Sunday 17 January 2010

That's not my name - Give me a name!

I have been on a mission, to get some more pure bred rare breed bantams - and today I got some!  I was only going to get two but...............



Here is one of their fathers - I didn't buy him - he's a Champion and not for sale.
When I saw the fabulous champion birds - a song popped into my head!


Holding back, every day the same
Don't wanna be a loner



And here is the other father.

Listen to me, oh no
I never say anything at all
But with nothing to consider they forget my name


Here are my prize winning show girls - well two of them


They call me 'hell'
They call me 'Stacey'
They call me 'her'
They call me 'Jane'



That's not my name
That's not my name
That's not my name


The third darling show girl is the bird at the back - another Partridge Modern Game Bird.

Are you calling me darling?
Are you calling me bird?
Are you calling me darling?
Are you calling me bird?

That's not my name

Here they are at home this afternoon



They call me 'quiet'
But I'm a riot
Mary-Jo-Lisa
Always the same



That's not my name


That's not my name


I am a Wheaton - the colour of wheat - which is what I'm eatin'

That's not my name

You've found a worm - you must Wormy, cos you're eatin a worm
That's not my name



I'd miss the catch if they threw me the ball

I'm the last kid standing up against the wall

Keep up, falling, these heels they keep me boring


Getting glammed up and sitting on the fence now
So alone all the time at night
Lock myself away
Listen to me, I'm not
Although I'm dressed up, out and all with
Everything considered they forget my name
(ame, ame, ame)

These were all the photos that I could get of them this afternoon, the latter two taken through the window of my greenhouse/potting shed/lean to - where I had left them to just play.  They were so excited!  No way were they going to stand still and pose for me - they just flew away.  They scratched around and managed to find worms in my potted strawberry and geranium plants.  They knocked a newpaper off my pumpkins and had fun hiding underneath it and tearing it.  They acted more like puppies or kittens than posh showbirds!

So here they are - Modern Game birds - which aren't really as modern as their name suggests.  Originally they were bred and used as fighting birds - hence their tall stance, and long legs and necks, like the jungle Malay.

 Once fighting was banned the breed amost died out apparently, as they don't lay many eggs, and there is about as much meat on them as you would get in a chicken nugget - so were no use as utility birds. 

But wealthy people loved the little birds around their gardens  - they don't do any damage like chickens do.  No digging up plants, digging big holes, they are dainty and quiet too.  In 1850 they started to be bred for showing - and I am pleased that they did!

Mine might look identical when you first look at them - but when  you look closely their markings are different.  The wheaten coloured hen, does at first glance look just like Scrabble - but she is a slightly lighter colour underneath,  and has more black markings on her wings, and across her back she has darker speckles.

The two Partridge game birds, are quite different too.  Their markings are differnt - they have silver, grey and black feathers across their backs in different formations - and their heads and necks are different shades of yellow.  I have put a purple ring on one of them - to make it more obvious.

I have just been out to the lean to, to find the new bantams in the dark - without any lights - what a task that was - boy did they hide them selves well, behind pots, on a shelf hidden behind a box, and the last one was behind a sack of compost hidden inside a pot on its side!

They are now tucked up with my other banties in Peckingham Palace and they will all live together in their and the run for a week, so that the new girls aclimatise - they all get to know each other - and more importantly, the new ones get to know where they live and where they need to go back to roost.  As they are high fliers, one of their wings have been clipped, otherwise they might well fly up into the trees to roost - and I didn't want them to come down in someone else's garden as there are fields just a garden away from us.  By the time the flight feathers grow back - they will be so content that they won't even bother to escape!

So - if  you have read this far and are not yawning with boredon - how about choosing names for my new additions!  I will pick names from any you leave - will choose next Sunday.



11 comments:

Sally H said...

They remind me of some traditional pastimes in Derbyshire villages, like the hen races at Bonsall. They also remind me of that little South African runner, Zola Budd - built for speed and stamina, not an ounce of meat on them! Zola could be one name, but I can't think of another!

sam21ski said...

Fab new additions Lottie

Will return if I think of any suitable names!!!!

themessycraftroom said...

How exciting Lottie they look real beauty's. Thet will love it in your little palace. Hugs ChrisB

Hels Sheridan said...

Oh, I love your new babies...they are adorable...I cringed when you said about making a chicken nugget...how could anyone want to eat one of these beauties! As for names...I think one could be called Hels cos she looks a bit plump and eats a lot ROFL

Lynne K said...

"Her name was Lola, she was a showgirl...." which would rhyme with Sally's Zola, but unfortunately I can't think of a suitable third one to rhyme with them! Unless Cola would do??

Unknown said...

Great names - keep the ideas coming - far more original that I would have thought of. I have had so many chickens over the years, I was struggling to come up with anything.

Thanks one and all

Very Mary said...

Interestingly enough, my best friend calls me Mariola, which does actually rhyme with Zola and Lola...

Createology said...

I did not get bored and I read your entire post. I found it very interesting. I do not know any clever names but they are so regal and royal something appropriate will come along. Happy naming...

themessycraftroom said...

Hi I think Zola Twiggy and Lola would be great . I can't come up with anything better I'm afraid. They all seemed to have very long attractive legs just like your girls.. Hope they have all found there pecking order and are settling in ok. Hugs xChrisB

Kate said...

Darcy also has very long legs!!!!

LazyKay said...

They are VERY posh and look aristocratic. Thanks for the history of the breed, most interesting. Love the colours.

WOW, don't the cockerills look superior too - really 'cock of the walk' they must knwo they are special.

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