#red laced black cornish

[ah-the-poultry]

Little man

[birdgenetics]

Mottling

There are believed to be multiple mottling alleles, all of them recessive to non-mottling. They cause different chick down patterning and varying amounts of white. I am not going to cover all of the alleles, all you need to know that mottling is mo and nonmottling is Mo+

There is some debate as to whether the less even pattern found in exchequer birds is a different allele or if the neat, v-shaped white mottles could simply be achieved through selective breeding. My thoughts? Probably both. Uneven mottling can be turned into neat mottling through selective breeding, but there are some alleles that are messier than others.

It is believed that mille fluer is buff columbian but with extra modifiers, specifically melanizers like the pattern gene and melanotic to create spangling.

The interruption of pigment production by the mottle also helps create this neat spangle. It takes longer for a bird to produce pheomelanin than it does eumelanin. So the mottle interupts pigment, then the bird produces eumelanin, then pheomelanin. That is why the double laced wheaten pattern that you find in dark Cornish gives black edges around the mottles on Spangled Cornish.

The bird works with what it has. If there is no melanin present in the feather at all, the bird will not produce a black edge around the mottle, as evidenced by this red mottled Ancona photographed by Breeding Chickens with Sander.

The black in the spangles can also be diluted to blue or white using the blue and dominant white genes. This cute "Golden Neck" d'Uccle is genetically mille fluer with the dominant white gene.

Mottled is unique in that a mottled bird changes with every molt. The initial chick down looks pied, as seen by these mottled Cochin chicks from Murray McMurray hatchery.

Pied is gene present in many species that give an animal colored patches on top and white patches on the bottom. (See pied guineas, peafowl or pied ducks.) But mottled is not the same mutation as pied. Pied remains the same pattern throughout an animal's life.

The first chick molt gives the same impression

(photo from One Hundred Dollars a Month.)

However, with respective juvenile molts the white becomes more and more evenly distributed over the bird until you get the first adult plumage: the first time the mottling is evenly distrubuted over the whole bird.

With each respective adult molt the bird gets more and more white but distribution continues to be relatively even. (different bird but you get the point)

Now lets cover some oddities. The Ayam Tulak has what looks almost like pied plumage and based on the pictures, the pattern may remain constant throughout its life. However, there are none here in the US and its inheritance is unknown. I would like to know if it is allelic with mottling or if it is true pied (or something else.)

White crests in Polish (this one being a white-crested chocolate) is also theorized to be allelic with mottling.

If you look at the chick down, it is very similar to mottled chick down.

Also, while most of the white distribution on white crested blacks is on their crests, some do have a few tiny mottles on their bodies. Personally, I have seen a white crested black with some mottles at a show.

White crested black is recessive to nonmottled but codominant with at least one other mottling allele.

White crested Polish when crossed with Tolbunt Polish (Tolbunt is gold laced with mottling) produced white crested black and white crested mottled chicks.

[leafvy]

𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭

here’s a list of short names to coincide with my long names list :)

[ disclaimer: my sincere apologies if there are any spelling/meaning/origin mistakes in any of my name lists, i am by no means a professional in this area, i just like creating lists to help aid storytellers. i do try my best to find each name’s corresponding origin/meaning/spelling but i am a human who is prone to make the odd mistake. p.s, i take requests! ]

