Well, while winter has definitely arrived in the barnyard—we’ve had a couple of nights drop into the teens—we had a glorious weekend. I cleaned out the garden beds and threw the tomato plants with the last of the fruit over the fence to the animals. Yum yum!
I continue to clean feathers out of the coops on a daily basis. It’s mind numbing how many feathers chickens can lose. The molt has hit everyone except the teenagers so hard this year. And oh, those teenagers…
Pickles and Pepper
Pickles and Pepper are just plain silly. They are almost always by each other’s side. I frequently seem them scurrying after each other—Pepper often bolts for no apparent reason and Pickles frantically follows, or Pickles wanders off and all of a sudden is too far away for Pepper’s comfort.
After their mamas Belle and Aretha moved out of the nesting box and back into the red coop at night, they did not follow nor did they join the hens in the yellow coop on the roost. They huddle together on top of that nesting box each night like it’s the two of them against the world. I laid a 2×4 up there, thinking a little mini roost might help, but they don’t stand on it. I’ve never seen their little chicken feet on top of that training roost. Nope, they hunker down behind it and look at me as if to say, “No really, we’re ok. We’ve got each other and that’s all we need.”
They’re quite a pair. (I wonder what Pepper is looking up at?)
It has become very apparent that Pickles is not growing up to be the confused, scared hen I wrote about when they were chicks. No, I believe Pickles is growing up to be a confused, scared rooster. Now, I could be wrong. Haven’t heard anything close to a crow—yet. But those feet…so BIG. Those wattles…so manly!
While I do have hens with large combs and wattles, those don’t look like they’re done growing yet.
Those legs! Like tree trunks.
Pepper has the muff of an Easter Egger. I wonder what color egg she will lay?
Either Scarlett or Sarah is her biological mom. They both lay beautiful blue-green eggs.
They seem to be a unique couple. It will be interesting to see how their relationship develops. I wonder if their closeness will continue or if when he comes into his “roosterness” he will think of her as just one of the ladies. Time will tell. But for now, it is sweet to watch their little teenage romance.
I hope they turn into a couple for life.
Of course, if he is a rooster, accommodations will need to be made. Napoleon has sleeping quarters in the garage to muffle his early morning crowing. I just got more insulation and will be putting it in the ceiling of the yellow coop today. A well insulated coop with all the windows shuttered might block enough sound in the winter. Or maybe he won’t crow much. (HAHAHA.) Regardless, even if I need to make a mini-coop in the garage big enough for both of them…right now I am ready to do whatever it takes to make this work.
They are a sweet couple! and I believe your suspicions about Pickles are correct. When we purchased 6 pullets years ago, as youngsters they slept in a small chicken cage separate from the older hens. There was a large dowel for them to roost on and as they grew we noticed one evening a pair of legs standing rather than perched. Above the dowel perch all of the birds appeared the same size. We couldn’t believe the size and length of those legs! Of course, she was a he and from that day forward was named Mr. Stiltz. Oh how I would love a picture of that discovery – it would have made a great poster! Your Pickle’s legs remind me of him. So happy you are determined to make it work out for him.
What a great name—and a great story! I understand about the photo. Even though I’ve always got my phone and often my camera I feel like I miss so many photos that could tell a great story 🙂
Hi, Joan! I’ve heard that if you can keep the coop very dark that will help with morning crowing. In addition to the insulation, can you cover up the windows at night? Maybe your cranky neighbors will move! Good luck.
Well, he starts crowing well before daylight…he’s just a vocal dude 🙂 I’m just glad the garage is a good place for him. I could write a book about the changes I would make if I built a new coop from scratch! How are those ducks doing??
Wow! That last photo, Pickles legs do indeed look very manly. I had a photo of one of my first three “hens” that looked just like that and she did indeed turn out to be a he. They do make a lovely couple though and it would be great if you can manage to keep him. How quickly they have grown.
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You’re so right! They’re not even four month old. How did they get so big?
Joan Hobbs recently posted…Pickles and Pepper
With all of these comments about his legs, I sure hope he turns out to be a “he”, otherwise that poor chicken will be suffering from low self-esteem! They are a gorgeous pair and I’m so glad they have each other. ;0D
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Well, he/she is a bit of an odd bird…I don’t think it’s self-esteem, though. I think he’s just waiting for his time to shine 🙂
Joan Hobbs recently posted…Pickles and Pepper
You might check out My Pet Chicken, they have a No Crow Collar type devise that might help with your crowing problem. I have not tried it as the properties here are 10 acres and everyone seems to have roosters.
I’ve got one and my other rooster has worn it. I don’t think it reduces the volume much, and the resulting crow is very…unpleasant. I may try it again, though. You are very fortunate to have 10 acres and neighbors with roosters. I love that morning wake up call 🙂