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Bluebelle Hen

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Just got a new hen yesterday, Queenie, who we were told offhandishly was a Bluebelle.

She's pretty stocky - her legs are much softer and fatter than any hen I've had before. She's got lovely copper feathers round her neck too. I'll just post a picture, actually....

mcqueeniejpg2kk5.jpg

We don't ever buy hens so much for the breed, as long as they have a good temprement and will be good layers and look good and are healthy, then we're happy!! But it'd be nice if anyone could let me know what breeds she's likely to be crossed with if she is a Bluebelle?

Oh, and please excuse my incredibly red knuckles :oops: It was SNOWING outside :D

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One of my hens I got on Friday is a Bluebelle, but she doesn't have the copper coloured feathers around her neck ? I've seen several photos of Bluebelles , but none have the copper feathers, maybe yours is crossed with something different ? Think Cotswold chickens have a photo on their site if you want to look.

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Thats what I thought... the guy who sold the chickens was very helpful, but couldn't tell us exactly what she was cross with; the other hens Queenie was with were predominantly all grey, with just dark grey feathers around their neck. There were only a few that had this gorgeous copper colour around their necks, and Queenie has some around her breast too but you can't really see it from that picture.

If anyone else knows what she might be cross with, please share!! :lol:

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According to my sketchy research, a bluebelle is a cross between a maran cockerel and a rhode island red hen. She should lay an egg with a 'plum blush'. Because they are a hybrid you will get some variation in colour, some are all blue, some do have a very distinctive golden ruff. All the same breed though! 8) They do grow quite large compared to the standard gingernuts and pepperpots, but not as big as the orps/cochins/brahmas. Hope this helps! :D

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Ahhh that makes a lot of sense :D Thanks very much for finding that information. I was aware she might be bigger than Viv [whose just a regular speckledey] - she's so lovely 8) I don't like to have favourites but I'm very very fond of her already!

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Ah! Well I knew she wasn't completely unique, because some of the other bluebelles she was with had the same markings, though hers are very prominant down her front :D Maybe Vivienne is jealous of them and that's why she's giving her such a hard time.... :lol: They're settling down together this morning actually, so hopefully she'll calm down and be laying shortly. She's remarkably good tempered when it comes to handling - I've never known a hen like it! Though bluebelles are supposed to be good tempered, aren't they?

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