A story of the generosity of a forum member....and bragging about my chickens!

Just after we came out here I put a 'Wanted' ad on for some chickens for eggs. Mr Eq would be having his utility birds but I wanted my own purely pet egg layers.

We were lucky to be offered some for free by Bgbazz and his wife as a 'welcome to Bulgaria' gift and duly met him to pick them up. A very generous gift of five lovely pullets, all different, and only one who's sex was slightly in question. Forgive the photos.

Cagney
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Lacey
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Bunty
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'Suspect' Silver....a unisex name
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Venus...she is a very good fly catcher
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They have grown and blossomed into very fine looking birds, coveted by our lovely Bulgarian neighbours, and all full of character. Silver is definitely a girl, a big one, and has turned into a beauty, despite being a bit of a clown with very odd action due to her twisted foot.

We have waited a long time but at last they have started laying, Cagney first and then Venus both laid their first eggs yesterday.

They have been joined recently by a trio of rare breed Bulgarian Shumens, all three rather challenged in the feather department, cockerel Sevi because he had a fight recently, and the girls because they had been in with a rather amorous rooster (not Sevi) They are a small breed, not really the utility breed Dave wanted to start a flock with, but important to keep them going in Bulgaria.The girls are over a year old and have laid since day one and their eggs are in an incubator as the rooster they were with is unrelated to Sevi so we can keep any hen chicks to add to the flock.

My girls think Sevi is the bees knees, except Cagney who used to be boss, and although he takes his own girls to bed in his shed at night, he prefers the big girls, Venus and Silver. The intention was to keep the two groups separate. That worked for a few hours, but with Venus flirting without shame at the window of Shumen Towers we thought better of it. Maybe later they will have a run of their own on the other side of the walnut tree, where the million pumkins are now.

So, all in all, we now have a very happy bunch of chooks living in harmony. Sevi is happy to have seven new wives (he is only eight months old!) and the girls are happy to have him looking after them....in all ways. More pictures.

The rather scrappy looking Shumens.
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Sevi a few days later
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All together, with Bella in attendance. She loves chickens.
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The Sumen lay white eggs
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And my beautiful girls at bed time
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And the Shumen, not a pretty sight, but they are improving every day
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Our first and second eggs from my girls....so proud.
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So there we have it. A gesture from a generous couple has contributed to happy chicken keepers, and we thank them.

Dave and Sara

Great story, thanks for sharing. Also, thanks to bgbazz for making some new forum members so welcome!

Thank you indeed, some very interesting information here for those who wish to do the same. Good luck with all you chicks.

Thanks for commenting. It has been a huge learning curve having the chickens and eleven chicks. The older birds are looking great, though we lost the white one we got from Bazz. The three Shumen are simply stunning especially the male, Sevi. The oldest male chick is being bossed as he is at the age when he is sidling up to the women, and the younger chicks are not far behind so all the males are looking for new homes (though one is booked) Dave is busy building another pen so we can split the Shumen breeders from my house hens. A couple of the Shumen pullets are going to a friend in the village.

So, if they ever start laying again we will be setting more eggs but this year we will not be keeping so many hungry birds through winter. We are hoping to enthuse others with the pure rare breed. Might have to get in touch with our Bulgarian friend and expert for advice.

I know photos are not encouraged, but I must just put an 'after' photo of Sevi
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