Newbies :)

[gardenergirl]

I went to my first ever poultry auction yesterday and got some new friends for Featherduster. I've never been to any kind of auction before, so it was quite an experience (I lost the 2 silkies I was bidding on to Tilda Swinton of all people!!!!). In the end I came away with 2 cream legbars and 2 little pekins. They're fairly tame already, especially the wee ones who must have been well handled. Featherduster's not at all sure about them, though there haven't been any major squabbles yet.

Last night I had to put them into the coop when it got dark, and I think I might have to do that again tonight since they haven't been in to explore it all day. I'm not sure they're understanding the ramp.

I'm also feeling really bad for them in the horrible weather today, especially the little ones - it's freezing out there! I just want to bring them in and pop them in front of a heater!

[kitla]

ooh they're so sweet! I've never had legbars, I love their topnots. Does the pekin's colouring have a name, or are they a mixup? they look a bit like a cuckoo/gold partridge mix, really unusual & very pretty.

[gardenergirl]

Well in the auction catalogue they're listed as Isabella pekins, but a google search of that colouring looks more like a creamy-blue colour. I thought partridge looks closer to the mark, except that their markings might be a little less distinct.

[KarenE]

Lovely girls! Leg bars are wonderful, my Dory Grey is a leg bar and she is daft and flighty, easily startled and so comical. The top knot is fab, and the blue eggs are a bonus.

Feather duster will probably chuck her weight around and sort out the pecking order quite quickly. Leg bars are generally quite mild mannered, and if feather duster is a full size girl I can't see bandied putting up too much of a fight.

Tilda Swindon eh? Fancy that!

[sandy]

They look absolutely gorgeous

[Richard]

Fine looking birds.

One or two punch ups and all's well

Richard

[gardenergirl]

They're getting on pretty well together and are now putting themselves to bed at night. I got a new little feeder for the wee ones though because they're too light to open the treadle feeder!

Question: how old do you think they look? They were listed as pullets (meaning under a year, right?), but they must be pretty young because I've had no eggs yet and their combs are still tiny. Here's another couple of photos:

[ChickenCarol]

I would say between four and six months. I have had a cream legbar and they have quite big, floppy combs. Your's have tiny combs which is why I think they are still quite young.

They are all four, lovely looking girls.