more chickens of the world

While we were in Branson at Silver Dollar City we ran across another Turken...

the comb on our Turken is just starting to come in, we will post a pic soon. Our friends just to our south have reordered chickens following the "Devastation in Dewar" earlier this spring, with their order they also received a Turken. It seems to be a breed growing in popularity in our part of Oklahoma!

For those unfamiliar with the breed, here is a description:

Half chicken and half turkey? No, the Turken is all chicken but unique because of its turkey-like bare neck, less than normal feathering around the breast, under the wings, and around the vent. In spite of the feather shortage, Turkens stand cold weather very well, are good layers of brown eggs, and grow to 6 pounds or more, making a fine eating bird. The hens are also good setters. The origin of this breed is uncertain but more recent development in Eastern Europe gave them the name Transylvanian Naked Necks. They are now standardized for show in White, Black, Buff, and Red. We have purposely kept our Turken flocks mixed in color (including silver) for a more colorful and distinctive offspring. Baby chicks hatch with bare necks and are easily identified.

Got Ham ?

Well while we were in Houston the chickens laid thier 1st non-white egg. Green! We ended up with two green eggs by the time we got home. Good thing was when we craked them open

they still taste good!

The Incrdible Edible Egg

As predicted egg production began while we were on vacation. I don't know if we have more than one chicken laying yet but I witnessed our white chicken laying an egg this afternoon. I think the balance of the chickens are a week younger so i suspect they will begin full production sometime before the 4th of July.

On a more somber note, while we were gone we lost a chicken in a horrible tractor accident. Ok, shortly before we left, one of our two white chickens got rolled under the edge of the tractor. Apparently she could not recoup from her injuries. Now we are down to a dozen chickens.

Araucanas/Americanas

I think I have identified this particular breed (we have two in our flock). I think they are as follows:


The "Easter Egg Chicken", This unusual breed gets its name from the Indian tribe of Chile where they were first discovered. Araucanas lay beautiful colored eggs of blue-green shades from turquoise to deep olive. These natural Easter Eggs will amaze your friends and make a great "show and tell" project for school. Adults are of medium size with pea combs and our breeding stock is selected for their ability to produce colored eggs. They exhibit a wonderful combination of colors and color patterns and 10 or 20 of these birds make an absolutely beautiful laying flock that is extremely hardy and will be the talk of the town. Baby chicks come in all colors, plain and fancy, just like the adults. This is a unique breed and great fun to have when the colored eggs start coming. Our Araucanas are recommended for egg laying color and ability and not for exhibition.

I hope I am correct as I think it will provide a unique set of eggs for us to have.

Is anyone interested in preordering ?

EGGS!

Alright, so they are not exactly the eggs we are looking for...these are in one of Amanda's hanging plants on the front porch. We are expecting to have chicken eggs in the next couple or three weeks (probably happen while we are on vacation). But, we are ready whenever they arrive.

Benefits of a chicken tractor

The yard before the chickens

The yard after two days

This is the benefit of the chicken tractor and hopefully we can keep pulling it around our acerage to keep it clear...still a few weeks away from eggs.

Growing and mowing

Our chickens are now in the pasture and are really starting to fill out. They did suffer through their first tornadic storm, including hail. Amanda got the children into the storm shelter ('fraidy hole) but she decided not to try and get the chickens, I don't know that I fully supported that choice. But they all seemed to make it through ok. I think we are about 8 weeks away from eggs, we will see.