Okay so I made a call by chance as I wasn’t able to get any pullets in my search for laying hens, and I got through to a guy actually selling year old pullets. All looked well, so I ventured down and came home with three big momma’s. Stripe is no longer the leader and when these guys got inside Stripe made a peck at Izzie and Izzie let her know who was boss (By the way, this is called the ‘pecking order’ in chickenland). So the three teenagers were a little off put but there was not fighting. The teenagers went to bed and I was surpised to find Bailey in bed with them, all snuggled up. Even though Tatiana and Izzie are bigger than her, she is the most attentive and friendly of them all. She has established herself as “the big momma” and all seem to know it! So, I found Bailey in the nesting area with the three teens snUggled up to her, I was amazed, I think she has ‘taken them under her wing’!!!! Haha…. So heres a picture of Bailey herself, my favourite so far…
She loves any attention
And here is a picture of the other fine beasts we acquired – Tatiana and Izzie. They are timid, and not at all hostile to the teenagers, but tonight will be another story when they’re all the one bed together! Fingers crossed they will start laying soon. I found out another interesting fact about chickens today, the man I bought these three off told me that when the comb on top of their hed goes really red, that means they are laying. At the moment, Tatiana and Izzie have two majorly red combs on their heads and have had an excellent relaxing first day, so am hoping they will lay within the next week. Bailey’s head is turning red but still a little pinkish. The teenagers all have little pink stumps, it could be November before they start becoming hens yet.
Tatiana & Izzie
I also threw in some grass clippings today and they went mad! They were scratching it and throwing it up in the air. Eric threw in some bread and they loved that even more. Hours of entertainment! So we are delighted with them all. Meredith, Hannah, Bailey, Izzie, Tatiana & Stripe (Eric named her Stripe – not me!!!)
