// Clay Oxen

Backyard 40908, originally uploaded by grizzlygroundswell.

This Rooster is dancing for the hen just behind him under the pine branch.

~Teddy Bear

Backyard 40908, originally uploaded by grizzlygroundswell.

We do not have a name for this big boy yet. If you have a suggestion, let me know by leaving it in the comment section.

I am really interested in crossing these two breeds. I may house them together just to see what we get this summer.

~Teddy Bear

Shelly Compo & Nora, originally uploaded by grizzlygroundswell.

Michelle wanted to get a picture of her and her beloved Nora our Bronze Turkey hen. Just about when I was going to take the photo, Compo made his move and I was lucky to catch the look on Michelle’s face and the hanky panky on film.

This photo was published with my article about our Backyard Poultry in the magazine so entitled. It is a great magazine and worth the look!

You never know, you may find two turkeys taking advantage of the beautiful day in the shade!

~Teddy Bear

Around The Clay Empire June 07 067, originally uploaded by grizzlygroundswell.

http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/product/blue_laced_red_wyandotte.html

“This variety of Wyandotte is relatively new and came to the United States from England a short time ago. We were able to get our stock from an outstanding breeder here in the states prior to his “closing the door” on this variety and feel fortunate to perpetuate the Blue Laced Red Wyandotte gene pool. The original development of these came from crossing Silver Laced and Golden Laced varieties of Wyandotte’s. After much work the Blue Laced Red was developed from this cross. The blue gene will color the chicks either light blue or dark blue in the lacing (the area around the reddish colored feathers) in both the baby chicks and the mature birds. Therefore you may have birds that vary somewhat in appearance but still display the beautiful colors of this very rare and unusual chick. Mature Blue Laced Red Wyandotte’s lay brown eggs and are medium in size with the deep - round -Wyandotte appearance.”

This is a great breed and the cross breeds are just as beautiful!

~Teddy Bear

Around the Dream Fullfilled 013, originally uploaded by grizzlygroundswell.

What a great looking Rooster! These Phoenix are fast, good flyers and very alert. They are wonderful to have in the backyard!

~Teddy Bear

Around the Dream Fullfilled 005, originally uploaded by grizzlygroundswell.

We ordered some phoenix chicks. It is always fun to see what they grow into. This particular Rooster had us intrigued. It could be the phoenix or something they are using to breed the new red/blue wyandottes that we also are enjoying.

Either way, this big boy did not last long. He fortunately fathered some great chicks that are now grown and beautiful. It was the wierdest thing. Cracker the rooster loved to torment the younger roosters. One day he chased one into a small opening I did not forsee a chicken getting into. Well, Cracker followed the tormented rooster into the opening and the two became lodged into the confined area. Cracker must of really forced his way into the space because he ended up not being able to breath. Luckily, or unluckily, I did not catch the feathers hanging out of the opening in time.

The feathers caught my eye and I thought, what are they up too now? Then, I was horrified because cracker was obviously dead. I had come in time, though, rigomortise did not set in yet. I thought about just leaving him in there, but then the aroma of dead chicken just did not excite me. So I found his legs and pulled. It took quite a bit to free him from the small opening and space. I finally got him out and too my suprise one of my Lakenvelder roosters squawked. I then quickly pulled him out. He was shaken but only stirred. Alive and free.

It was hard saying goodbye to Cracker the Rooster but, when you surround yourself with life, death happens! Although it is so worth the enjoyment!

In this picuture you will see:

From Back to front, Right to left.

Fawn duck: you only see the legs and body.
Swiss duck: You only see his breast. He is in a row with the fawn duck!

Lakenvelder Hen:
Wyandotte Hen:
Lakenvelder Hen: This is the garage hen who goes in our cat door and lays eggs in an old wood stove that was earlier used to raise garage kittens.
Black Star Hen: these are so hearty and great egg layers. I cross breed these with all my rare breeds to great success.
Cracker the Rooster: Strutting his stuff
Phoenix hen: Pretty girl
Lakenvelder/japanese cross: this was a miracle chick that was raised by our japanese hen. It had a broken leg and the little japanese hen nursed it and protected it until its leg healed and it was able to stand on its own two legs, pun intended.
Wyandotte/?mix rooster: We had this great rooster we called Funnycide after the great race horse. It had the most beautiful colors we bred him to one and all the hens. This little rooster was a golden laced wyandotte cross with funnycide and what a little gem he is.

I have started breeding my chickens looking for Raku Colors, irradescent and bold. Crackles, and metalic coppers. It has been very fun to see what we get.

Well, I could go on and on over our love affair with our Backyard Poultry.

