster!

A handsome young cockerel just waiting for his chance with the ladies...

So far, so good. I am getting a high percentage of Calico chicks and will be breeding them back to Calico roosters and hens. I find these birds delightful! They are so beauutiful and fairly sparkle as they play in my back yard.