Mother and 'sons' doing well!!!

[Nicos]

Thought you'd like to see my Cayenne bantam mom with her 2 Marans sons- aged 17 weeks

[Glutton4...]

Either She's tiny, or they're huuuuuuge!

Great pic, Nicos!

[elizajay]

Ah that is so sweet! Do they respect their tiny mother? I've got a bantam wyandotte with a L/F brahma, now 2 weeks old and looks as if it's on stilts, long feathery legs. Tail feathers sprouted yesterday and it can fly. Hope it is a girl.

[Nicos]

Yup- she is tiny- and had 4 of those eggs to hatch!

...and yup- they are enormoooose boys

They're starting to get a bit - well...ahmmmm...in the mornings when they are first let out

...so we have to hang around til they get stuck into their nosh.
The gals are all tiny like her- and have absolutely no intention of being squashed by those bruts of lads!!!
..by heck- you should see them chase off the boys- no nonsense in their household!

[Nicos]

Do they respect their tiny mother?

well- she still calls them over for food from time to time- and they are allowed to pinch food from her- but they have tried to do 'piggy-backs' a couple of times- and she soon sends them off with a few of their feathers flying!


( sad to say though- there's nearly enough space in the freezer for them soon)

[Glutton4...]

Are they for the pot then, Nicos?

[Nicos]

well- put it this way...I may need to go get a bigger pot!

4 boys and one gal and one died hatching out of 6 eggs ( they were my Easter chicks)...would have liked 2 or 3 gals- hence my two Marans eggs under Betty at the mo ( and she's my smallest bantam!!!)

[elizajay]

Nicos
I googled Cayenne bantams as I had never heard of them and didn't get a result - except a post from you! Can you tell me more about them?

[Nicos]

Ha!....not really- when I Googled them all I got were recipes!!

Mine were given me by roitelet- a lovely Grape who also lives in France....perhaps you could pm her????...and then let us all know!!

I have met another English lass with Cayennes - and hers are even smaller

My eggs weigh about 30-35g and are pale beige/cream.
Little busy bodies- and friendly...hobbies = eating and brooding!

Mine have laid eggs all year round too...lovely gals ( and I also have 2 cockerels who are brothers and have sorted out their pecking order)

[Nicos]

Actually- I never thought of Googling in French

...this is the ebay sort of equivalent in France- I typed in poules cayennes- and found a few sites- but this has lots of piccies...

http://www.leboncoin.fr/animaux/129905417.htm?ca=11_s

[RichmondHens]

That is a fab pic Nicos. She is a very sweet looking little hen, and the boys look very tasty!

[julesapple]

Very sweet chooks, but that's a hilarious picture. I guess I look like that stood next to my 6ft sons.....!

Jules

[elizajay]

I asked roitelet about Cayennes she said : -
They are not that tiny but against a maram they would look so. I would describe them as small chickens. They lay an egg about the size of a small commercial egg. They are hardy birds and lots of people out here keep them. It could be that cayenne is a local name as even when I have looked in French chook books I have not been able to find any mention of them.

[jessmorris]

Those marans boyz are beautiful Nicos!

[its hilly]

ROFL...thanks Nicos that brightened my day nicely.