I know it's not nice to pick favorites.... but this little guy (and I do mean little!) ranks right up there with the OTHER favorite chickens on the farm! ...see, I get away with it by having more than one favorite...
Wiley... he's just the CUTEST! He loves to fly up and land on my shoulder. Though, sometimes he misjudges his landing and ends up landing on my head, but it's forgivable. He also gets very excited when I make happy chicken noises -- he comes running to find me and crows for me! What a charmer... It's so difficult to get across in photos the true size of Wiley. He might stand 8 inches tall. Maybe. If he's standing tall. He's nearly knee high to a grasshopper. ...a Texas-sized grasshopper, that is!
While I'm picking favorites, here's another! This is Tipsy Frizzlewinkle, as named in the pullet naming contest I held a while back. Tipsy is part frizzle and part Silkie. She's really come into her feathers now, and is sooooo frizzled and soft!
The coloring on her feathers is so unique! Each feather has a light colored center that creates a nice center stripe. Then, there's a nice mixture of chocolate brown and gold, which gives her such a great appearance.
Another cutie in the coop is Curly Que, who is also part frizzle (you can tell by her curled feathers), and part Golden Laced Polish. Her feathers are so very soft too, just like Tipsy's feathers!
Her head feathers make me laugh, the way they curl straight forward. And her beard curls up around her cheeks... so cute!
I have more frizzle cross babies growing up, too! This is another frizzle/Silkie cross. She wasn't too pleased that I put her up on the "BIG CHICKEN" perch for her photo op. She didn't stay long. CHEEP CHEEP CHEEP!
And there's THIS crazy little chick! This little gal's (I'm hoping it's a girl, anyway) feathers are black with silver coloring, and I can't WAIT to see how pretty she gets as she continues to grow! If you think you're having a bad hair day, just remember... it could probably be worse! I tried to get more photos of the babies, but they don't exactly hold still for much more than a fraction of a second. I'll try to do better!
Here are some of the Golden Comet girls. They're not quite old enough to lay eggs yet, but they've been eyeballin' the nest boxes in the morning, so I know it's just a matter of time before I'll be gathering 40 some-odd eggs in the morning (not just from the Golden Comets). The cafe in town should be thrilled!
The Golden Comet ladies are a nice bunch of pullets. I'm really pleased with them, actually. I've never raised Golden Comets before. We bought them because we could guarantee that we were buying hens (and not roosters) just by their coloring when they were chicks. They're a cross between a Rhode Island Red hen and a Rhode Island White rooster. The chicks that hatch will carry the coloring of their gender -- this is called "sex-linked". As chicks, the little pullets are golden yellow with darker gold striping down their backs, and the little cockerels are pale yellow. This makes it easy for hatcheries to gender identify the chicks. And makes it easy to buy only hens! They should lay a nice sized light brown egg... come on, girls!!
Last month we lost the best rooster on the farm, Lefty. Before he died, he fathered about a dozen chicks that were hatched out by Crazy Dark Brown Hen. This little guy is one of them! His coloring is so striking, and like his father, he is quite friendly. I'm hoping he doesn't grow out of that... He's still quite young and isn't so sure about leaving the safe walls of the coop just yet. But he's perfectly content hanging out in one of the unfinished windows watching the events in the chicken yard!
And speaking of Lefty... here is his other young heir to the farm. Isn't he handsome in his black and white feathers and ultra cute cheek feathers (which he got from his mother). You can see more of this little guy here, and here.
Those are all the photos I have to share today... more coming soon!
PS: If you want to read more posts about chickens or the coop, you'll find Poultry and Chicken Coop in the Categories list on the right. In fact, you'll find all kinds of things to read about if you visit the Categories list on the right! Dexter Cattle, Goats, Life on the Farm (includes all of the farm related posts), and even a link to my encounters with Texas-sized spiders. Which I will have you know, I have spared you from the recent encounters... you can thank me by sending spider killing (but chicken safe) spray. Or booze.
Cluck cluck!
Oh Anna.... I just love all the new photos and especially the ones of my girl Tipsy! She has turned into quite the looker hasn't she? Simply amazing!
Posted by: Mary Anne K. | July 18, 2009 at 11:54 AM
A big Thank you for these wonderful pictures, Anna. It's so much fun looking at them. I love chicken sooo much and my favourite picture is definitely the one of the Golden Comet hen !
Kerstin
Posted by: Kerstin Lang | July 13, 2009 at 06:55 AM
Send booze...hahahaha.
Great pix, Anna. I think Tipsy and Curly Que look like Elvis impersonators. Wiley is the cutest thing... very photogenic. Speaking of small roosters, how is Tiny Tim?
Posted by: Lisa Hjulberg | July 09, 2009 at 11:00 PM
Love your chicken portraits! You need to do a chicken calendar for sale.
Posted by: Michelle | July 09, 2009 at 08:31 PM
I love visiting your blog and seeing your gorgeous chickens! Your photos are amazing, but the chickens - well, they are so darn cute I can't stand it! I love the frizzles and silkies . . . and I do understand about having favorites. It's natural. Thanks so much for sharing (my neighborhood wouldn't allow me to have chickens so I'll live vicariously through you, for now).
