Banner Sponsors
For artists and collectors sponsored by Intercal...your mohair supplier and Johnna's Mohair Store
In the midst of everything else going on with the addition/remodel of our house and getting kids ready for school, I went to the flea market with my dad early saturday morning in hopes of finding new hens for the chicken house......or really for the roosters as they have gotten too numerous for the amount of hens I still had. My poor birds were constantly beseiged until their little backs were featherless! 
Roosters definitely have a one track mind!! 
I had strict instructions from the hubby not to come home with anything four-legged. He actually made me promise half a dozen times.....the man knows me too well!! 
:crackup: :crackup: I didn't bring home anything with four legs......although I was severly tempted, especially by all the free kittens available. And the pygmy goats were sooooo cute. There were even piglets there! I ended up buying 10 Americauna hens....the ones that lay green and blue eggs, as well as 3 Golden Lace Wyandotte hens that are so tame we can pet them and they will eat from your hand. This trio was raised by a young boy who obviously paid much attention to his birds. 
All the hennies are pullets and just starting to lay eggs. We will have tons of nice sized eggs by next year. Yippee!!
The "one extra" I brought home is a turkey......named him Tom of course. He is a Bourbon Red, which is quite beautiful in full feather and I found out very docile and sociable. Which is good, as my dad said we would have him for Turkey Day if he gets mean! 
I hope Tom was listening to that! 
I researched his breed and also found out it is considered rare and is an heirloom breed from the 1800's that was developed in Bourbon County Kentucky. Not many people breed them anymore, in favor of the big white turkeys.
It was funny, as when we got back, Darren came right out of the house, saying, "There'd better not be anything in those cages that doesn't have drumsticks." Saw Tom and said, "OMG....what is that?!" :crackup: :crackup: Hey, they all have drumsticks ...................
Anyway, here's some pics of my new feathered friends, taken in their temporary shelter yesterday. They have since been moved to the henhouse and are now outside exploring their new world.
PottersHouse BearsGreat pics. Don't you just love getting eggs delivered right to you house (well close anyway)? It's so nice to know what you're eating. I think you will be very pleased with your new girls. Warning: We had a bourbon red turkey at one time. He actually came here from the neighbors down the road. When we tried to return him, they didn't want him. We found out why. He was an absolute devil. A friend of my sister's took him. She had two lonely turkey hens. I said good bye, and good luck.
Warning: We had a bourbon red turkey at one time. He actually came here from the neighbors down the road. When we tried to return him, they didn't want him. We found out why. He was an absolute devil.
Uh oh!! Well, if Tom does get nasty, my father has plans for him! :twisted: :twisted: I hope he doesn't though. It's kind of neat having him around right now, and he is rather socialable. Of course, he's young yet too, so that could change. 
I'll keep whispering turkey dinner threats in his ear (or hole in his head.....they are so weird looking!).........maybe that will keep him nice! :crackup:
Flying Fur StudiosI'm soo jealous.
!) because I want chickens and I would LOVE a turkey!
2) because I have no room to keep chickens and a turkey
Thanks for sharing, I can live through you........
Bears by JodiFun to see,.......... I am a city girl !!!!! :crackup:
That cuacks me up :crackup: :crackup: :crackup: :crackup:
Enjoy your new bird family !!!
Jodi Falk
Posts: 8,574Course next time you go your darling hubby will say " NO featherd, four legged, hopsskipsjumpsslithers......"
gollyhugs
dilu
Oh Tom, please please behave yourself. I can't bear to think of you roasted!!!
Tracy,
You will love the Americana chickens. I have had a few for a couple of years and love them. Their eggs are large for the size of the hens and are blue/green in color. Some do not lay the blue/green eggs. I have one little hen that lays the brown/beige egg. They are reasonably quiet and not real excitable.
This spring I bought some BB Reds ...they are more of a very small game bird, but are the sweetest things. The hens look like little doves. The rooster is very colorful with red, green, black, purple, orange feathers. I feed them from my and and can pick them up anytime and they talk constantly even while holding them. My granddaughter just loves them and has a hen of her own ...Isabella. I named the little rooster "Mr. BoJangles" as he always dances for me when I turn them out in the run.
Silly as it sounds, I love my chickens and enjoy caring for them and just plain ole watching them scratch and take dust baths. Aaaaw .... something relaxing after a hectic day at work.
Wanda
DoodlebearsWell done Tracy, I woould love to have chickens but I don't think my neighbours would approve. Great pictures. They are lucky birds to have gone to a nice home. Tom looks wonderful, I hope he grows up with a nice personality...I don't like your dad's plans too much! 
Hugs Jane. 
Ranea,
I have a couple of the bantum Americana/Auracana chickens too. They are not quite as small as the regular bantums, but much smaller than the standard size of their breed. Their eggs are larger than bantum eggs.
I have had the feather legged breeds, but they attract the mites and get mudballs on their feet in wet weather. So I stay with the clean legged breeds.
I'll try to get some pics of Mr. BoJangles and his girls.
Hugs,
Wanda
I have spoken to Tom........just so he understands this (hope he was listening)! :crackup: Really, I'm not the most effecient farm-type girl when it comes to roasting any of my critters. This would be why I had too many roosters. Dad wanted to fatten them up for the oven, but I couldn't do it. I love all my birdies! I can't even cull (hate that word ) the older hens when they aren't good for laying anymore. Sorry folks......they're pets and live here until they die of old age, even if I have to keep feeding them and still buy store eggs! 