Female

Ada - German - First born female

Ali - Arabic - High, elevated, champion

Amy - French/Latin - Beloved

Anne - Latin/Hebrew - Favour, grace

Aria - Hebrew/Italian - Air, song, melody

Aura - Latin/Greek - Wind

Ava - Latin - Bird-like

Aya - German/Japanese/Hebrew - Sword, colourful, beautiful, bird

Ayn - Hebrew/Finnish/Russian - God has favoured me, grace, eye

Bay - English/French - Auburn-haired

Bea - Latin - Bringer of happiness

Beau - French - Beautiful, handsome

Belle - French - Beautiful

Bia - Latin/Italian - White, fair

Bindi - Noongar - Butterfly

Blair - Scottish - Plain, meadow, field

Blanche - French - White

Blythe - English - Joyous, kind, cheerful

Bree - Irish - Exalted one, strength

Briar - English - Bush of wild roses

Brook - English - Small stream

Bryn - Welsh - Hill

Buffy - Hebrew - Diminutive of Elizabeth, my god is an oath

Cara - Latin - Dear friend

Chloe - Greek - Blooming, fertility

Cia - Greek/Hebrew - Light,

Clair - French - Bright, clear

Coco - Portuguese/Spanish - Diminutive of Socorro, help, relief

Cora - Greek - Maiden, girl, daughter

Cove - English - Small coastal inlet

Dara - Hebrew/Irish - Pearl of wisdom, gift, compassion

Dawn - English - Sunrise

Doe - English - Female deer

Dot - Greek - Diminutive of Dorothy, gift of god

Dove - English - A bird

Eden - Hebrew - Delight

Edie - English - Prosperous in war

Ella - Greek/Norman/Hebrew/German/Spanish - Beautiful, fairy maiden, goddess

Elle - French - She

Elm - English - Elm tree

Elsa - Scandinavian - Joyful, Noble, god is my oath

Emi - Japanese - Blessed, favour, beautiful

Emma - Germanic - Whole, universal

Erin - Irish - Peace, from the island to the west

Esmé - French/Persian - Esteemed, beloved, emerald

Etta - Latin - Of noble birth

Eva - Hebrew - Giver of life

Eve - Hebrew - Giver of life

Faith - Latin - Confidence, trust, belief

Faye - French - Fairy

Fern - English - Green shade-loving plant

Fiona - Gaelic/Scottish - White, fair

Fleur - French - Flower

Flo - Latin - Flowering, flourishing

Gia - Italian - God’s gracious gift

Grace - Latin - Gracious

Greta - Greek/German/Persian - Pearl

Gwen - Welsh - White, holy

Hope - English - Desire of fulfillment

Ida - Scandinavian - Labour, work

Isla - Scottish/Gaelic/Spanish - Island

Ivy - English - Fidelity

Jade - Spanish - Stone of the colic, precious gemstone

Jae - Korean - Ability, talent

Jane - English - God is gracious

Jessie - Hebrew - He sees

Jill - Latin/English - Child of the God’s, youthful

Joan - Hebrew - God is gracious

Joy - English - Happiness, joyful

June - Latin - Born in June

Juno - Latin - Queen of heaven

Kai - Hawaiian/Japanese - Sea, ocean, shell, restoration, recovery

Kat - English/Greek - Clean, pure

Kate - English/Latin/Greek - Clean, pure

Kim - English/Korean/Chinese/Vietnamese - Gift of God, gold

Kira - Russian/Japanese/Persian/Greek - Mistress, ruler, leader of the people, beloved, light

Kyla - Hebrew/English/Scottish - Narrow channel

Lacy - English/Latin/French - Lace, cheerful, unbridled

Lake - English - Body of water

Lana - Slavic/Gaelic - Little rock, light

Lark - English - Songbird

Lea - Hebrew/English - Delicate, weary, meadow

Leda - Greek - Woman

Leigh - English - Delicate, meadow

Lia - Greek - Bearer of good news

Lily - English/Latin/Greek - Pure, passion, flower

Lisa - Hebrew - God’s promise

Liv - Norse - Shelter, protection, life

Lois - Greek - Superior

Lucy - English/Latin - Light

Lula - German/English - Famous warrior

Luna - Italian/Spanish/Latin - Moon

Lux - Latin - Light

Luz - Portuguese/Spanish - Light

Lyla - Arabic - Night

Mae - French/Latin - Month of May

Maeve - Irish/Gaelic - Intoxicating

Mara - Hebrew - Bitter, strength

Mary - Aramaic/Latin/Hebrew/Greek - Bitter, beloved, rebellious, marine, drop of the sea

