My Kingdom for Some Hens

It's that time of year. Time to reflect on this season of breeding and plan the next. Let's review shall we?

First, we had Polly and her babies, JB and Jasmine. One boy, one girl. Both with muffs and clean slate legs. Perfect. Exactly what I was looking for. Didn't really need another roo, but figured I could make it work somehow.


Then, there was the great incubator disaster. One lonely chick hatched Easter weekend, after we'd given up on the batch. We named him Lazarus. This brings our total to two boys, one girl. And the poor bugger doesn't have any of the qualities I'm looking for. Not one. He's already gone to his new home.

Of course, we couldn't just have one lonely chick. Nope, we had to go out and get it some friends. Six little friends, in fact. Sir Sparky D'Uccle, his wife, Madam Mille D'Uccle, her maid servant, Twiggy, the Seabright brothers, and Cornelius. Bringing our total to six boys and three girls. The Seabright brothers and Cornelius have all found new homes.

Then there was Minnie and her babies. Please note the comb and wattles on the one on the left. Yep, he's a he. Seven boys, four girls. He's looking for a new home. She's staying even though she has a few errant feathers on her feet, she just won't be allowed to breed.


And finally, there's Wacky Wilma and her babies. Roosters, both of them. They're also looking for new homes. That makes nine boys and four girls.

All of them are very sweet, but lets remember why I have bantams to begin with...they were Dad's chickens. The only reason I'm allowing them to breed is for sentimental reasons. They don't provide gads of eggs, and even when they do lay eggs they're way too small to sell, so they really are just a novelty on the farm - pretty decorations in the barn lot. Decorations that have to be fed and watered and cared for.

So after all the work, and all the trouble, out of the four girls only one, Jasmine, has the qualities I was looking for. Well, and even that's not true. I already have plenty of black hens and really needed any other color. *sigh*