A Farmlet without Chooks is like a night without stars.
So on the weekend we remedied the situation with the acquisition of these gorgeous Silver Spangled Hamburgs. Bit fancy don't you think?
They sounded half American, half German to me so I felt an instant connection - obviously it's of the utmost importance to choose a breed based on its name!
They're actually a rare Dutch breed. However, they are good egg producers and I couldn't resist their pretty speckled feathers and their fancy tails. And the look of them makes me smile. We bought 5 Girls and 1 Rooster. He has already been named The Captain by Blue Eyes and is already living up to his name steering the girls around the pen and tucking them all into bed at night. The girls are yet un-named-any suggestions? They're 2 months old so they have a few months to settle in before they start laying. I'm hoping to add a couple more breeds soon and thinking along the lines of Barnevelders, Silkies and some good cross-breeds. Does anyone have experience with these breeds?
These birds are a bit flighty (I probably won't find them lounging on the front door step like the Isa Browns we used to get) but they have personality and pizazz. I do like a girl with pizazz! I'll hand feed them for the next few weeks and then we'll let them free-range in the hope they'll be used to returning to the coop in the evenings.
Things are a little sunnier around here with the addition of the Chooks. You could say I'm a little bit smitten with my six sweet silver-spangled spotted sweeties.
Hi Mel, we 'inherited' one of those chickens....they are lovely!! Name them after some favourite places from your trip....coral?? streaky?? esperance??? ha, you have a few to choose from!!!!
ReplyDeleteSpectacular cooks Mel!! We've got Isa Browns at the moment, but have had silkies and a few other exotics in the past, I always like a bit of variety and pizzaz in the chook yard too.
ReplyDeleteThey are gorgeous! And look at you handling them so confidently! I find the flapping very challenging but our girls are settling into the family. No eggs yet. Hmmmm but at least they are loved by the kids. Even the Geege is warming to them x
ReplyDeleteThey are some fancy pants chooks!!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous - I hope they do their good work for you.
:-) x
Very pretty chickens that is what we call them here in America. Do you have them for the eggs? I have a few questions when they lay eggs are the eggs shells soft?
ReplyDeleteDo you eventually eat the chickens? Sorry for all the questions I live in New York and never had a chicken.
What beautiful chookies and beautiful photos too... I especially love that last one, gorgeous! Bring on the omelettes, sramby eggs and quiches! I would LOVE to have some egg layers in the courtyard xo
ReplyDeleteGorgeous chooks!
ReplyDeleteI have 2 Silkies in my flock, and they tend to go broody, which I had read. Still I wasn't quite expecting it when they did. They bhad only laid 2 to 3 pullet eggs each, then went broody, and have been for over a month now. 3 eggs, that's it! They are very quiet, docile, and beautiful though. So if you're looking for a mum hen, then that may be the breed for you.
Just gorgeous. You can't have a farm and not fill it with animals.
ReplyDeleteThey are gorgeous chooks. I must admit to not ever naming ours as we seem to have so many snake and fox mishaps that it seems to tempt fate!!
ReplyDeleteLovely Mel, we're in the process of putting in a cook house in the back corner - haven't decided what breed of crooks to get yet! Love the last photo of you! Missing you so much - love Lara
ReplyDeleteI am so impressed with you, Mel! I couldn't imagine handling one so confidently. Bravo you. J x
ReplyDeleteThey are gorgeous! Reading this makes me want to leave my inner city bungalow and run to the hills to become a country mouse.
ReplyDeleteAs for names - what about some of the places you visited? "Nullabour" doesn't sound girly enough for such pretty hens but I'm sure the kids could come up with something based on their adventures.
Gorgeous!!!! Love them. Sooooo pretty. Name after stars? Love.
ReplyDeleteWow I have never seen that breed before, they are very pretty so pretty names would suit. Now you will start to feel more complete around the farm with the addition of the chicken.
ReplyDeleteOh they are beautiful. I love naming animals, well the children do. Our list of names for future German Shepherds include Fritz, Benz, Otto, Wolfgang, Hans etc, so far we've had Jakob & Khan. They are a stunning breed, look at their stunning colours & good egg layers, fabulous. Love Posie
ReplyDeleteMissed this post. You lucky thing, having giving up on the allotment for this year I'm having to give up on the possibility of chooks. Sad face. But happy for you, these babies are gorgeous!
ReplyDeletethey look like gorgeous gals. Here's to many eggs.
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