Maude - German/French/Hebrew - Powerful battler

May - English - Month of May

Meg - Greek - Pearl

Mia - Scandinavian - Of the sea, bitter

Mila - Slavic - Gracious, dear

Mina - German - Love

Mira - Latin/Slavic - Wonder, wonderful, peace

Moon - English - The moon

Mya - Greek/Arabic/German/Persian - Sea of bitterness

Nelly - Greek - Light

Nia - Gaelic/Swahili - Lustrous, goal, purpose, resolve, brilliance

Nina - Spanish/Hebrew/Russian/Babylonian - Enclosure of fish, little girl

Noa - Hebrew - Motion

Nora - Irish/Latin/Arabic - Honour, light

Nova - Latin - New

Nya - Swahili/Gaelic - Purpose

Opal - Sanskrit - Gem

Ora - Latin - Pray

Paige - Latin/Greek - Assistant

Paris - Latin/Greek - Pouch, wallet

Pearl - Latin/English - Smooth round bead formed by a mollusk

Pia - Latin - Pious, reverent

Pixie - Celtic/Swedish/Cornish - Fairy

Quinn - Irish/Gaelic - Counsel

Rae - Hebrew - Ewe, female sheep

Rain - English - Rain

Reese - Welsh - Ardent, fiery

Remi - French - Oarsman

Ren - Japanese - Water lily, lotus

Rita - Spanish - Pearl

Rose - Latin - Flower

Ruby - Latin - Red gemstone

Rue - English/Greek - Regret, herb

Ruth - Hebrew - Friend

Sadie - Hebrew - Princess

Sage - Latin - Wise

Shae - Gaelic/Irish - Admirable, full of majesty

Sky - Norse - Cloud, scholar

Sloan - Irish/Gaelic - Warrior

Sue - Hebrew - Lily

Suzy - Hebrew - Lily

Tara - Sanskrit - Star

Tate - English/Norse - Cheerful

Taya - Japanese - Young

Tess - English/Greek - To harvest, to reap

Teva - Hebrew - Nature

Thea - Greek - Goddess

Tia - Spanish - Aunt

Uma - Hebrew/Sanskrit - Nation

Una - Irish - The personification of truth, beauty and unity

Velma - German - Determined protector

Vera - Slavic - Faith

Wren - English - Small bird

Zara - Arabic - Radiance

Zelda - German - Grey fighting maid

Zia - Arabic - Light

Zoe - Greek - Life

Zuri - Swahili - Beautiful

Male

Ace - Latin - One; unity

Amir - Arabic/Persian/Hebrew - Prince, chief, immortal

Araz - Arabic - Provisions, commodities

Arik - Norse - Eternal ruler

Arlo - English - Fortified hill

Arris - Greek -Best

Asa - Hebrew/Japanese - Healer, physician, born in the morning

Ash - English - Ash tree

Atlas - Greek - To carry

Axel - Hebrew - Father is peace

Bane - Slavic - Glorious defender

Bear - French/German - As strong and brave as a Bear

Beau - French - Beautiful

Beck - Norse - Small stream

Blaire - Scottish/Gaelic - Plain, field

Blake - English - Fair-haired, dark

Bodhi - Sanskrit - Awakening, enlightenment

Bolt - English - Bar, arrow

Bran - Scottish/Irish/Gaelic - Bramble, thicket of wild gorse

Brock - English/Celtic - Badger-like

Brody - Scottish - Broad eye, broad island

Bron - English - Son of a dark man

Buck - English - Male deer

Cade - English - Round, barrel

Cain - Hebrew - Something produced, spear

Cash - English/Latin - Hollow

Chase - English/French - To catch, to seize, hunter, huntsman

Clark - English - Scribe, secretary

Cody - English - Helpful, pillow

Cole - English - Swarthy, coal-black, charcoal

Colt - English - Young horse

Crew - Latin - Chariot

Dane - English - From Denmark

Dax - French - Leader

Dean - English - Valley

Drake - English - Dragon, snake

Duke - English - Leader, son of Marmaduke

Eden - Hebrew - Place of pleasure, delight

Eli - Hebrew - Ascent

Evan - Welsh - Youth, young warrior

Ezra - Hebrew - Help, helper

Felix - Latin - Happy, lucky

Fig - English - Fruit

Finn - Norse/Irish - Finn, Sámi, white, fair

Fox - English - Cunning, sly

Gage - French - One who is defiant

Gale - English/Greek - Jovial, tranquil

Grant - English/Gaelic - Tall, big

Grey - English - Grey-haired

Guy - French - Guide, leader

Heath - English - Someone who lives by a moor or heath

Hugh - English/French/Germanic - Mind, spirit

Ian - Scottish - The Lord is gracious

Ike -Hebrew - Laughter

Iker - Basque - Visitation

Jack - English - God is gracious, supplanter

Jax - English - God is gracious

Jay - Latin - Bird in the crow family

Jeb - Hebrew - Beloved friend

Jed - Hebrew - Beloved of God

Jet -English - Black, airplane

Jody - English/Hebrew - Jehovah increases

Jon - Hebrew - God is gracious

Joss - German - One of the Goths

Jovi - Latin - Father of the sky

Judd - English - To flow down

Jude - Greek - Praised

Kade - Scottish - From the wetlands

Kai - Hawaiian/Japanese - Sea, ocean, shell, restoration, recovery

Kiam - Unknown - Unknown

King - English - Monarch

Kit - Greek - Bearing Christ

Knox - Scottish/English - Hillock, round-topped hill

Koa - Hawaiian - Warrior, brave one

Kye - Welsh/Scandinavian/Gaelic/Greek - Keeper of the keys, earth, narrow, straight

