Our growing sablepoot & others

[elmwood]

Just an excuse really to post some pics of our extended family......












lavender will have her work cut out this evening- 6 eggs are arriving for her to sit on- 4 Polands & 2 Pekins We get to keep the 2 Pekins, if our broody does her job! Any cockerals will go to our poultry lady, and in exchange she has asked for our broody to sit on her 4 polands. Can't wait........

 

[pebojuno]

They are beautiful birds and very healthy looking. Good luck with hatching out the eggs- but if you do get polands you'll never want to give them back!

 

[elmwood]

Thankyou, they are all on top form at the moment!

Have you any pics of your polands or poland chicks? I was looking at your lovely beeding pen photos, and the last one with the chicks looks as though they have pompoms on their heads- or is it a trick of the light- nevertheless beautiful.

 

[Anonymous]

hi Elmwood,
your birds are stunning,a real credit to you.Polands do indeed have topknotts or pompoms on their head .They are amazing looking,and apparently,lovely to own........sigh! if only I had the room.....

 

[pebojuno]

As Lydia says the polands do indeed have little pompoms on their heads. Their skulls have a cone on the top from which the crest feathers stick out - So don't worry when you see them hatch with a lump on the top of their heads! They also have prominent nostrils which also look rather unattractive when they first hatch - they are far more vocal than other chicks I've hatched and prone to getting a bit lost- great fun!
There are some more pics of my polands on the photo page somewhere- and David has some lovely white crested black on there too.

 

[elmwood]

Hi Pebojuno, ,
Had a scout for your photos- your hobble & bobble are just beautiful. All your girls are.......lovely photos.

Lydia, thankyou for your kind comments re our girls. I feel really pleased that they are considered so healthy looking- I am trying my best, and they all seem to be contented, happy and trusting of us-

Broody mama to be - "Lavender" is taking her duties much more seriously now she has six eggs to care for. She is totally devoted.

How long is the maximum or average amount of time a broody can leave the nest for? She rarely leaves it for more than 15 mins, mostly about 5 mins.
ALSO, if we do get chicks, does mum feed them and/or do we give chick crumb too?
Jumping ahead I know, buts its exciting.......

Many thanks, Sharron

 

[pebojuno]

Hi again, Sounds like your broody is doing a great job- she'll know how long she can leave the eggs for When the hatch date nears replace what you're feeding Lavender with chick crumbs- she'll encourage the chicks to eat them and they wont do her any harm. Make sure they also have a chick drinker or a low water ppot with marbles in to stop the little chicks from drowning