The Flock and the Yak

So, this is about all that's been going on lately. It has been raining on and off, and we haven't had any sun since my last post. In the mean time I've been setting down and clearing out spaces for our new greenhouses to be built on as well as spaces for our future Orchard to be planted on. Other than that, I got a chance to take some photos of our flock of hens. Just a little note though - These photos show maybe half the population. Not shown are my Easter Eggers, Olive Eggers, Buff Ameraucanas, and a few others. . .

We first start with the beginning. Cloudy day, middle of winter, yet there's still always chickens foraging about out there. So, I decided to take a peek. . .



So, getting a little closer, I can see a New Hampshire, a Brahma, some Wyandottes, and a Black Copper Marans. (who's the only non-hatchery bird there, and sadly bigger than the Brahma)



So, I decide to throw some sunflower seeds out there, attract some more. . .







Now remember, this is the middle of winter. . . Normally what you're looking at is solid greenery of grasses, daisies, thistles, blackberries, etc.

So, after that little get together, I finally decide to let our Yak, Djimon, out to graze the pasture. . .





After a little run-around behind their coop, I led them downhill and out to where Djimon the Yak was.





The big ugly pile of wood in the back is what happens when you cut down some forest and have yet to burn, chip, or simply move away the left-over stumps and twigs.



And, they've gone as far as they prefer for the day.

Now, time to fight over food!



For those of you who are curious - The black and white spotted chickens are Silver Laced Wyandottes. The white one with the black neck and tail is a Light Brahma. The orange ones that pop in and out are a New Hampshire and her crossbred daughter. The really light solid creamy brown ones are Wheaten and Blue Wheaten Ameraucanas. The light creamy brown ones with big fluffy bodies and dark orange heads are Wheaten Marans. The black ones are Black Copper Marans. The gray ones are Blue Ameraucanas and Blue Jersey Giants. There's also a couple others who pop in and out, such as a splash Araucana (white, no tail, has black polka dots on her body) and the solid white looking one is a splash Jersey Giant.


And, way over on the other side of our whole property, are some other free ranging, umm, birds? Raptors? Cross between people and chickens? . . . This here is our Shamo named Godzilla, though we often like to call him Gojira. He really is a sweetie though! Follows you everywhere, always wants treats, and always chit-chats with you. His mate's eggs are currently in the incubator and will hatch next week! His own crossbred babies are also in the incubator and they too are due to hatch next Monday.

We got some Velociraptors!

Alright everyone, we got ourselves two new birds. . . Prepare yourselves, because we're truly going to specialize in different breeds now. These really are more dinosaur than chicken. I've been wanting some for a long time, but they're just so rare and expensive. ( Yes, me and rare/expensive chickens. . . )






Anyway, here it is, a pair of Shamos!





Shamos are a type of Oriental Gamefowl. More specifically, they're a breed used for cockfighting. Of course, we won't be doing that, instead, we'll be breeding and raising them in the preservation and love of such unique, beautiful variety of chicken. They're young right now, only 4 months old, but will grow to stand over 30 inches tall, and despite their feirce, hawk-like gaze, they are extremely friendly, loyal, and intelligent. They're a good mothering and very broody breed, but are also extremely aggressive towards other chickens and towards one another if both are males. We have here a young pair, one is a Wheaten pullet and the other a Barred Wheaten stag. (Gamefowl roosters under the age of 1 year are called stags.)





Shamos are a slow growing breed, but once past a year old, they will be HUGE! These two, for now, are pampered in their own personal coop, complete with insulation, heat lamps, natural lights, and their own specially mixed food. When they're completely used to their new environment in a week or two, they will be loose in our yard, practically as lawn ornaments. They're also very good vermin control!



Beyond that, we've come across another bit of news. . .



Our once beautiful black Ameraucana cockerel, Hades:



Now looks like this:



Has he recently gotten a bath in that photo? - No.

What happened? Well, I'm not entirely sure. . . All I know is - I went out to check on the bachelor pad, see what the ruckus was about. . . And found him completely upside down on the ground, gasping for air, and absolutely matted and tattered with mud. His comb was pretty bloody too. My Wheaten and Blue Wheaten Marans were obviously the culprits, being completely soaked and having bloodied combs themselves, but why I do not know. I'm just finding that Ameraucanas are generally better males than Marans.

So, on the verge of tears and worried he was close to death, I rushed him inside, got him a slightly warm shower/bath, dried him off (which he loved the blow drier!) then checked his body for injuries. I treated his comb, and found nothing more. . . But he was hardly standing at all! His balance was terrible, he was still breathing hard, and the most he did was just stand in place, chittering at me every once in a while. He's a talkative fella.

Once I let him back out, a fight broke out again. He was muddy all over again!! So, I'm having some troubles now with most of the boys accepting him for some reason. . . I'm coming to the tough decision of getting rid of all my Wheaten Marans except of course my Blue Wheaten.

In the mean time, sadly, Hades has been hiding away in the boy's sleeping area with the rest of the "rejects." - My perfectly tufted splash Araucana, Canis, and my new Buff Ameraucana, Set - Who's becoming a little more of a man now that he's been given a couple days with the hens.