the Tiny Dino Farm

01/17/2024

Chick/egg season is right around the corner! This is always a fun/busy time for us, but also fraught as we keep fingers crossed and watch tracking numbers hoping that everything is delivered safely. I've certainly had my fair share of frustration with the USPS, this really made me laugh.

12/20/2023

So I had a crazy idea! It actually happens all the time, but hear me out - Chicken Gift Certificates. It's winter, no one wants to ship chicks, even eggs can get frozen, but someone buys you (or you buy yourself!) a gift certificate for a box of chicks! or a clutch of eggs! Maybe even a pair or trio... Redeemable when it is a more opportune time, and you get the breed of beauties you've been coveting instead of a scarf for christmas. I wish I had thought of this earlier!

12/02/2023

07/14/2023

Okay. I'm embarrassed to even post this, but I'm going through my messages because my cat deleted my entire Silverudds folder off the desktop walking on my keyboard (I know, I couldn't believe it either.) Wait lists, photos, DNA certificates, everything. I'm enough of a trainwreck this time of year without this kind of help! 😂 I'm trying to reconstruct my wait list, but I don't know who I've already shipped to. Are you still waiting?? Message me if I haven't reached out to you please!

05/03/2023

After a lot of hard consideration I have decided this will be the last year I pull my 3 heterozygous hens from my Silverudds Blue pen. The gene pool is too small to cull 1/2 of it with this breed and I should do as I say. Yes, I do test offspring from these 3 and put the homozygous ones in my breeding pen, so technically their genes are already in my line, but if I am telling others not to cull the hetero girls I should lead by example. Working with Breda I've discovered how hard an even smaller gene pool makes things, and I don't want to see that happen again with Silverudds.

03/31/2023

Quack and Mrs. Quack (also known as Quack O'theSassy - don't look at me. I'm not in charge of names 😂) have been enjoying their quarantine bathtub time, and we have 6 call duck eggs!
Technically their quarantine time is over and they can go outside (don't tell them)
Can't wait for ducklings... 😁

03/16/2023

Guys, I'm sorry, I'm really re-thinking whether I want to ship chicks. I'm not going to post a photo, because no one should ever have to open that box, but this morning I received a box of Indio Gigante chicks I was so very excited about. Beautiful healthy active babies. Except the post office had lost them for 3 days. There was no peeping, no movement. They had all died. All their food was gone. They were cold, not even a wisp of heat from the 72 hour heat pack in with them. I can't stop crying. Those poor babies, hungry and cold in a box. And the US Postal Service acts like they lost a box of cookies and takes ZERO responsibility for the loss of 6 little lives.

02/21/2023

"We are NEVER getting ducks," she said.
And here we are, nevering like we've never nevered before 😂

01/28/2023

We are so excited! The Indio boys have new girlfriends coming...
Hank is probably going to be the lucky fellow this spring, but Jerome will get his chance. The other stags (roosters) have moved on to other pens where hopefully they will have girls of their own as well. This means there will be (giant) babies this year!

01/22/2023

Finally, my personal favorite, Silverudds Blue. Originating in Sweden, they were mistakenly called Isbar when they were imported by GFF in 2011. Not completed, they do not have a genetic description as Isbars do. This is the last breed developed by Martin Silverudd and was a work in progress before his sudden death in 1986. The Queen Silvia, 55 Flowery hen, Isbar, Molilja, and Smaaland chickens are his finished breeds.
Silverudds Blue are the only purebred layers of green eggs in the U.S. Available in blue, black and splash, roosters have shimmering silver or gold in hackles and saddle. They are small, with roosters about 6.5lbs, but don't be fooled. These boys while friendly to humans are fiercely protective of their flocks. They are adept foragers and predator savvy, they fly very well. Hens lay beautiful large (~60g) green eggs, sometimes speckled. Fearless and inquisitive, they are a fun bird to watch.
If you need some yard candy and are looking for productive layers of gorgeous eggs, we have the bird for you! DNA tested homozygous flock, guaranteed green eggs.

Echo, Agnes, Fiona and Gunhilde.

01/22/2023

Barbu D'Uccle (or Belgian D'Uccle). Pronounced "DeOookleh", this bantam originated in Uccle, Belgium. It is a true bantam with no large fowl counterpart, believed to be a cross of the existing Sabelpoot and Barbu d'Anvers bantam breeds. The Barbu d'Uccle was first shown in 1905, and by 1909 the breed was well established.
The first color varieties were mille fleurs and porcelain, but black, white and cuckoo were soon added. Twenty-eight colors of D'Uccle are listed in Belgium, but only 7 are recognized by the APA : black, golden neck, mille fleur, mottled, porcelain, self blue, and white. We work with the golden neck variety.
These little birds are full of personality! They fly very well and are friendly, curious and talkative. I often end up with one riding on my shoulder chatting while I feed. Given room to avoid the big birds, ours do fine in a large mixed flock.
If a pound and a half of cheeky is what you are looking for, these lovely birds are for you!

(stock photo, Cheeto pic soon!)