Kylo - Latin - Sky

Lane - English - Small roadway or path

Lars - Latin/Scandinavian - From Laurentum, crowned with laurel

Leif - Scandinavian - Heir, descendent, beloved

Leo - Latin/Greek - Lion

Leon - Latin/Greek/French - Lion, son of a Lion

Levi - Hebrew - Joining, attached

Luka - Italy/Slavic - A person from Lucania

Luke - Latin - The bright one, the one born at dawn

Max - Latin - The greatest

Milo - German - Soldier, merciful

Nash - English - By the ash tree

Neo - Latin - New, gift

Nico - Greek - People of victory

Noah - Hebrew - To comfort

Oak - English - Oak tree

Otis - German/English - Wealth, son of Otto

Pax - Latin - Peaceful

Piet - Dutch - Rock

Pike - English - A person who lives on a sharp hill

Poe - English - Peacock

Quana - Native American - Aromatic

Ray - English/German - Counsel, mighty protection, guards wisely

Reed - English - Red-haired

Remi - French - Oarsman

Ren - Japanese - Water lily, lotus

Rhett - English/Dutch - Advice

Roan - Gaelic - Little red-head

Rory - Irish - Red-haired King

Ross - Gaelic - Promontory, headland

Roth - English/German - Red, wood, renown

Roy - Gaelic - Red

Rudy - German - Famous Wolf

Ryan - Irish - Little King, illustrious

Saint - English - Holy person

Saul - Hebrew - Ask, question

Sid - French/English - Wide meadow

Slade - English - Valley

Tate - Norse - Cheerful

Teo - Spanish - God

Tim - English - One who honours God

Toby - English - God is good

Torin - Gaelic - Chief

Troy - Irish - Descendent of a foot-soldier

Tye - English - Someone who lived near a pasture

West - English - Western stream

Wolf - German - Travelling Wolf

Zane - Hebrew - God is gracious

Zeke - Hebrew - God strengthens

Zen - Japanese - Peace

Zev - Hebrew - Wolf

[maladaptive---daydreamer]

Fake it till you make it

You were never really one to receive post from home. Your parents would send you a letter every once in a while, sometimes a small care package towards the end of term, but they would come in black lidded boxes tied together with red silk ribbon. This was the precise reason why you were so confused when a school post owl dropped a crushed brown box in front of you and flew back to the owlery.

“What the hell is that?” Your best friend, Draco, asked, voice laced with disgust.

“I have no idea” you replied, cautiously picking the box up looking for a clue as to who the sender was.

“Well open it, don't leave us in suspense, Y/N” Daphne urged.

You ripped the brown parchment off the box to be greeted with a cake box from a bakery in Hogsmeade. You lifted the crumpled box lid off to reveal a small square carrot cake. It had been decorated with white icing, and a note had been piped on with orange icing.

“Go out with me?” Daphne read. “Oh my, you’re getting asked out! Does it say who the sender was?”

Draco looked at you suddenly interested in this delivery.

“No it doesn’t, and I’m glad it doesn't because I definitely don’t want to go out with the owner of this cake.” You replied, pushing the box away from you and returning to your breakfast.

“You don't mind if I take that do you, Y/N?” Crabbe asked, licking his lips.

“Go ahead, Crabbe.” You pushed the box towards them and both him and Goyle reached for the cake.

“Acting as though you’ve never seen a cake in your lives, you disgust me the pair of you” Draco sneered. He picked up the parchment the cake was wrapped in with two fingers and began to stare at it.

“What are you doing?” You asked, looking up from the page of the Daily Prophet you were reading

“I’m checking to see who sent it.”

“I already did that, there was no name on it.”

“You might have missed it”

“I can read, Malfoy”

“Well there doesn't seem to be a name on here, a shame really, I would have enjoyed watching you turn him down and embarrass him in front of the whole school”

“Who said I would have turned him down?”

“You did, just now,”

“I only said that because its an anonymously sent cake, it could have been poisoned for all I know. Had I known who the cake was from I would have reacted differently”

Draco looked confused for a second before getting up, announcing he was going to make his way to potions. You and Daphne did the same a few minutes later and met up with him again in the queue outside the classroom. You had potions with the Ravenclaws, which according to the sorting hat was its next choice for you, but it believed you’d be better suited in Slytherin. It meant that you managed to get along well with some of the Ravenclaw students. Before long, Slughorn called you all in and you took your usual seat at the back, taking up a four-seat bench with you, Daphne, Draco and Blaise. Today's lesson was about sleeping potions, Slughorn announced he would be pairing you up rather than you working with the person you sat alongside. He began reading off a list, pairing Daphne with your friend, Alicia, Draco with Marcus Belby and you with Terry Boot.

You reluctantly got up and moved to a station near the front of the room.

“Morning, Y/N” Terry greeted, oddly giddy for a Tuesday morning

“Morning, Terry” you replied, giving him a small smile. You read through the instructions in your textbook and began to chop up your ingredients.

“Anything interesting happen this morning?” He asked, looking up from the valerian root he was chopping.

“I did get a weird package at breakfast.”

“Oh, you did?”

“Yeah, someone tried to ask me out, bit stupid though they didn't leave their name”

“I did! it was on the inside of the lid”

“Pardon?”

“Erm yeah sorry about that. What I meant to say is that I sent it.”

“Oh, right, well” You were honestly speechless, you had maybe spoken to Terry once, apologising for Draco’s remark about his mother.

“It's just you’re so beautiful and smart, and you’re nice”

“Terry I’m flattered but I’m just not interested”

“You think I’m ugly don’t you?”

“No- I”

“Don’t lie to me Y/N”

“No I swear, it's just” Your mind raced at a million miles an hour to try and come up with a passable lie. “It's just that I’m actually going out with someone already. We just haven't told anyone, you know how-”

“Who?” He cut you off, his face twisting with anger.

