Guest Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 (edited) Today we brought home 3 Easter chicks. They were born on Easter Sunday and are now almost 16 weeks old. Mélodie is a buff brown Skyline. Harmonie is a grey Skyline. Echo is a Maran Cuirvrée and really, really sweet. They are so, so cute. Just one thing I am a little concerned about . . .Harmonie - the bigger grey Skyline with a large tail - keeps treading on the back of Mélodie. I have never seen a hen doing this before and feel slightly worried that she may be a cockerel! Does anyone have any experience of this? Please set my mind at rest! Edited August 3, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 They are lovely Ginette. Great names. Harmonie does have rather chunky legs. What are the hackle feathers like? Pointy or round? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SAB Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 Gorgeous girls and fantastic names! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CockADoodleDoo Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 she doesnt look that manly and my skyline has a huge tail aswell. so for the time being i would relax and see how she or he goes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moochoo Posted July 12, 2008 Share Posted July 12, 2008 When we las did an introduction we had a short bout of back jumping. I guess it's just a show of dominance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redfrock Posted July 12, 2008 Share Posted July 12, 2008 Gorgeous hens Don't worry about the treading. 18 months on and Bron (head girl) still treads some of the chooks lower down the pecking order. I know she is a girl because she is my white egg layer, so no concerns there! I think it is a dominance thing, but is very weird to see Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted July 12, 2008 Share Posted July 12, 2008 They are lovely girls Ginette! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ange1 Posted July 12, 2008 Share Posted July 12, 2008 Ooh I love seeing photos of other people's hens! Will the goldine lay coloured eggs for you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola H Posted July 12, 2008 Share Posted July 12, 2008 Congratulations Ginette your new girls are lovely.............. Like others have said i wouldn't worry about the back treading when Cody was ill and very weak Ginger kept jumping on her back to show her dominance, I am sure she will lay you some lovely eggs soon...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted July 12, 2008 Share Posted July 12, 2008 Ginette what beautiful chookies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickens@61 Posted July 12, 2008 Share Posted July 12, 2008 they look a lovely combination! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yolky Posted July 12, 2008 Share Posted July 12, 2008 How gorgeous Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 12, 2008 Share Posted July 12, 2008 Thank you all. They are just adorable and I'm glad you all approve! Re the masculinity question: I've had dominant hens jumping onto backs and then pecking the back of the neck. This is different. It's just one foot put up on the other hen's back. I've not seen that before and coupled with her size and large tail, I just began to wonder. It is reassuring to hear other owners saying that the tails are large. Maybe she's just a bit older than Mélodie and so looks bigger and more mature. Harmonie is very nervous though. She was the last to venture out of the eglu this morning and later on, I found she'd gone back in. The older girls are bothered and spend all their time shouting, but they seem quite friendly. We've seen several sessions of beak cleaning through the bars going on, but no aggression - yet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 12, 2008 Share Posted July 12, 2008 You will know either way about Melodie soon enough Ginette. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted July 12, 2008 Share Posted July 12, 2008 They're gorgeous, what colour eggs will they all lay? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 12, 2008 Share Posted July 12, 2008 The Maran Cuirvrée should lay dark brown eggs while the Skylines have a 70% chance of laying blue/green eggs, otherwise I think they will just be an ordinary brown colour. So fingers crossed . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redfrock Posted July 12, 2008 Share Posted July 12, 2008 They very definitely have large tails - much larger than my white Star and she has a big tail. Agatha walks round waggling hers - it is so funny to watch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 12, 2008 Share Posted July 12, 2008 Thank you! That is really reassuring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted July 12, 2008 Share Posted July 12, 2008 gorgeous! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJuff Posted July 12, 2008 Share Posted July 12, 2008 Congratulation on getting your attractive girls! I just hope they are better natured than my three columbines/Skylines!!! OH says says there's a price to pay for the lovely blue and green eggs we get . . . . they are stroppy and unfriendly and they victimise all the others! After watching them up to their antics again today I am giving serious consideration to either finding them a new home or keeping them in the eglu run on a permanent basis away from the others. Two flocks may be the answer!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 13, 2008 Share Posted July 13, 2008 That's a bit worrying. The lady selling them said they calm down to be gentle and placid. I hope yours are the exception and not the rule! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted July 13, 2008 Share Posted July 13, 2008 The photos are lovely Ginette, they're beautiful girls . I hope they all settle down well together and that you get some co;oured eggs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redfrock Posted July 13, 2008 Share Posted July 13, 2008 Congratulation on getting your attractive girls! I just hope they are better natured than my three columbines/Skylines!!! OH says says there's a price to pay for the lovely blue and green eggs we get . . . . they are stroppy and unfriendly and they victimise all the others! After watching them up to their antics again today I am giving serious consideration to either finding them a new home or keeping them in the eglu run on a permanent basis away from the others. Two flocks may be the answer!! how odd - Agatha is incredibly docile and sweet tempered. In fact she is probably at the bottom of the pecking order. She is ever so friendly and loves to jump on my shoulder and if I am bending down she will jump on my back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abbey Road Girl Posted July 13, 2008 Share Posted July 13, 2008 What beauties they are, Ginette! Thanks for the pics! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJuff Posted July 14, 2008 Share Posted July 14, 2008 how odd - Agatha is incredibly docile and sweet tempered. In fact she is probably at the bottom of the pecking order. She is ever so friendly and loves to jump on my shoulder and if I am bending down she will jump on my back Oh I wish!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