Posted by: Sharli | July 09, 2009 at 08:23 PM
You and Alan certainly have some beautiful chickens! Their feathers and personalities are wonderful! I'm dreaming about all the beautiful, yummy fresh eggs................ ummmmmmm
Posted by: Viv (VivLyn) | July 09, 2009 at 03:47 PM
I always look forward to your blog posts everyday, it's always a fun surprise to see what you've posted each day! I love everything you post but I always enjoy seeing your farm life. Your chickens are all so fun, I love Curly Que, and I can just imagine seeing Wiley running to you or flying to you! Love the uniqueness of all your chickens. Thanks for sparing us your recent spider stories, I always get the creepy crawlies when I read about your encounters!
Posted by: Tami McBeain | July 09, 2009 at 02:39 PM
W*O*N*D*E*R*F*U*L*!!! I love each and every picture, and was happy to read about your chicken "babies"!!! I know they are like your kids, and it's GREAT to see them! Thanks for the fantastic pictures, and the notes about the chickens/roosters! HOW FUN! (and I'm still jealous, as I don't have any chickens!) :D
Posted by: diane mcvey | July 09, 2009 at 12:25 PM
Thanks for sharing these great photos. I think Wiley DESERVES to be a favorite--what a handsome little roo he is! Your comment about having a bad hair day but realizing it might be worse cracks me up! Those frizzled girls really grow the crazy feathers, don't they?
Sorry about the spiders. They give me the creeps too, especially the big ones!
Posted by: Shellie Daniel | July 09, 2009 at 12:25 PM
I love each and every one of your chickens. Your pictures are brilliant. They show the best colors. I would love to see your animals in person. I love to hear about their personalities. They are no different than any other animal who is well loved.
Posted by: Sandy Hill | July 09, 2009 at 12:05 PM
The chickens are growing so fast! Great pictures!
Posted by: Erika M | July 09, 2009 at 11:13 AM
Love your chicken pics. They sound like lots of fun. So happy Lefty had chicks to carry on his legacy. I agree w/you about spiders, but I don't have any easy solutions. Have a great day.
Posted by: Troy Louise | July 09, 2009 at 10:16 AM
They're all gorgeous!
Posted by: Toni K | July 09, 2009 at 10:11 AM
Love seeing the pictures and reading stories about the chickens.
Posted by: Laurie in MN | July 09, 2009 at 10:09 AM
Wonderful photo's of your chickens. I love seeing them and learning about them.
Posted by: Ida | July 09, 2009 at 09:51 AM
As always, I'm totally loving your chicken photos. I'm cracking up at Wiley and trying to imagine him running out to you when you make your happy chicken noises. You have to get that on video and post it. Thanks for sharing your fun life :-).
Oh, and question about your hand carved stamps. When I was in elementary school we used to carve out linoleum blocks (i think that's what they were called). Are these like the same thing? You use little scooping tools? We'd ink them up and make calendars for the parents.
Posted by: Simmy | July 09, 2009 at 09:31 AM
What superb portraiture! My Alan and daughter couldn't resist and had to come look over my shoulder to see your precious poultry.
Posted by: Gabriela (Gabi With An Eye) | July 09, 2009 at 08:30 AM
Another great blog!!
Thanks for sharing & making my morning.
D.C. ~
:)
Posted by: Dianna Martin | July 09, 2009 at 08:14 AM
They are all my FAVORITES !!! How could you only chose one? I love your cards, but especially love seeing you menagerie!!
TFS, Hugs...
Posted by: Carol Dee | July 09, 2009 at 07:09 AM
That little Goldie Comet looks like she has atttitude! You have the prettiest animals at your place Anna!
Posted by: Brook | July 09, 2009 at 06:52 AM
I love looking at your pictures! Thanks for sharing this gorgeous poultry with us!!
Posted by: Danielle | July 09, 2009 at 06:47 AM
OMgoodness, you have a whole bunch of new and cute chickens and roosters. I for one would be following Wiley around in case he dropped any of his gorgeous feathers. I'd be collecting them to use in my card making:) tfs
Posted by: Cindy H. | July 09, 2009 at 06:28 AM
I think Curly Que looks like Elvis!
Thanks for sharing - I loving hearing about life on the farm and checking out your photos!
Posted by: LisaC | July 09, 2009 at 05:28 AM
I read about 10 blogs every morning and I have to say yours is my favorite - especially when it's about the farm animals! I've learned more about chickens in the last six months than I'll ever need to know! Love it!!! By the way, spiders are my BIGGEST fear - thanks for NOT sharing those stories!!
Posted by: Susan | July 09, 2009 at 05:13 AM
Ok, back from vacation and you got way too much going on! Hope Mister Farley is much better. Chickens look good, especially young "Lefty". Your hand carving is REALLY cool. Do ya got one of dem der cattle prods??? Maybe you could "zap" the spiders?? I bet the creepy crawlers are much smaller and more civilized in Wahsinton State, aren't they? Take care and thanks for the info about Creative Pals ~ very nice store!
Posted by: nise | July 09, 2009 at 04:25 AM
I was just talking to someone tonight about bugs and the person was telling me about Texas water bugs. I cannot for the life of me imagine! Think I'll stay in S. Indiana where the bugs can still be swatted with a shoe if need be!
Posted by: Shae | July 08, 2009 at 11:56 PM
Oh, I love frizzles and sizzles! That name Tipsy Frizzlewinkle is just a crack up!
Posted by: Heidi | July 08, 2009 at 11:29 PM