Here are my chickens, Bert and Ernie. They are
Cream Legbars {sold to me as Blue Marans}, and were hatched in May 1997. I bought
them in early August 1997. These photographs were taken on 23rd August 1997
Above left : Bert pullet / Above right: Ernie pullet
Bert and Ernie will lay Blue-shelled eggs. Though they have male names, they
are in fact female birds. They were named after the characters from the American
childrens' programme 'Sesame Street'. Bert hen has scattered slight white barring
on her feathers, and Ernie hen is a more solid grey colour, her chestnut brown
areas seeming to blend further into her grey plumage. Both chickens have yellow
legs and beaks, white earlobes and amber eyes. Bert and Ernie are allowed to
run free in the garden and go wherever they want.
November
1997
2 Pictures of Bert Hen inNovember 1997 (below):
Both hens are very tame, and don't mind being held.
Compare the size of the wattles and comb with
the picture taken on 23rd August. They're growing!
December
1997
Picture of Ernie Hen taken
on December 12th 1997
On 17th December 1997 the Chickens experienced
the first ever snow of their lives. They woke up to see a thin covering of snow,
still falling. I let them out in the morning at about 8.30. They didn't want
to stand on the snow, and tried to avoid it as much as possible by walking on
the path (in the right of the picture), which hadn't been covered yet..
Below: "What on Earth's this cold white
stuff?!"
By 11:00 on the same morning the snow was deeper,
about 1" thick, and still falling!. The chickens had no way of avoiding
it now as the path had been covered, and sat sheltering under a bush. They didn't
seem to want to come out, even when I offered them some food!
The chickens had gone straight to the shelter
of their favourite bush as soon as I'd let them out, and stayed cowering there
for two hours. They didn't even have the courage or sense to investigate the
snow and find it harmless. Or maybe it just feels too cold on their little hen
feet!
By Midday the stupid fowl still hadn't moved,
and probably hadn't eaten or drank anything since 8.30 am. It was important
that they should venture out and get food. They wouldn't be encouraged out from
their shelter, so I had to grab Bert and place her on the snow. She just stood
there for a couple of seconds (below), then started to walk towards Ernie.
Ernie had cautiously started walking toward Bert,
and they then tried to get into the shed for shelter (below).
When they realised that they couldn't get into
the shed, the hens walked slowly and carefully toward their house, always keeping
very close to the fence to avoid as much of the snow as possible. They stayed
in their house for the rest of the day.
These birds do not seem to like snow, but they
must learn to cope with it.
To Flock Diary 2001 - January,
February and March 2001 / April and May 2001
To Flock Diary 2000 - January 2000 / February, March, April 2000
/ May 2000 / June 2000 / Stroud Show 1st July 2000 / July 2000 /
August 2000 / Painswick
Show 13th August 2000 / September 2000 / October, November & December 2000
To Flock Diary 1999 - January 1999 / February 1999 / March , April 1999 / May , June 1999 /
Stroud Show 1999 /
July 1999 / August 1999 / September 1999 / October 1999 / November 1999 / December 1999
To Flock Diary 1997 & 1998 - August to December 1997 / January, February and March 1998
/ April 1998 / May 1998 / June 1998 / July 1998 / August 1998 / September 1998 / October 1998 - Part One / October 1998 - Part Two /
November 1998 - Part One /
November 1998 - Part Two / December 1998