“I don't see how that’s any of your business” The sheer cheek of him was enough to make you angry as well,

“Well, then you’re lying, if it were true you’d say who. You do think I’m ugly”

“It’s,” You paused, blurting out the first name that came into your mind. “Its Draco”. You were already kicking yourself for spluttering his name out. Any Slytherin boy would have done fine, but you just had to say his name.

“Oh, right. Makes sense, you two are inseparable,”

An awkward silence had fallen over you and he barely spoke another word the whole lesson. Slughorn had administered each pairs sleeping potion on a cornish pixie, the pair who managed to keep their pixie asleep for long enough was due to receive a prize the next lesson. You returned to your seat at the back and grabbed your things.

“What’s wrong with you?” Draco asked, pulling the back of your robe

“Huh? what-”

“You look ill, do you need me to walk you to the hospital wing?”

“Walk the long way with me to defence against the dark arts?”

He nodded and the two of you left, splitting off from Daphne and Blaise.

You walked in silence for a bit

“Are you going to tell me what the matter is?” He stopped and faced you for a second

“I found out who sent me the cake” You admitted, continuing to walk

“And?”

“It was Terry Boot.”

Draco started to laugh.  “You’re lying”

“I swear but this isn't even the worst part” You were beginning to explain but he wouldn't stop laughing. “Draco, I’m serious! stop laughing there's more!”

He calmed down after a few seconds and you continued.

“I tried rejecting him nicely, but he just didn't take it. So I lied and told him I’m going out with someone”

“Oh? whos the unlucky bugger?”

You slapped his arm. “It's you”

“Me?” He looked genuinely shocked.

“I’m sorry it was the first name that came into my mind. But I just wanted to give you a heads up because he’ll probably tell his friends and the whole school will probably find out! Ugh I’m sorry Draco”

“Sorry for what?”

“Well that everyone’s going to think we're together”

“They could think of worse things, Y/N. Plus I don't care what they have to say about me,”

“you're not angry?”

“Of course not, people thought we were going out anyway.”

“Thank you, Draco, seriously”

“You know, we might as well make it believable, just until he moves on, something tells me Boot isn't going to let this drop.”

“What do you mean believable?”

“Like act like we’re a couple. Hold hands, you know all of that”

“But what about all your admirers”

“I could care less about them, your happiness and safety matters more than the opinions of the mediocre witches and wizards in this school”

You felt your heart swell a bit, you honestly didn't expect Draco to prioritise you like this. “So we should just fake it until he gets a girlfriend?”

“Exactly, just follow my lead”

You two ended up being a minute late to your lesson. He took your hand in his and the two of you walked in after everyone had taken their seats.

“Mr Malfoy, Miss Y/L/N, you are late to my lesson” Snape stated.

The whole class turned and looked at you, noting your hand clearly being held by Draco

“Sorry professor, we accidentally walked the long way from potions” Draco explained, swinging your hands.

“Two points from Slytherin, take your seats.” The two of you sat down.

“You and Draco?” Daphne hissed, knowing how long you had been crushing on him.

“Mind your business, Greengrass” Draco replied, sitting back in his chair putting his arm around the back of your seat.

“I'll explain later,” You promised, not wanting to piss off Snape, by talking in his lesson, any more than you already had.

For the rest of the day, you were ogled at like some caged animal in a zoo. Students from every year glanced and immediately dissolved into whispers with their friends. Word clearly travels fast around Hogwarts. You walked out of your last lesson with Daphne, getting ready to head to the Slytherin common room before dinner.

“You better be getting ready to explain this whole thing to me.” She said, pulling you away from the other students

“Yes, as soon as we get to our dorm-”

“Mind if I steal my girlfriend from you, Daphne?” Draco interrupted, appearing from what seemed to be nowhere.

“Yes I do actually,” She replied, pulling you further from Draco.

“Too bad, I’ll be taking her anyway”

“I swear I’ll tell you daph-” You explained apologetically, pulling your arm from her grasp.

Daphne stomped her foot like a toddler and turned to walk to the Slytherin common room. You, on the other hand, were stood with Draco, getting, even more, stares because the two of you were finally stood together, giving feeding truth into the rumour that was swirling around the school. He put his arm lazily around your shoulders and the two of you began your stroll to a more quiet part of the castle.

“I know you want to tell Daphne everything, but do you think that's wise?” He asked quietly

“Yes, she's my best friend, why wouldn't I?”

“I thought I was, I’m hurt”

“You are, you mug, but she is too”

“You know what a big mouth Daphne has, not to mention you know what she’s like once shes had a bit to drink, she might let it slip.”

You pondered what Draco had said. It was no secret that Daphne Greengrass liked to gossip, but it was also no secret that she couldn't handle her alcohol, spilling some of her families darkest secrets after a few shots. Not to mention had she slipped out that you lied about dating Draco it would be embarrassing for not only you but him.

“Ugh I hate that you’re right”

“When am I not?”

“But what am I supposed to tell her when she asks? She knows when I’m lying”

“Well we did spend basically the entire summer together, we’ll just say it happened then.”

