I have finally got around to bringing a couple of pictures of Richard (you'll remember that is what we called our new tom turkey) and some of the new girls on the block. Richard is going to be getting a girlfriend pretty quick, hopefully over the course of this weekend. He is a bird of amazing beauty. Those of you how keep turkeys will know the amazing ability of the change of colour, look and texture of the fleshing parts of the head and neck. His face is beautiful dull grey, it can change to a vibrant elcectrifying blue to red within seconds. It astounds me to watch him. His hangey down thing that lays across his nose (what on earth do you call that thing) and also turn into a horn in a second, he is amazing and I love to watch and listen to him. He is very very friendly, and so curious, he always wants to come and see what I am doing when I am working outside in the chicken yards.
This is when his face is that grey/blue, the head goes even a more brilliant blue than this:
This is what Richard looks like when he is totally relaxed and not all puffed up, still beautiful.
Now these two hens are a thing of beauty. The are the Black Australorp, from what I can gather, the Australian version of the Buff Orpington. These two hens are very very friendly and big!!! Man when you pick one up, you sure do know that you have an arm full of bird. Not that light wisp of air that the brown Sex-Sal-Links feel like. My idea of a beautiful bird. To pat one of the Astralorps is like patting a sheet of satin, so smooth and so silky. They are very neat birds, I love them and the fact that they are sooooooo friendly is such a bonus. I picked one up yesterday to get my Husband to feel how soft she was and she just waited while I picked her up, he held her and then put her down, not a peep or nothing.
Nothing like this other chicken that I had to catch the other day to put a band on her leg. I think that this hen is crossed with a Banty, it looks like it. She is a medium size. But when my Sister held her and I put the band on she screamed and screamed and screamed. I am not kidding. Did you know that chickens can scream? Well, I didn't until we picked her up. Man oh man, and I tell ya, it was loud, it hurt my ears. It made me feel like twisting her neck off. (ooops, did I actually say that? :evil: :evil: :) She is evidently, according the the width of the bone, laying eggs, but I don't really like her very much.
Black Astralorps standing on the edge of the chicken hill
Can you spot the ducks in this picture? They sure do love to look for grubs and stuff in the grass. The Khaki Campbell hens
Khaki Campbell hens
Lots of good stuff going on over here at my chickenyard. We were out for dinner last night with my Husband's Sister and her Husband and I was telling him of my additions to the chicken yards and my desires for more breeds. He looked at the catalogue that I had in hand and told me that he always wanted to raise some Chinese Ringnecked Pheasants, that was a life long dream, if they could ever get out of the city. I had that sparkle in my eye -- he knew what I was thinking -- yes, it looks like I will be raising some beautiful pheasants for him now too. I made him that great smile that came across his face, he is a happy man. I made his day so much more happier than it already was, and he will have his pheasants that have been a life long dream. Enjoy these pictures, and have a wonderful and awesome day. Cindi