Some time ago my father was bugging me to keep a couple of calves for butchering. NO WAY!! I would have ended up with pet cows. 
Yesterday was interesting in that I had to watch the dogs each time they were turned out in the yard. Tom kept getting into the fenced-in portion of yard the dogs use, and the dogs were more than happy to 'buzz' him and make him flap around. They are only playing, but I still don't trust them to not get serious about it. (It's strange that they ignore the chickens, but the bigger birds get chased ) Tom is slowly learning.....as the peacocks did........to fly out of the yard as soon as the dogs come outside.
Then last night, after dark, I went out with the flashlight to make sure all the hennies (and Tom) made it back into the henhouse. Glad I did as three hens were cuddled up together in a corner right by the henhouse. So I had to stuff them inside where they'd be safe for the night. Tom wasn't anywhere in sight. Much to my relief, I found him roosting in the barn rafters close to the peacocks. That's a good place for him to be.....hanging with the other large birds that are also tame and friendly. Good influence!!
I wish all you girls who want chickens could have them. I totally agree with Wanda......it's just fun to watch them. I think seeing a chicken run.....especially the fat hens......is about the most hilarious sight ever! :crackup: And they all have their own personalities. I've actually loved them since my grandma kept them when I was little. I had a pet Bantam rooster, with one blind eye and no legs (they were frozen off) that I named Stubby and carried around under my arm. He would also come in Grandma's kitchen door and peck crumbs under the table. He was my pet when I was between ages 3 and 7 until he died of old age...........and I still miss him! I have a good picture of us somewhere. If I can find it, I'll post it later.
Wanda-I had a Americauna hen once before that laid the larger blue/green eggs. Then the coyotes got into my henhouse, so no more henny. I then got several of the Bantam variety from our neighbor. Still have two of the hens, but they're getting old now. I can't wait until my new pullet's eggs get bigger. We'll have tons of yummy, fresh farm eggs to eat again! And to share......I keep my mom and grandma supplied as well when we have enough eggs.
Renae--What is this color change thing with Tom's head you're talking about? That's something new for me too!
PottersHouse BearsRenae,
If you can get a catalog from Murray McMurray hatchery you would be able to order the banty chicks. I think they may have a website. This is the best place I've found for ordering chicks. They are always very healthy, nice birds.
WienI guess I wouldn´t like blue eggs but Tom, no nonsense please!
Gaby
PS: the chicken look cute! Their "colorsceme" is fantastic!
Past Time BearsLOOOOOVE the color of those chicks! And Tom is good looking, too - I really hope he behaves himself!
Here are a few snapshots of the BB Reds. Isabella sits comfortably in the palm of my hand and keeps right on "talking" to me.
They literally eat out of my hand. And pictures of Mr. BoJangles.
Wanda--Those are some gorgeous little chickens!! They look so very pampered and content. How fun that they will sit in your hand like that!! Neat!!
Tracy,
My granddaughter just loves the chickens .... whenever she visits and we can't find her, go look in the chickenyard, there she is with the chickens. And the BB Reds love her too. Always at her feet and letting her hold them. Good, clean entertainment for an eight year old.
Hugs,
Wanda
Wanda--That would have been me at my grandma's as a little girl. Always in with the chickens......and of course holding my bud Stubby! Your granddaughter has the right idea...for sure!!
thanks for sharing your photos Tracy - what lovely hens and how lucky that you will have nice fresh eggs everyday.
I hope that Tom will be a good boy for you.
Hugs
Carolyn
Ranea,
Oh aren't the chicks cute!
Yes, your hen looks a lot like the BB Reds I have. I just can't believe how tame they are. When I bought them and told my husband they were Old English Game fowl, he shook his head saying they would be wilder than March hares. I don't know if it's because I kept them confined as chicks or if it is their nature. I have talked with a few people who have them and they say theirs are just as tame too. No wonder I hear people raving about the Old English fowl. I'm with you, Ranea, I like the quiet, tame ones.
And Tracy, I can't eat any of my precious chickens ...I'll take the eggs, but not the birds. When I need to get rid of extra roosters, I take them to Burlington, IA to a Pigeon Club Swap Meet and usually sell them to other admirers. Not sure what part of Iowa you are in, but it is worth the drive to see all the different animals and wares that are sold at this meet. Everything from kittens to snakes (ick). We live an hour into Illinois across the river from Burlington, so we go quite often.
Hugs,
Wanda
Jare Hares & BearsWOW look at all the wonderful chickens!
Tracy - That TOM is beautiful! I am so happy for you!
When we moved to this house in 1980, the lady across the street still had a chicken coup and chickens. Too bad for her though the city incorporated her property and told her that when those chickens died she couldn't replace them. She had kept them clean. In fact, there was a chicken house behind our house that my parents got rid of. It was falling down. This end of town was once country but the town grew to the east.
Some day I will live in the country and have a hen house with a few chickens, a cow name Bessie, a couple of horses, a dog or two, and only outdoor cats.
Tracy - Tell your hubby that I have two cats that I would like to send your way.