“This is all so stressful! Why couldn't I have thought of another excuse? If I knew this was going to be the outcome, I would have agreed with him and said I found him ugly,” You dropped your head onto his chest. He wrapped both of his arms around you, swaying side to side.

“I know, love, but its too late to go back now”

You and Draco had been in this exact moment before in your friendship, only this time it felt different. You felt like you were more than two best friends consoling one another, it was almost as if you were just two teenagers in love. Only for a short while before reality came crashing down on you, it was all just fake.

The two of you went back to the common room to drop your school bags and robes before making your way to the hall for dinner. Despite it being late, there was still a large proportion of students sat down to eat. You took a deep breath as Draco’s hold on your hand tightened and the two of you walked in. Every single pair of eyes in the room were trained on you, it felt like an eternity before you finally got to your seats on the Slytherin table.

“Finally, you have no excuse not to explain yourself to me now, Y/N” Daphne scoffed.

“Don’t get your knickers in a twist, Greengrass. Were going out, that's it, what more do you want?” Draco retorted.

“Id like to know when, how, where. All of the details, Malfoy”

“Well we started going out in the holidays-” You began to explain before she cut you off.

“Pardon, the summer? As in 6 months ago? You have been hiding your relationship from me, your best friend for 6 whole months?” Daphne’s voice began to rise.

“Daphne-”

“Watch how you talk to my girlfriend, Greengrass, otherwise you'll find you can't speak another word.” Draco practically snarled at her, he looked as though he was about to rip her head off.

“I wanted to tell you, Daph I really did, I just wanted to keep it between Draco and I for a while, just in case it didn't work out, so it wouldn't be awkward.” You explained calmly.

“Hm, I guess that's a valid reason, you’re forgiven for now. But from here on out, I want to know everything. Did you at least find out who that ghastly cake was from?”

“Terry Boot”

She almost choked on her rice. You filled her goblet with some water and slid it to her.

“He confessed to me in potions, I tried to say I wasn't interested but he basically forced me to admit that I had a boyfriend”

“You poor thing,”

She had quickly forgotten and moved onto the next piece of Hogwarts gossip that took her fancy. Draco was engrossed with his own conversations and it hit you, your new reality was Draco Malfoy’s girlfriend, that was until Terry Boot managed to get his own one. It was something you had wanted since the second year, you felt as though you should have been over the moon, one of your most wild fantasies was playing out right in front of you, but you weren't. It wasn't going to last, you were sure he didn't even like you that way, he was just being the kind but overprotective Draco you had got to know over the past few years.

Once you had filled yourselves up with dinner, you and your friends made your way back to the common room, Draco's hand found yours and he held it as you walked down to the dungeons. Once you had got to the common room, Blaise forced a group of fourth years off the sofa in front of the fire and pulled out his deck of exploding snap, which you all played as a group. The warmth of the fire coupled with the comfort of the sofa made you want to curl up and fall asleep, you could feel your eyelids drooping as you tried and failed to suppress a yawn.

“Tired, love?” He asked, tilting his head.

“A little bit, I think I’ll head up to sleep in a bit” You responded, another small yawn passing your lips.

He nodded and simply pulled you into his side, your head falling on his chest and his arm around you resting on your hip

“God, you two are disgusting” Pansy grumbled as she walked past, taking note of you and Draco in your loved-up state.

“We all know you're just jealous you’re not in Y/N’s place” Crabbe laughed.

“Shut up Crabbe,” She snapped, trying to hit him around the back of his head but failing.

Your whole group laughed as she stomped away. You only managed to last another hour before you really were going to fall asleep, though you were reluctant to move from your position, you got up and announced you'd be heading to bed.

“I think I’ll join you.” Daphne yawned, getting up and stretching.

You made a move to leave but were pulled back by Draco.

“Gonna leave without saying goodnight were you?” He smiled

You laughed, “of course not, goodnight, Draco”

He kissed the back of your hand, sending a jolt of electricity from where his lips touched right to your brain, “goodnight, princess”

You smiled and headed up to bed, feeling as though you were floating on cloud 9.

Over the next few days, you had fallen into a routine, he’d wait at the bottom of the stairs from your dormitory for you to come down every morning, as soon as he saw you, he’d chirp a “good morning, love” before walking you to breakfast. He would walk you to and from every lesson that you didn’t have with him, he even went as far as waiting outside the girl's bathroom for you so he could walk with you back to the library. You had to admit it, Draco Malfoy was the best fake boyfriend.

One cold Wednesday afternoon, you were in the middle of a potions lesson, Slughorn was going on and on about the properties of belladonna, he even hinted it would come up in your exam, but all you could focus on was the contractions of your uterus. The first two days of your period were the worst, horrific cramps, bloating, tender boobs and hot flushes. Madam Pomfrey was aware of how debilitating your period was and would always send owls to your teachers informing them you would be absent from lessons, you didn't even care that Snape would find out about your period, all you wanted was to lie in bed. You tried your hardest to ride out the pain for the next 40 minutes of the lesson before you could go to the hospital wing and get something for the pain.

