They'll be in their Shells Shortly!

HURRAH!

I just ordered 4, vaccinated Faverolles hen chicks. In a few days they'll be in their eggs, somewhere in the East, and they'll hatch there in the last week of August. Then within 24 hours of hatching the four will be boxed up all warm and cozy, & shipped to me via the U.S. Postal Service. When in transit they'll internally feed on the residual yokes that kept them alive in their eggs. Then, in 2 or 3 days, voila! Les Girlie Chicks will be here! Meanwhile I am getting their little receiving kit assembled - a box, a heat lamp, some chick scratch, etc.

Girlie Faverolles Chicks - does that chick have a cute bum, or what?
French Faverolles are my breed of choice because they are great egg layers and known for their docile natures. My cluck's temperaments are a big issue for my duel purpose birds, as they will be pets as well as egg layers.

My Faverolles are called 'Salmon' for their buff color. The feathers of Faverolles do not lie close to the body, so the birds look all lovely & poofy. As adults they are très charming and Old World in their looks.

The Roosters are mostly iridescent black with straw colored feathers draped over their neck and rump. I wish I could have a Salmon Faverolles rooster, but sadly, will not, because roosters tend to rile up the neighbors with their "Cock-a-doodle-doos", or as the birds emote en français, "Cocorico!"

The hens are buff-colored and like the roosters, and have 'muffs' - a Puff of straw-colored feathers just under their chins. The roosters too have muffs... er, handsome, manly black beards.

Both the boy and girl birds, even as chicks, have feathery/downy leggings and feet, and five toes; most chicken breeds have four toes.

Salmon Faverolles - aren't they pretty!
GAK! I am going to have trouble waiting for the end of August to get here!

Quicky Birdie Post

Boy bird at top, Girlie bird below

After a long sulk, the American Goldfinches are hitting the feeding tube. Apparently the seed I gave them before had grown too old. The fresh seed is far more to their liking. These photos were digiscoped at the patio door.

This guy below is in his 1/2 and 1/2, winter/Spring plumage. He is a singer! He's usually sitting in the nearby oak tree, singing his tiny heart out before he lands on the feeder and wolfs down his seed.

My favorite Goldfinch, Mr. Pavaroti

They don't call, they don't write...

Ooooo... Every once in a bit I get updated information from the National Geographic mitochondria DNA testing I took part in a year or so ago. On the chart below are people who are matches to my mitochonria, meaning we're very near, almost sort of, in some ways, related. In other words, if every other human on earth is my 52nd cousin - and they are, even , these people are my, what... 32nd cousins? Yes, something like that.

Here is how the National Geographic explains it all: An exact match on Hyper Variable Region 1 means you share a common female ancestor, but in only 50% of cases did this common ancestor live within the last 52 generations.

So, half the people on the chart below (I'm, inappropriately, the white inverted drop) share the common female great-great-etc.-granny with me. We are genetic cousins. Cool. Just think on it - a whole new set of relatives to not call or visit!

For the record, the white drop points to where my maternal Grandfather originated - Trinidad.