01/22/2023

Breda Fowl are a critically endangered breed originating in the Netherlands. Over the centuries they have gone by many names, Kraaikops, Guelders, Guelderlands, Guelderlanders, Breda Gueldre, Grueldres, Grueldrelands. The Dutch "Kraaikop" means crow’s head, referring to the shape of the head and beak. As early as 1660 there are paintings featuring Breda-type chickens.
They are an unusual looking bird with a flat comb (which makes them great for cold climates!), closely-feathered legs and vulture hocks. They have short, well-arched necks and the distinctive “crow-shaped” head, featuring a stout curved beak, large nostrils, and a short, tufted crest. Recognized colors are BBS (blue/black/splash), mottled, cuckoo, and white. Black is the most common color both in the Netherlands and the US.
They are medium sized, good natured birds who forage well and are friendly and curious. Due to their gentle nature they do not do as well in large mixed flocks and need their own area or to be with other docile breeds.

We are working with black and cuckoo. Mig (on left) is our first Breda. Many thanks to Persnickety Poultry (SC) for sharing this wonderful breed.

01/22/2023

Ayam Ketawa are also known as "laughing chickens" because the roosters' crow bears an amusing similarity to the human laugh. In this breed hens will crow (or laugh) as well and it is desirable in both sexes. Originating from the area of Sidenreng Rappang in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, it is one of several breeds of long-crowing chicken prized for the clarity and unusual length of their crows. The breed was originally held as a status symbol of the Buginese royal family, but since the fall of the monarchy they have become more widely available. Today they are still seen as a symbol of courage, social status, and heroism, and they compete in contests for the most perfect crow for the Governor of Sulawesi Cup.

They are a smallish bird who fly very well. Mine are somewhat leery of people - not afraid, but there is no walking up to them and cuddling! There are 2 types of crow, dangdut (slow laugh) and gretek (fast laugh, like Roku). Roku is still young and may still add syllables to his laugh.

Roku and one of his girls. Sadly he lost his beautiful comb to frostbite when it dropped to -15° this winter :/ What you get for sleeping outside!

01/22/2023

Bantam Cochins are actually not Cochins at all, but a true bantam with no large fowl counterpart. Called Pekins in other parts of the world (after the city of Peking), they derived from chickens originating in China and brought to England in the early 19th century.
These little featherballs have fabulous personalities and although docile and easygoing can hold their own in a large fowl flock.
Recognized colors include black, blue, buff, cuckoo, mottled, barred, columbian, lavender, partridge, white, birchen, silver partridge, and salmon. Breeders are always developing new colors, like the lemon blue and bobtail, and frizzled birds are common.
If you need a feathered incubator, this is the bird for you! They are good sitters and excellent mothers, but not very productive egg layers. These make great pets and are the perfect size for small hands.
The colors we work with are BBS (blue/black/splash), partridge, white, calico (otherwise known as bad mille fleur 😂) and mottled. We are very excited to have our first blue mottled hens!
Fabulous Fred with Ethel, and two pullets, Midnight and Florence.

01/22/2023

So, this is (or was, lol) the new "it" chicken, apparently. 😁
The Indio Gigante is a Brazilian breed created by crossing large Asian game birds (think Malay, O-Shamo) with caipera chickens indigenous to the region (and possibly barred rocks as well). Over time selecting the largest, strongest individuals the Indio was born. It is considered the tallest chicken, much of their height being in long necks and long sturdy yellow legs. Males are 105-124cm (3.5-4ft tall) and around 9lbs, with females slightly smaller at 90-100cm and 7lbs. Despite their slightly intimidating size and game bird roots, they are mellow tempered and get along well with others.
They are not recognized by the American Poultry Association, but do have a standard in their home country and are considered the first purebred chicken to originate in Brazil.
All 7 of our IGs were stags (go figure), so we will be sourcing hens this spring and hope to have eggs and chicks next year.
Hank, Rick, Jerome and Martin were not fans of snow!

01/22/2023

I think these last few years have been hard on everyone. Although we did ship some chicks and eggs, it was nowhere near what we usually would, mostly because I felt like hibernating until the world got back to "normal". Well, since it is apparent this is the new normal, I think it would be a great start by introducing the new breeds we are working with and letting everyone know: Yes, we are back. There will be wait lists for eggs and chicks, and I can't wait to hear updates on how they are adding to your breeding programs and/or helping flocks grow. Baby/juvenile/adult pics are always welcome!! They help in assessment of how our breeding groups are performing.
We will be featuring each individual breed and although not all will be available this year, it will give everyone a peek at the things we are excited about.

01/06/2022

Hello! It has been a while. This is the time of year that I usually start looking at my flock and deciding what I want to work with this year and planning pens. Assessing hens and roos for form, function, and yes, shallowly beauty also 😉.
Most of the time I'm also closing the waitlists and getting materials ready for early spring shipping, but this year there is no waitlist and my shredded newsprint is still gathering dust from last year.
I want to share my beautiful birds that so many have put effort into, just as they shared them with me, but considering shipping reminds me of the meme "going into 2022 feels like taking back an ex for the 3rd time because they promise they have changed".
SO, long story long, lol, I'm going to start slow with people I missed last year. If it goes well I will open the lists for everyone. Maybe they HAVE changed, and this year life gets back to predictable - which I have discovered is not a bad thing!
(bantam cochin mamas co-parenting)

07/24/2021

The Silverudds and the Marans lay impressive, gorgeous eggs. The Silverudds and the Ayam Ketawa are rare and cool. But when it comes to hugability, and just being so stinking funny and cute, the bantam Cochin win! 😁