jeshen Posted July 18, 2012 Share Posted July 18, 2012 ] Golda's foster chick, Wilma (7 weeks) seems to be coping well with new introduction Betty (8 weeks) - they've settled down together nicely. The other 4 hens are getting used to seeing them through the wire of the run, and they're all used to Wilma anyway, who free-ranged with them from 4 weeks old (with Golda there to protect her.) Am wondering whether to try free-ranging them with the 4 adult pekins in a few days' time. Don't like seeing them shut up in their small run, but don't want to risk them being attacked either! Is it too early to let them run with the others? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted July 18, 2012 Share Posted July 18, 2012 I've got my 4 8-9week old chicks out free ranging with the mobeven through the still have 'mom' in with them when they are out and about they are on their own Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi5 Posted July 18, 2012 Share Posted July 18, 2012 Ah they are so pretty!! Do you know much about the breed?? Are they a bantam? Or perhaps are rare breed?? Not that I'm very knowledgeable but I'd never heard of them before Glad it's all settling down!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs_B Posted July 18, 2012 Share Posted July 18, 2012 Beautiful chicks! Love their colouring x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeshen Posted July 19, 2012 Author Share Posted July 19, 2012 Thanks both - yes I love their 'chamois' colouring too. Yes. Mimi, they're a bantam version of the owlbeard large fowl. (I'd never heard of them either until Andy Cawthray, my local rare breed chicken expert who gave me the eggs for Golda to hatch, told me what Wilma was! ) Apparently the owlbeard is an old Dutch breed from the 17th century which you can see in paintings by the Dutch masters like Rembrandt. Andy has apparently been working on breeding for the chamois colouring for a while and this is the first year that he has bred this particular colour 'true'. Andy appears in August's Country Smallholding magazine (the Poultry section) holding a black bantam owlbeard, which is Wilma's grandmother! I'm going to have a go at free-ranging the owlbeards with the pekins today......! Can we see pics of your chicks, Mimi?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeshen Posted July 19, 2012 Author Share Posted July 19, 2012 Thought you might like to see this pic of Wilma, which shows her beard! She and Betty seem to have decided to be friends thank goodness! Rosie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi5 Posted July 19, 2012 Share Posted July 19, 2012 Love Wilma's beard!!! They are a lovely pair!!! Could be tempted myself!!! Do you think your friend will have eggs next year?? I promise I will try ......weather permitting, if it ever stops raining to get some pics of the chicks!!!! Keep a look out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeshen Posted July 20, 2012 Author Share Posted July 20, 2012 Thanks Mimi! Andy does have another 7-week-old chamois owlbeard at the moment, which hasn't been outside yet. I chose the slightly older one, which had, as he said she would have more immunity. I'm sure he'll continue to breed them next year. Am seeing him soon and will check. Wilma and Betty have been out free-ranging today. It's very funny to watch them all sorting themselves out! Wilma straight away went back to Golda, her foster-mum and went back into baby-chick thumb-sucking mode, which Golda went along with! Sian was annoyed as her best friend was distracted again with a pesky chick. Poor Betty was a bit isolated and did get chased a bit by the others, but nothing serious. Never realised that chicken relationships are as complex as ours!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs_B Posted July 21, 2012 Share Posted July 21, 2012 I know I have posted how much I liked your chicks already but...I ended up showing my other half and he thinks they are fantastic! So now these are on our list to get in the future (I've had chooks for over 3 weeks and I think I may have got morehens already...) Hehe - thanks! x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeshen Posted July 21, 2012 Author Share Posted July 21, 2012 He he Mrs B! They're lovely little birds - I think you'll enjoy them! They're growing more owl-like by the minute! x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daxigirl Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 Me really, really, wants! Only seen pictures before, adorable wee things. Bit covetous of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gloss-Hen Posted July 30, 2012 Share Posted July 30, 2012 Oh they are beautiful and lovely colouring as mrs-b and jeshen said Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeshen Posted August 3, 2012 Author Share Posted August 3, 2012 Thought you might like to see pics of Wilma and Betty taken today. (The middle one is of Wilma with her pekin foster-mum, Golda, who still gives her pep-talks now and again as you can see!) Wilma's made a full recovery from cocci, thank goodness! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dance in the dark Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 I am so pleased to hear Wilma has got over her cocci, I was getting concerned that you hadn't done an update in your other thread. YEY! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