“Just ask Slughorn to leave early,” Daphne whispered.

“This is going to be on the exam, I can't just leave now”

“Y/N, you are literally dying, I’ll give you my notes, just please go to the hospital wing”

“I’ll be fine,”

You took a deep breath and shrugged your robe off you in an attempt to cool down. Draco slide you a note

‘Everything okay?’

‘Yeah, just my period, nothing to worry about :)’

‘Are you sure? I know how bad they get’

‘I’ll be fine, focus on the lesson!’

‘How can I focus when you’re in pain’

‘Oh shut up, I’ll be fine, I’m a big girl’

Draco read your last message and slid the sheet of parchment into his textbook. Another jolt of pain ran across your abdomen, causing you to squeeze your belly in pain. Draco’s arm shot up almost instantaneously.

“Professor, Y/N isn't feeling well, may I escort her to the hospital wing?”

“Of course m’boy”

You glared at Draco before collecting your things. and trying to discreetly leave the classroom without disrupting the lesson further.

“Do feel better Y/L/N” Slughorn called from the front of the room.

“Thank you, professor” you mumbled, feeling slightly embarrassed.

“Here give me your bag,” He said, going to grab your bag off your shoulder.

“I’m on my period, Draco, not dying”

He held out his hand anyway and you handed him your bag. He knew you hated being touched too much, it made you feel hotter, so he linked his pinky with yours.

“The corridors are empty, you don't need to hold my hand,” you stated, looking around

“I don't need to but I like to, your hands are soft” You saw him blush slightly as he said it. You simply smiled as the two of you walked into the hospital wing.

“Ah, miss Y/L/N, I’ve been expecting a visit from you” Madam Pomfrey went into her store cupboard and produced a violet potion and measured a dose. “You know the drill, come back tomorrow after breakfast and I’ll give you more, I’ll send an owl to your teachers, what’s your next lesson?”

“We have transfiguration” Draco answered for you while you finished downing your medicine.

“Right, well I’ll tell Professor McGonagall you'll both be absent from the lesson, be sure to catch up with the missing work Mr Malfoy”

You thanked Madam Pomfrey before returning to the Slytherin dormitory. The boys had managed to disable the charm that prevented them from coming up into the girls' dorms, so Draco followed you up.

“Draco, honestly I’m fine.” You signed, dropping onto your bed

“You don’t look fine,” He crossed his arms and looked down at you.

“I just need to get into some comfy clothes and lie down and I’ll be fine, I even have chocolate in my trunk.” You crouched down and opened your trunk and fished out your slab of Honeydukes chocolate. surprised to find that you only had 6 squares left.

“That’s hardly enough, wait here.”

“Dra-”

He turned and went down the stairs, leaving you alone. You changed out of your skirt and into some comfy trousers and were about to unbutton your blouse when Draco returned with a full slab of Honeydukes chocolate and his old quidditch jumper.

“I remember you saying how soft this was, I don't need it anymore, you're free to keep it,” He said sheepishly

“Thank you, Draco, seriously” He smiled at you and just stood there, looking at you. “Erm, I need to change,”

He slowly turned around and you unbuttoned your blouse and unhooked your bra throwing it on your bed before putting the jumper on.

“I’m done,”

He turned around, his eyes immediately landing on your black lace bra on your bed, you followed his gaze and quickly snatched the bra and stuffed it back in your trunk.

“I had you pegged for a cotton bra girl myself,” He smirked

“If you think that's scandalous, you should see what I wear on the bottom” you replied, winking. You got under your covers and began to open the chocolate, Draco sat awkwardly at the foot of your bed.

“Why are you sitting like that?”

“I’ve never been in your dormitory before,”

“It's literally the same as yours, come, sit” You moved a bit to the side and he came and sat next to you, stretching his legs out. At this point it was a reflex, his arms wrapped themselves around you as you buried yourself into him.

“Draco,”

“Hmmm”

“Thank you,”

“You’ve said that already”

“I mean it, honestly,”

“Anything for you, princess”. You two fell into a comfortable silence as you lay on his chest, being lulled to sleep by his chest rising and falling.

You were awoken by a loud squeal, you blinked and slowly opened your eyes.

“You two are just the cutest!” Daphne shouted.

