There are still too many birds to winter over on the farm. Some have gone to the processors in September, but there have been several broods hatched and raised since then, and two hens still sitting on eggs right now. I am convinced they know what they are doing and winter is not on its way any time soon, otherwise the hens would never be hatching babies so late.
There are 5 geese, 2 American Buff, 2 Sebastopols, and an Embden/Toulouse gander
and too many ducks, a bunch of Khaki Campbells, Rouens, 3 Saxony girls, Anaconas and a few crosses. There are still baby ducks on their way growing up, and oh yes, the Muscovy ducks too.
There were only 5 Guineas which is plenty, but the hens hatched another four and another hen hatched another 2 I think.
The chicken varieties are my project chickens, White Chantecler/Ameraucana crosses. I was looking for a hardy bird that is a good winter layer and a great forager. So far, the crossed birds are all that, but winter will be the test.
Then there are some others: both bantam and standard Sultans, Malays, Crevecours, Houdans, Sumatras, Speckled Sussex, White Sussex (goes by a different name, I know, just can't think of it), gold laced Wyandotte, a couple of turkey hens, various Silkies, and pure Ameraucanas, Chanteclers (both white and Partridge) and some bantam crosses with Silkie and/or Japanese bantam influence.
Some of these birds are pretty rare breeds and were brought from Ontario this spring as chicks. Most of the others were picked up locally or somewhere in Alberta from breeders.
Some of the roosters will have to go before winter, but according to the broody hens, that is still a way off, so they can enjoy another month of this gorgeous fall we are having. Then….oh well.
There are 5 geese, 2 American Buff, 2 Sebastopols, and an Embden/Toulouse gander
and too many ducks, a bunch of Khaki Campbells, Rouens, 3 Saxony girls, Anaconas and a few crosses. There are still baby ducks on their way growing up, and oh yes, the Muscovy ducks too.
There were only 5 Guineas which is plenty, but the hens hatched another four and another hen hatched another 2 I think.
The chicken varieties are my project chickens, White Chantecler/Ameraucana crosses. I was looking for a hardy bird that is a good winter layer and a great forager. So far, the crossed birds are all that, but winter will be the test.
Then there are some others: both bantam and standard Sultans, Malays, Crevecours, Houdans, Sumatras, Speckled Sussex, White Sussex (goes by a different name, I know, just can't think of it), gold laced Wyandotte, a couple of turkey hens, various Silkies, and pure Ameraucanas, Chanteclers (both white and Partridge) and some bantam crosses with Silkie and/or Japanese bantam influence.
Some of these birds are pretty rare breeds and were brought from Ontario this spring as chicks. Most of the others were picked up locally or somewhere in Alberta from breeders.
Some of the roosters will have to go before winter, but according to the broody hens, that is still a way off, so they can enjoy another month of this gorgeous fall we are having. Then….oh well.
Bottom right is a Mottled Houdan, and to her left, a turkey, then Patridge Chantecler and a project bird, White Chantecler/Ameraucana cross, but he is a rooster…sorry fellow.
The black ones with the stick up hair dos are Crevecours, a French breed with desirable meat qualities.
The colourful ones with the red heads and beautiful black/green feathers on the left are the Malays, an ancient breed from which domestic chickens have been bred. They are supposed to be exquisite eating. There is a light Sussex in the foreground with the black feathers around her neck, next to the gold laced Wyandotte on her right and the Speckled Sussex on her left.
You can see a large black and white duck, an Ancona, and near the barrel of twine and net, an American Buff goose. The Mottled Houdan is black and white in the forefront.
About 11 o'clock you can see the pair of beautiful Sebastopol geese and a young Rouen duck in front of them. The Guineas are to their left and one is to the right. A young Ameraucana pullet is running to the right mid section. The birds were about to be fed, which is why they were all coming towards me.
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