The Poultry Keeper

Magpie · Joined: 28 Aug 2007 Posts: 642 Location: Norfolk

I went to the sale at Mildenhall (Fabian Eagle) on Sunday intending to get some Sussex pullets and a trio of bantam Vorwerks. Well I got the Sussex but the Vorwerks went way beyond my budget. Earlier in the sale a trio of young gold Appenzellers had gone unsold but I couldn't bid for them as I expected to get the others at the end of the sale - so I went and spoke to the auctioneer and bought the trio for a song...

Here are a couple of pics in the quarantine ark, with the light Sussex.

Never thought I would like birds with hats but these are so inquisitive and friendly, chooks with character. Laughing

CP · Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 1:41 am Post subject:

Lovely birds. Very Happy

Magpie · Joined: 28 Aug 2007 Posts: 642 Location: Norfolk

Here they are looking a bit tidier - but still moulting, the cockerels tail is only half grown!

Tim

Magpie · Joined: 28 Aug 2007 Posts: 642 Location: Norfolk

Eggs!!! First eggs laid by them today - one from each hen Laughing

. But what a funny time to start laying - about 30 weeks old and the middle of November...

Tim

Sparklepeeps · Joined: 17 Jan 2007 Posts: 1960 Location: Cheshire

Magpie, your chicken photo just poped up in the top right hand corner and it made me and OH laugh so much that we had to open up the photo to have a proper look, they are very pretty. We want an elvis hen now! What colour eggs do they lay and how often?

oh and what other colours do they come in?

Magpie · Joined: 28 Aug 2007 Posts: 642 Location: Norfolk

I know what you mean, I did the same with another photo the other day Laughing

I'm getting medium sized white eggs, probably 2 every 3 days at the moment - I think only one bird laying so far. Good yellow yolks in them.

The most common colour, if you can call it that, is Silver Spangled. My Gold Spangled ones are pretty rare, not that I knew that when I got them Rolling Eyes

. There may be some all Black ones about in the UK as well. They come in other colours on the continent apparently but I've never seen them: White, Gold, Blue Spangled are mentioned but I don't know if they still exist or not - apparently there were at least ten colours in the 19th century.

There are a few pics of the silver spangled ones on feathersite.

I hope to get some more gold-spangled ones in the spring to give me another blood-line then I'll try and start breeding Laughing

.

Tim

debcat · Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 9:19 pm Post subject:

they lay white eggs and are not bad layers
silver is the other colour

Magpie · Joined: 28 Aug 2007 Posts: 642 Location: Norfolk

The cockerels tail has grown now so I took another pic today. Has anyone got the standards and can you tell me what you think please? I'm a bit bothered by the gold in his tail as I think that males are meant to have an all black tail?

There are a couple of extra photos in my gallery of the others as well.

Tim

ntsmama · Joined: 06 Dec 2007 Posts: 246

Are they good mums?

Magpie · Joined: 28 Aug 2007 Posts: 642 Location: Norfolk

I don't think they sit at all Confused

I've got some in the 'bator now but my candler hasn't turned up so I can't tell if they are fertile yet (day 9).

Tim

gardie · Joined: 09 Aug 2008 Posts: 63 Location: Aberdeenshire

I received a pair of silver spangled appenzellers last month and do not know much about this breed regarding breeding conditions?
Does anyone know a book title on these birds?
These birds are very grand and friendly.