trystinn | Growing up is messy, no matter what your species

Cross-posted to Open Salon.

I looked out the kitchen window before my morning coffee and saw a scraggly bird walking and scratching around. Wondering what it was, I put on my glassses and realized it was one of the larger Black Copper Marans. Fortunately, no one was around to see me jump up and down with joy while shrieking in delight.

Our timid adolescent Marans had been sticking to the safety of their chicken pen, ducking back in the coop when danger lurked. The small pen's outer entry had been left open so they could forage in the yard with the adult Rhode Island Red hens for the last month, but they hadn't been taking advantage of the opportunity for freedom. Until yesterday.

Today I've been amusing myself by stalking them around the yard and taking pictures, usually at their annoyance.

Two pullets (adolescent females) on the left and a cockerel (adolescent male) on the right. I didn't dare ask why they were hanging about with a rock, I wonder if it's the chicken equivalent of a water cooler.

I'd been scared silly by a coop full of black feathers until I managed to find a few in the coop to closely inspect. Thankfully, the feathers lost are part of the normal growth from chick to adult, with downy feathers on the bottom (you can see them in the picture above) with the glossier adult feathers above. The cockerels feathers are coming in beautiful shades of copper and red, as well as black while the gals are mostly black with a few highlights of silver and the rare white feather.

All this time stalking the Marans had caused the Rhodies to get jealous so they began following me around, what a strange little train we must have been! Scarlett, as is now her custom, screeched at me and crouched down until I picked her up to scratch her cheeks and ears. Ruby is still fairly wary of me and doesn't ask for my attention. She lays her eggs quietly, without drama and keeps an eye out on her bigger sister.

Yet, for all the difference in their personalities, get them together in their coop and you'll be treated to the most beautiful crooning. Out and about in the yard, Scarlett likes to mumble and screech, Ruby likes to bwock quietly. As I walk around the house, I can tell exactly who is where by the sound of them. I cannot do that for the ducks, sadly.

The Marans are quiet as mice, quieter really. They glide about, scooting out of way and behind things like shadows in the yard. So far, no individual has really stuck out but I'm giving them time. While I do, I carry around poultry bands - tiny little plastic rings so I can tell them apart. I've yet to decide which two I'm keeping and which four I'm giving away.

In the meanwhile, I keep an ear out at dawn in case the cockerels feel like singing. It likely won't be months but you never do know. Nature keeps it's own counsel and we set our clocks to Her.