Sunday, March 31, 2013

My little Easter eggers!

We went to a bird auction in Alfred yesterday, and it was a lot of fun. I was determined to get some blue-egg laying hens, and I succeeded. but I am still not entirely sure what they all are. 

Well, I do believe these three are true Araucanas, as advertised...


Yes, that's a rooster in the middle. We don't NEED another rooster, but they came as a breeding trio and  I suppose I could have them make Araucana babies. One of the girls laid a blue egg in her crate on the drive home. No names yet!


Really pretty birds!


Now these two were labelled "Araucana" BUT  the auctioneer said they were Ameraucana, and I tend to agree with that. Any of you chicken people have an opinion? 


One of these girls also laid a blue egg in her crate on the trip home!


Pretty.


This girl is so striking and a really lovely-looking chicken.


I am easing this guy into the pecking order. He's very handsome too.







Just a blur of chicken!


Beauty queen!


So glad to have some of these blue-eggers at last. I would like some Maran hens now, to lay dark brown eggs.

And here's my Partridge Chantecler Zydeco. He is a nice rooster, but huge...



...and EXTREMELY amorous. He's like a big raping dustmop in the chicken coop! But not very high in the rooster pecking order. 


Unlike this guy...


I think Watson may be boss, or at least second to the throne. 


But my Chantecler rooster McGuinty...


...is a sweet bird who sits at the bottom of the rooster heap and rarely gets his girls. He likes to hang out with his rooster buddy Lord Gaga, and they sleep next to each other on a perch every night.

I figured I hadn't put up any chicken photos for a while. Enjoy. Next up: ducks!

38 comments:

  1. Anonymous12:32 pm

    You live a life so outside the realm of my experience. Vicarious is the word that comes to mind - as in living that way through you. Lovely birds.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Feel free to live vicariously here! :)

      Delete
  2. You know chickens. And bees. Any chance you could wind up with white or brown eggs speckled with blue?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, that would be pretty cool!

      Delete
  3. I think Watson may be in for some trouble by the looks of the new guy on the block. (no pun, intended)
    Boy, if anyone could make chickens look like they belong in a magazine it's you. Great photos.
    Happy Easter.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As it turns out, the new guy is very shy and retiring (for a rooster) and has fit right in. Phew! introducing chickens always makes me anxious.

      Delete
  4. These are beautiful. And I had no idea there were chickens that laid pre-dyed eggs! Very convenient.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am going to freak people out and put one blue egg in every dozen!

      Delete
  5. What a beautiful flock of well-cared for chickens. Lovely!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh some of the older girls are looking a little raggy at the moment! Moulting time.

      Delete
  6. They are rather pretty!
    Jane x

    ReplyDelete
  7. That chicken blur photo is amazing. Not a headless chicken but a chicken with a head going round like a propeller?

    ReplyDelete
  8. wow! Blue eggs! Now what color is the yolk? OK hit me! It's pretty interesting about all the chicken varieties that are around now. When I was on the farm the varieties were very limited.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope it's yellow but I need to crack one open.

      Yes, so many exotic hens around now!

      Delete
  9. They're all lovely. I look forward to hearing about their adventures with the rest of the chicken flock.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I would like some blue-egg babies. :)

      Delete
  10. Such pretty bunch!!! I wish you had some pictures of those blue eggs!

    ReplyDelete
  11. All your photos are great, but that 'blurred' chicken gets my 'Bird photographer of the year' award.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lucky shot but it's pretty cool, I think! I guess she was giving her head a good shake.

      Delete
  12. Those are Americauna. True Araucanas have no tails that stick up, just a rump. ;) Pictures are fairly easy to find if you use google images.

    And I'm jealous of your blur chicken, as I'm supposed to be taking blur pictures like that for my photography class, with a manual black and white film camera. Hope I can do as well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for clearing that up, Kristine! They didn't really seem to know at the auction (since they were all mislabelled) but I was just looking for coloured eggs and nice hens, so I'm okay with that!

      Delete
  13. Now that's a fashion show I've loved seeing! What beautiful birds you've added to your flock. I think your next book should be about chickens! XOXO

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree! I think I have a chicken book in me.

      Delete
  14. Such a pretty bunch !
    My mom and dad-person had a rooster looking just like Watson way back in time :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think Watson is a very classic-looking rooster fellow!

      Delete
  15. Egg laying in the crate - that's keen! Beautiful birds too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. One was laid during the drive home, in the crate in the back of the truck. INtrepid chicken!

      Delete
  16. You have some gorgeous chickens! I really like the lighter colored Araucana. I've been wanting some blue egg layers for a while as well. Watson is such a handsome rooster!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much! the coloured eggs are a lot of fun.

      Delete
  17. Replies
    1. They say "Thank you, Auntie Valerie."

      Delete
  18. Love seeing all the different breeds at the poultry auctions.....bonus getting an egg on the way home.
    You've certainly got some beautiful birds there Natalie.
    How do all your roosters get on together? Do you have them in the same yard?

    Claire :}

    ReplyDelete
  19. Nat, can I use McGuinty's photo? I was looking for a white rooster.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for all your comments, which I love to read!