If anyone is looking for chicks this spring and early summer, preorder soon! theclayempire@chadeverson.com
763-856-5629
Ask for Chad
I can not mail live birds but I understand I may be able to send eggs. If anyone is interested in the rare breeds:
Lakenvelder
Black & White Polish
Golden Polish
Phoenix:
Phoenix: silver
Blue/red wyandotte
and my merry mix of chicken and duck eggs.
Give me a shout!

I am also going to be creating some chicken coops. I have a North Dakota Landscape idea. If you are interested drop me a line.

~Teddy Bear

Around the Dream Fullfilled 003

Originally uploaded by grizzlygroundswell

Nora and Compo in the background. Our famous bronze turkey lovers named after Nora and Compo on Last of the Summer Wine.

They have passed from our backyard and now are soon to burst forth in vegtables and fruit as they fertilize our garden. They were so close to us that we just could not put them on our table. That and the fact that we did not know what exactly cacked them. However, as fertilizer we will nourish our bodies with them this fall.

Nora was such a funny bird. She was our hostess and greeted every visitor to our Dream Fulfilled. Compo and Nora shared their love affair with us each day as Compo endured Nora’s fondness for each and every visitor. They brought us great joy and each visitor was saddened to learn of their passing.

You can see the character in Nora in this photo. She was always up front and interacting with us.

The key is to surround yourself with life. Even in the heartbreak of loosing these treasures, new life springs forth and the cycle in the dream fulfilled continues.

You will have to stop by and enjoy our backyard poultry some day. Just call first!

~Teddy Bear

Around The Clay Empire June 07 061

Originally uploaded by grizzlygroundswell

Hens are getting broody. Spring is coming! This Spring we are going to be hatching more chicks then ever before and selling them here and there.

We have really built a great flock of rare breeds and our cross breads are simply lovely.

I will be building small coops for sale and matching our rare breeds to get purebreds as well.

Some of our rare breeds are: Lakenvelder, red/blue wyandotte, black and white polish, welsummer, cochins of all colors and some real interesting breeds we are working on by crossbreeding.

If you are interested in The Clay Empire’s chicks, let me know!

~Teddy Bear

Around The Clay Empire June 07 063

Originally uploaded by grizzlygroundswell

I was thinking about compo our famous Bronze Turkey today. Compo and Nora were featured with my lovely wife when I wrote a great article about our lovely backyard poultry.

We find surrounding ourselves with life makes all the difference in the world.

Compo cacked last fall under our bird feeder. Nora had cacked just after the article was published earlier. Both were so near and dear to us that we simply could not put them on our table. That and the fact that we were not sure what made them cack. So we played it safe. I buried both in my garden instead.

This is why I was thinking about my dear old Compo. He is buried under last years plot of ochra. I was trying to think of what I should plant over him this spring. What grows good from a dead thousand pound bronze turkey? Watermelons? Corn? If you have any suggestions, now would be the time to chime in. The garden is still in the planning stages.

Last Summer we utilized wood chips and this year we have a bunch of great straw to utilize to keep the weeds down. Here in Princeton, we get sand burs so keeping weeds down is a huge plus!

Well, Compo my friend, I hope over the winter you have broken down are ready to grow some veggies this summer.

Here is to surrounding yourself with life! Despite the heartbreak when they pass into fertilizer, life is reborn and memories are fond to savor as watermelon off the vine on a hot fall day.

~Teddy Bear

Around the Dream Fullfilled 026

Originally uploaded by grizzlygroundswell

George W., Our Black Polish Rooster finds himself protecting our backyard poultry flock with grace and majesty.

Last Summer I had pulled a broody hen off some eggs to remove some broken shells and clean up her surroundings. George sensing that I was hurting the hen, did his due diligence and speared me with his talons. For the rest of the summer I sported a two inch scar on my calf. Note to self: wear jeans, not shorts when cleaning up or tending my flock. Also, Know where George is at all times.

We have quite a large flock for our backyard and each and every animal has such a character and are so interesting that at times, Michelle and I find ourselves just sitting and observing these regal creatures that grace our backyard.

George W. is the Rooster of all our Roosters. He has one special hen, we call Phyllis. Her top hat reminds us of Phyllis Diller’s hair. I will post her photo another time. She is the first hen that will great you and follow you around every where.

Our dog Daisy enjoy’s an egg as we go about our tasks. Phyllis will actually chase Daisy around the yard to get that egg. It is so funny to watch this little Black Polish hen put the fear of God into our big pup, Daisy.
I pray you surround yourself with life and love as Michelle and I have. It truly, truly makes all the difference in the world.

~Chad