Dandelion is continuing to do okay however I am aware that it may just be a reprieve for her. If she didn’t lay until next spring she would have a good chance of healing but if like Rusty she lays again in the near future I know that there is a good chance that she would prolapse again.
We can only wait and see what the outcome will be for her but for the moment we are getting to keep her for a bit longer and must make the most of that.
Dandelion yesterday
She wasn’t too keen on me following her around and trying to get a photo of her bottom but it looks so much better.
The chicks are really into perching now and hang out together on one or other of the perches.
The chicks perching in the shelter
I thought the chicks might be ready to perch at bedtime so I went in about an hour after they had gone to bed. I lifted all three on to the perch but by the time I had picked up my camera one had jumped down again. I did this several times and then gave up as they all settled back in the box again.
The problem is that they are still awake long after they have gone in and are cheeping to each other. I need to go out late at night when they are asleep to have any chance of them staying on the perch. The other thing that might help is to try to get them used to the perch during the day. This is going to be a work in progress.
The chicks at bedtime
And now on to the title of this post. I have never changed a name before. I like to name all my girls as a description of their colour. I named Lemon for her lemon coloured head, she is on the right of this photo.
As she has grown she has completely changed in colour. She no longer has any lemon colour and is rust/gold in colour. It’s a bit like ducklings starting out yellow and completely changing as they grow up and as I have never had seramas as young as this before I didn’t realise how much their colour would change.
Lemon no longer suits her and I have decided to change her name to suit her colour. We have had a lot of gold colour girls and so I have already used a lot of the names that describe this colour and it’s getting more difficult to come up with new names.
In no particular order I drew up the following short list:
Brandy, Ginger, Peanut, Biscuit, Copper, Chestnut, Bronze, Russet, Sienna, Saffron, and Hazel.
My final choice is Sienna. My newest, three amigos, are Blue, Jasmine and Sienna. There is a first time for everything and we are now getting used to her new name. I think it suits her much better.
Click here to see the history of my flock.
I like the name Sienna, I allso think Biscuit is nice.
I hope all stays well with Dandelion.
I think both names are nice too. I am hopeful about Dandelion. It was lovely today to see her twice in a dust bath looking like she was really enjoying it and then I gave some fish as a treat and she was wolfing it down. After looking so awful a few days ago she looked so happy today. Whatever the outcome she is having more time with us and quality time for now.
Awe, you babies are so darling. I love how they sleep in one big pile feeling so safe next to one another. But keep trying to get them to roost. They’ll catch on pretty soon.
I too love seeing them in a heap but I know that it would be better for them to roost. I intend to go out later tonight and try again to get them to perch.
Do hope that Dandelion will make it without further problems. I’d not worry too much at this stage about whether the chicks roost – providing they all do the same, it’s not really an issue – they will work it out, especially as they are so adept during the day. I always think that you are really good with names and again, you’ve chosen an original one. As I’ve said, I am hopeless. Cotton’s brood (I am still preparing a ‘genesis’ document) has produced two females: a gold top and a black mottled pekin; my granddaughter, Grace, has names them Ginger and Bonny respectively. Pleased I have an eight year old to keep me right!
I think your chicks are gorgeous but, I hardly dare say, continue to be concerned by the size of Blue’s wattles – looks very distinctive in the outdoor photo.
I worry about Dandelion when she starts to lay again but can only cross that bridge when we get to it.
You are right, the chicks will work out perching at bedtime in time. I worried about Blue’s comb and googled how to sex seramas. It said they crow as early as six weeks and between two and three months would be crowing. Mine are over three months and all three still cheeping so I am happy that means they are all girls.
I like Ginger and Bonny, Ginger was on my short list. Looking forward to photos when you get it organised.