Types of Feathers Part 2

I found this in the book Raising Chickens for Dummies.


On the wings:
       There are three types of feathers on the wings. The top section, closest to the body, consists of small, rounded feathers called coverts. The middle feathers are longer and are called secondaries. The longest and largest feathers are on the end of the wing and are called primaries. Each section overlaps the other just slightly.

On the legs:
         Chicken thigh are covered with soft, small feathers. In most breeds, the feathers end halfway down the leg, at the hock joint, in some breeds, however, the legs have fluffy feathers right down to and covering the toes.

On the tail:
          Roosters have long, shiny, attractive tail feathers. In many breeds, the top three of four tail feathers are narrower and may arch above the rest to the tail. These are called sickle feathers. Hens have tail feathers too, but they are short and plainly colored, and they don't arch.

Fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Types of Feathers Part 1

I found this in the book  Raising Chickens for Dummies.


On the neck:
  The row of feathers around the neck constitutes the hackles. Hackle feathers can stand up when the chicken gets angry. These feathers are often a different color than the body /feathers, and they may be colorful in male chickens, the hackle feathers are pointed and iridescent. Female hackle feathers have rounded tips and are duller.


On the belly and midsection:
     The belly and remaining body areas of the chicken are covered with small, fluffy feathers. In many cases, the underside of the bird is lighter in color.

My Chicks and Chickens

 Cute Pip getting his adult feathers!

(Silkie on the left)

 My cute wyandottes 

 My funny road island reds

And my beautiful sussex that follows you 

around like a dog!

Why raise chickens?

Here are a few of the most frequently expressed reasons people raise chickens:

• Easy and inexpensive to maintain (when compared to most other pets)
• Eggs that are fresh, great-tasting & nutritious
• Chemical-free bug and weed control
• Manufacture the worlds best fertilizer
• Fun & friendly pets with personality (yes, you read that right)

Pros and Cons for Rosters.... Pros

              If you are considering having a rooster. Here is some food for thought! Roosters are great they are true protectors over the flock. If you don't have a big flock they always try to keep them, for the most part, together. He will keep a really protective eye on his girls. If he thinks you are a threat he will put himself in between you and his girls and always watch were you are. He will chase off any predators like a cat or a small dog. He will worn the others if there is some thing going on. What I think is amazing he will chase a hawk away when it swoops low to save his flock. He will basically sacrifice himself for the flock. (It's really sweet)  He will also make the girls eggs firtal for re-production. The hens will lay more when they have a rooster in sight. The reason for that is because they think they are laying for that reason.

What do I do when the hens stop laying?

This is similar to the unplanned rooster problem. Hens live up to 12 years, but only really produce eggs between six months old and two years old. Then their egg production usually drops significantly. If you want to keep the eggs coming you'll need new hens — and a plan for the old hens. We don't have the space or money for hens that aren't producing so ours go into the stew pot, though old laying hens are tough and must be cooked for a long time to be edible. This isn't something everyone is willing to do. You can also keep old hens and live with less eggs or find someone that will take them. It's a bad plan, however, to take them to shelters that have limited resources. Doing so gives chicken owners a bad rap.