Basket o Coopers

CynthiaM was asking about what the Coopers chicks were looking like so I thought I would take a pic of a few of them before they are moved to the outside brooder. I believe the one in there with the feathered shanks is a pure Marans, the combs will tell in a couple of weeks. I am still getting some feathers on legs with the Coopers, but I am trying to have clean legs eventually.
Year 2 in the project and I am happy with the progress. Now the next step is seeing what the pullet eggs look like this fall.
I like the shade of blue most of the chicks are.

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Gorgpeous, I want some. Damned addictions

bckev wrote:Gorgpeous, I want some. Damned addictions

I am not far away, just say the word!

They are too cute! Are Coopers your winter hardy dark eggers? Nice name btw.

Oooh, they're pretty coop! Good work.

Sure wouldn't mind some myself. Must...........hold...........off.

Awh! What gorgeous chicks, Coop!

Flicker Chick wrote:They are too cute! Are Coopers your winter hardy dark eggers? Nice name btw.

Yep, thanks. Bckev mentioned something like it and I thought it fit. Nice to not have to type winter hardy dark layers all the time!!!

Is your plan in the end to have blue birds or color doesn't matter? Just the winter hardiness and dark eggs?
I would sure be interested in some as layers if you have extras this year...
I will be by in August and could definitely meet you and pick some up.

I will have incubator space in june or july for osme of them and some p chants. If that works for you. Would love to come your way, a good excuse to do some early season scouting for the next hunting season.

Oh no Coopslave, I feel sick, sick with envy, smiling. You know that I have such a hankering for blue birds. Gonna have to figure this one out in my mind though. I think you will have great success with your Coopers, I really do. You gonna have a very cold hardy bird that will lay lots of eggs. What do you think? Do you think that the eggs will be browner than a light brown egg? If that is the case, you know I am after some dark brown egg layers, for egg laying only, so we can have enough eggs. Darn broody hens, smiling. Anyways, putting that bug in your ear too, just like everyone else. I might be up for a couple of pretty, pretty blue girls, I would want the feathered legged ones though , imagine that eh? You know I love feather legged birds. Those chicks are the prettiest chicks I have ever seen, I love blue babies, and wish my blue cochin babies were a dark shade like that, but doubt if I will ever get there. Sometimes there are some that are reasonably dark, but nothing like what I see here. You lucky girl!! Have an awesome day, CynthiaM.

Hidden, I would know pullets from cockerels by then. Remind me closer and we will work something out. There will be some that don't meet what I am looking for and they would be great layers!
As far as colour, I am aiming for black and blue with red throats, but to be honest colour is the least of my worries right now!!!

Bckev I can do the PChants for you but the Coopers are done for the season. Marans rooster is gone and they are back in with the PChant rooster so no more hatching this year.

CynthiaM I will put your name on a couple of feather shanked dark blue pullets. Do you care about the comb? Do you need a winter hardy or is a single ok?
The hens that laid the eggs are laying a deep terracotta colour (darker than the eggs you got, you know the ones) and they have been bred back to a Blue Marans rooster so I am hoping for darker eggs, or at least maintaining the colour they have. I will try to remember to email pictures of some of the eggs, you may have to remind me.

How far is it to your place from South Western ON? You've created an awesome new Canadian breed!

Yep, put me down for a good few of the feather shanked ladies. Na, I'll take the single combed ones too, you will probably have a few of those and those will not fit into your breeding program. We do OK with single combs here. Not one of my ladies got any kind of frostbite last or this winter (last winter coldest was -17, this winter -12). This winter the roosters did not even blacken their combs. So wonder if it is anything below -12 that will black them up. The buff rooster got a teeny tiny bit, not much, but no tip damage. Ya, so sell me the single combed ones for sure, unless others want them too. I have to play nice in the sandbox and that means sharing, smiling that big smile. Beautiful days, CynthiaM.

Ya, I'll send you a joyous email every day until you send me some pictures

Micah and Kiah wrote:How far is it to your place from South Western ON? You've created an awesome new Canadian breed!

I am in BC so quite far!
They aren't a breed yet, but I hope to stablise them to be useful to people in the next few years. Just a lot of fun at the moment!

Oh, and CynthiaM, sent you an email.

ChicoryFarm wrote:Oooh, they're pretty coop! Good work.

Sure wouldn't mind some myself. Must...........hold...........off.

Give me another year Chicory and I may want you as a co-breeder! How is that for a good excuse to get into something new!?

If you haven't sold all of your extra chicks of the coopers I would take them.

You're a hit, Coop!

bckev wrote:If you haven't sold all of your extra chicks of the coopers I would take them.

I responded in the other thread, email me please.

Ah, ha, Coopslave, so you and ChicoryFarm going in cahoooooots!! Now that would be a hoot and a hollar, she is a most delightful woman and would do you well. Smiling. I know you were teasing her, but boy, oh boy, you should see her place and the gazillion little henhouses and runs for her birds. She rivals Tara's place, just slightly differently set up and coops that are somewhat smaller, from what I remember. Boy oi oi oi!! Her Husband done done her good! Incredible buildings and runs. (are you blushing yet Chicory? that was my intent ) Have an awesome day, CynthiaM.

CynthiaM, I haven't been to Chicory's place but have meet her and Mr Chicory a couple of times. I find them both delightful! Would be happy to work with her on anything I can pressure her into.

(You do know the surname of the couple is not "Chicory", right?, you would never in a million years believe the surname, the coolest name I think I have ever heard, but that is a secret, smiling). Their place is most lovely. and she would be a good partner, as she is just as anal as you have a most wonderful day, CynthiaM.

Hey you two! I'm just jumping back in again on this thread. Had no idea you were talking about me. I must say, I feel honoured to be so closely connected with both of you and am so grateful for my friendship with you both.

Cindi, your Buff Orps are beautiful and fabulous layers and I've got a whack of their eggs in the bator. 'Thunder' my boy from you, is magnificent and so well mannered. Can't wait to see how their babies grow out.

And as for you, Mrs. Coopslave.........twist my rubber arm and I probably will jump on board with you in time.........to go with your beautiful Partridge Chanteclers and our livestock guardian dog - Stella, who is doing such a great job.

Big hug to both of you and to your men as well. Thanks for the compliments. Hope to see you this year.

Oh and our last name? I don't mind folks knowing cause it is very dear...........it's 'Precious'.

ChicoryFarm wrote:Hey you two! I'm just jumping back in again on this thread. Had no idea you were talking about me. I must say, I feel honoured to be so closely connected with both of you and am so grateful for my friendship with you both.

Cindi, your Buff Orps are beautiful and fabulous layers and I've got a whack of their eggs in the bator. 'Thunder' my boy from you, is magnificent and so well mannered. Can't wait to see how their babies grow out.

And as for you, Mrs. Coopslave.........twist my rubber arm and I probably will jump on board with you in time.........to go with your beautiful Partridge Chanteclers and our livestock guardian dog - Stella, who is doing such a great job.

Big hug to both of you and to your men as well. Thanks for the compliments. Hope to see you this year.

Oh and our last name? I don't mind folks knowing cause it is very dear...........it's 'Precious'.

My dear Ms. Precious. I did not want to speak of the surname as so many things are confident. This be one, but now is not. Precious....to say the least. I am so pleased you are pleased with my buffs, and I was thrilled when you called him by the name of Thunder, because of the huge sound when he jumped down from the perch. Ya, to you and Thunder, the girls and all that goes with it. I will give Ken that hug from you. Let's hope this generation is as nice as the one you have as the breeders. Only time will tell that tale .Have beautiful days, CynthiaM.

Blues is best! How lovely they are, Coopster!