Sunday, May 22, 2011

If Two's Company then Three's........a Family?

My two little chickies started out in a cardboard box filled with fresh smelling pine shavings and a 125w heatlamp bulb.  I was told they were a little over a week old and I watched them with fascination just like I did my two children as they started out.  They already asserted their pecking order and had separate personalities as well.  It took me a mere five minutes before I decided to name them ... Bella and Stella.  Bella is the smaller of the two Americaunas, shyer and quite beautiful in her markings. Her eyes are ringed as if with kohl. Stella is a little darker, more curious and more assertive.  She has what appears to be a widows peak on her head. Stella seems to never sleep keeping watch over their new home and Bella.  According to our city ordinance we are only to have two birds...why two?  Well I'll have to check that out later.  Chickens love company and I really wanted to raise several different breeds but I figured I shouldn't push the limit too far.  But what if one didn't make it...I would revisit the feed store and just check them out one more time.  I asked the same young man who helped me before if the breeds all got along or if it was better to stick with one.  He kind of laughed, "No ma'am they don't know the difference."  Chickens aren't prejudice.  However they do bond somewhat like a family and do not like someone coming into the brood at a later date so it was today or never if I were going to introduce another chicken.   I looked at all the different breeds and asked the young man which were the youngest since I wanted one about the same age as Bella and Stella.  Barred Rocks (barred describing the lines of black & white in their feathers) were suggested and so I picked out a smaller one who was black with a white marking on her head and off I went with my little box.  Barred Rocks are not...well, as cute or pretty as the Ameraucanas. Therefore I named her Raquel and thought she could grow into her name. 

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