I am lucky in my view both for the sea and my lovely birds. I have set up a small chicken house I can see from my window and next it hangs a bird feeder. I get to enjoy the wild songbirds as well as my own well loved chickens. In addition to this, of course, I get to see the endless shore birds: Osprey, Snowy Egrets, Turns, countless variety of gulls, Blue herons. They all fish and hunt and nest upon our shore. I love them all.
Now, with my chickens they are in a more 'controlled' viewing area. Although they do get to free range part of the day to really stretch their legs and fill their tummies with lovely grubs and grasses, when I first let them out into their run in the morning it is a lively show. I can bring out my cup of tea or coffee and slip into my Adirondack and enjoy their antics. They tussle and squabble and cuddle and take no end of dust baths.
I have opted for bantam breeds this year. I have five lovely Self Blue Cochin bantams. I have always loved and kept Cochin chickens. They are gentle, easy to tame, really feathered so great for cold winters, and make great mothers and layers. This year I have the bantam variety of them and they are so small and sweet.
This little hen to be is the friendliest and always is the first to my hand when I coo "Chick Chick Chick". She, therefore, gets the first grubs and other delicacies I give to them as a doting mother.
I also have three Porcelain Belgian D'uccle. I have kept a pair of D'uccle before, but the traditional colour. The Porcelain variety I am keeping have the same gene that the self blue Cochin have, which will make any black plumage appear soft grey and any buff/orange colour also gets muted. Here you can see the difference between a traditional Belgian D'uccle and a Porcelain.
In the mix I also have two white Polish hens, whose mop head feather hats are always a riot. Though, these are not actually bantam hens, they are very small standard hens and as they were hatched together get along fine. Polish, as they age, tend to be a bit blinded by their feathered heads and can often be picked upon by other larger breeds, but in a flock with friendly tiny birds, they seem to be quite happy.
With my obsession with animals, it is no wonder my own artwork is heavily focused upon our friendly fellow feathered and furred creatures. Today I'm sharing another in my series I am doing based upon the Game of Thrones, with my own Game of Bones and YES the PUN is intended. Although, is it a pun or just word play? Either way, here we have Sansa Stark as an Irish Setter. I mean, the ginger hair pretty much lead this one to my drawing table.
I rather like her on a shirt,
but she holds up to fine art scrutiny as a piece of framed art as well, I think.
They are fun to do. Next character is going to be her sister, who may be made as a few various breeds of dogs, as I have got a few requests from people. I should include some of my quick sketches of chickens as well in the future.
I hope you enjoy my artwork and if you are interested, for now they can be had HERE on various products or as art prints framed or not.