I never got a good pic of the other one but she wasn't anything like this! This looks and feels like thick fur! I had no idea they could be so soft. This is another example of the difference between hatchery quality and breeder quality, like my cochins. I'm not sure how to integrate her into the free rangers. I was told Silkies are prone to predators, especially hawks, because they can't see past their topknot unless you trim it. I can hardly see her eyes. That pouf is half her charm so I kinda hate to cut it off. She may just live in the Summer House permanently. As I was trying to get a good shot, I realized a Silky might have been the inspiration for Sesame Street's Big Bird. You see it, too, right?
I put the partridge trio in with her the first night. I was hoping she would bond with them so she could go out. Didn't see any sign that she would. I imagine the cochins don't know what to think about this odd lookin critter. My other silky seemed to be an outsider as well. The next day, I found a teeny tiny egg, the smallest I've seen from any of my birds, in the nestbox. It might have been one of the cochins, but I don't know for sure. I was told Silky (yeah, that's probably her name) is about 5 months old, which is about what my hens are, and first eggs usually aren't full sized.
This is what greets me when I walk out on the porch in the evening. Even though I was ready with camera in hand, I still couldn't get all of them in one shot. They mob me that fast! You see, they usually get their bird seed in the evening and they come running. I can barely walk out to the pen where I keep it without stepping on them. I feel like Richard Dreyfess in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" when he was being escorted by the little aliens into the space ship. Yeah, I know, weird thing to think of, but that's the picture in my head when I look down at all these little beings milling around my feet.
The birchens weren't in that shot because they were right at my feet already. That roo is going to be so beautiful!
Hardy Hibiscus in all it's glory. Those flowers are about 8" across. This is seen from the window by the computer desk. Nice view, huh?
tnt
