Chicks - Grow With Me - The 8th Month
Last time Buffy was valiantly wooing the chickens, but was only getting Flopsy to agree with him. Now, Buffy holds court with not just Flopsy, but with Chicky, DeeDee and Pippy. It was rather surprising with Chicky, normally she just tells Buffy to get lost (with a peck), but this sneaky little fella often jumps onto Chicky when her back is turned.
Pippy is normally too fast for any of the boys to catch her. But in this last month, Pippy would madly scramble away only to lie down on the grass a few meters away. Penguin was the first to get her to do that, but she will now lie down for Buffy too.
I find it interesting that Penguin would immediately start hanging around the other Araucanas. He never looks after the other hens the same way he looks after his hens.He will often give food to them, make nests, find dust bathing places and generally follow them around the garden to look after them. He never does this with Effie or Chicky (and they both lie down for him). Another interesting point is that he has never shown any interest in Flopsy at all.
Buffy though, madly looks after his girlfriend of the day. Now that he has other girls, he will either look after Flopsy or DeeDee, giving them food and making inappropriate nests for them. The other day he was in the shoe cupboard making a nest! Needless to say, the hens are still smarter than him and return to the nest box to lay. He will often follow them closely around the garden to look after them.
This cheeky boy has continued a rather annoying habit. If you are out in the garden, he will peck and pull at your clothes until he has your attention. If not, he circles you until he finds an uncovered spot...and..PECK! Being a Pekin, he does like to be handled. There is nothing more he likes than to be carried around the garden while you do your chores. I think he also likes the feeling of being up high. I do love his fluffy legs. Reminds me of those lion dancers during chinese new year and their fluffy pants.
What about Penguin, has his term in the big coop lost his desire for cuddles? Not really, he doesn't run away from us when we pick him up, and he gladly sits in our arms for lengths of time. He often falls asleep in my arms during our morning and evening cuddles. Both of the roosters can easily jump out of our arms, they just prefer to be held.
Penguin has developed a limp in his left leg. I think he has pulled a ligament. It's not bumblefoot, I've checked the footpads and there is nothing there. He tends to hold his foot up and rest on his right leg most of the time. He has days where he runs fine and days where he limps. I think he must have hurt it from chasing all his ladies. I'm not entirely sure what to do. I could rest him in a box, but I think he will go crazy not being able to look after his ladies.
I reckon Penguin has developed some serious John Howard eyebrows. Look at them!
His beard is mighty fine too.
He looks so serious or grumpy from this angle.
But at this angle, he still looks serious, but not in a grumpy way.
I wonder if it is the camera or Penguin was particularly dirty in the above photo.
Buffy does like coming into the house. I think it is because he is partially in love with hubby, but that's another story. All our chickens LOVE muesli and yoghurt. The will fight each other for it. Buffy, loves the yoghurt and oats. This is what happens to him when you feed that combination to him.
Such a messy eater!
Penguin on the other hand, has a healthy appetite, but often gives away all his food to his ladies. I usually have to make sure that there is an excess of food available, so he will eat it. Buffy does give away his food, but if it is particularly tasty, he will just eat it himself.
Well I guess that is it for this month. The next time this goes up, they would have been moved to their new property! I wonder how that will affect them!
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