4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Guest]

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

[Egluntyne]

They are lovely Ginette.

 

Great names.

 

Harmonie does have rather chunky legs.

 

What are the hackle feathers like? Pointy or round?

[SAB]

Gorgeous girls and fantastic names!

[CockADoodleDoo]

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!

[moochoo]

When we las did an introduction we had a short bout of back jumping. I guess it's just a show of dominance.

[redfrock]

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

[Snowy]

They are lovely girls Ginette!

[Ange1]

Ooh I love seeing photos of other people's hens!

 

Will the goldine lay coloured eggs for you?

[Nicola H]

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......

[theherd123]

Ginette what beautiful chookies

[Chickens@61]

they look a lovely combination!

[Yolky]

How gorgeous

[Guest]

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!

[Egluntyne]

You will know either way about Melodie soon enough Ginette.

[ubereglu]

They're gorgeous, what colour eggs will they all lay?

[Guest]

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 . . .

[redfrock]

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

[Guest]

Thank you! That is really reassuring.

[Cooks]

gorgeous!

[AJuff]

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!!

[Guest]

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!

[Cate in NZ]

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.

[redfrock]

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

[Abbey Road Girl]

What beauties they are, Ginette! Thanks for the pics!

[AJuff]

 

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!!!