You looked around confused for a moment until you saw what was in Daphne’s hand. She handed you a small bouquet of roses with a note attached that read:

I didn't have the heart to wake you, I’ll bring you dinner if you're not up to coming down, I hope you feel better, love - D x

You smiled as you conjured up a small vase filled with water. It was time to admit it, you were deeply, truly and utterly in love with Draco Malfoy

A Hogsmeade trip had been planned for that weekend, at first, you were planning on skipping it, but after some convincing, you decided you’d go. You decided to replenish your potions store, as well as getting some more quills and ink. Draco treated you to some sweets from Honeydukes, before you and your group headed into the three broomsticks to grab a butterbeer before you returned to the castle. You sat in a booth with Blaise, Daphne, Goyle and Pansy, choosing to squeeze yourself right in the corner. Blaise got up to order the drinks returning a few moments later with six butterbeers in his hands. The six of you fell into a discussion about the quidditch tournament, the boys getting heated over Ravenclaw’s win over Slytherin in their last match. After a while Daphne excused herself to go to the bathroom, only to run back a few moments later.

“You will not guess who I just saw snogging Hannah Abbott in the women’s toilet” Daphne yelled, sitting back in her seat at the end of the table.

You all looked at her, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

“Terry fucking Boot!”

The whole group looked at you and Draco. At that moment you felt a million different emotions, recently it had felt like you weren't faking anymore, you had tricked yourself into thinking that it was all real, forgetting about your deal with Draco. But you knew that this revelation meant it was all over, you and Draco would fake an amicable break-up and remain to be best friends and the thought of that killed you.

“Well, at least now he won't get hexed for looking at my girlfriend” Draco joked.

You smiled and took a sip of your butterbeer. Once you had all finished your drinks, you returned to the castle and settled in your spot in the common room. You were sat with Draco but all you could think about was how this little bubble you were in was going to burst soon. You practically zoned out, your eyes losing focus as you stared at the fire.

“Are you quite alright? You look as though you’ve been stunned” Daphne asked, looking confused.

“Mmm I don’t feel too good, I don't think being out in the cold was a good idea” you mumbled, blinking slowly.

Daphne came and felt your forehead.

“You do feel a bit warm, why don’t you go lie down for a while”

You agreed and went up to lie in your bed for a while. You ended up skipping dinner too, you played up your symptoms to Daphne and she left you alone out of fear that she’d catch whatever you had. You didn’t end up getting out of bed until the next morning, barely having the energy to brush your teeth before you trudged to the great hall for breakfast in your pyjamas. Draco saw you come in and his eyes lit up, he was worried after Daphne told him you were sick. As soon as you sat down he began to pile food into your plate.

“Whoa calm down, I’ll barely be able to eat half of that” You pushed his hand back to the bowl of baked beans prompting him to drop the spoon back into the bowl.

“You haven’t eaten since yesterday, you must be starving, love”

You shook your head reaching for a cereal bowl instead. He looked at you concern filling his face. He kept glancing over at you while you ate, making note of your unusual silence. Once he had noticed you stopped eating your cereal squeezed your hand under the table, you pulled your hand away and acted as though you were scratching an itch on the side of your neck.

“Y/N why don’t we take a visit to madam Pomfrey, just to make sure you’re okay”

“I’m fine Draco, it’s probably just a cold”

“Draco’s right, you should make sure it’s nothing contagious or something” Daphne agreed

“Fine, let’s go then” You dusted your pyjamas off and got up, defeated.

You followed Draco out of the great hall. He began walking the opposite direction to the hospital wing and pulled you into a deserted part of the corridor.

“Are you okay?” He asked immediately, his tall frame towering over you.

“I’m just tired Draco, that’s all”

“You can’t lie to me, I’m your best friend”

“I’m not lying, I’m just tired, I haven’t been sleeping well the past few days”

“Has someone said something? Threatened you? I swear if I get my hands on them”

“No ones done anything. You don’t need to keep the overprotective boyfriend act up anymore, we’re alone and Terry has a girlfriend now”

“Act?” His face had fallen and he turned to look away

“Draco?”

“You really thought it was all an act?”

“Was it not? You said it yourself, we were faking it until he got a girlfriend so that he wouldn’t try and make a move on me”

“How can you be one of the smartest witches in our house but be so dense at the same time. “

“Excuse me,”

“It wasn't an act for me”

Your heart stopped.

“What?” you honestly couldn’t believe what you were hearing

“It wasn't an act for me. I didn't do all that just because I wanted Boot to back off, I did it cause I’ve fancied you for a while” Draco began pacing, as he explained himself

“but-”

“You said you would have gone out with the sender of that cake if it wasn't anonymously sent. I don't know why, but it didn’t sit right with me. I didn't like the fact that you were willing to go out with someone that wasn't me.”

“So you waited for me to find out who did send it, so you could propose this crazy idea?”

“I didn’t expect you to find out, hell I didn't even know I was going to say it, but once you agreed to go along with it, I felt like maybe you’d see that us being more than just best friends wasn't that bad, and maybe you'd be willing to give me a chance.”

“Can I let you in on a little secret?”

He stopped and looked down at you and nodded,

“I've fancied you since second year”

He smiled and grabbed both your hands

“And since we’ve been fake going out, I’m pretty sure I’m in love with you now,”

“Say that again”

“I’m in love with you Draco,”

“Say it again,” he said, placing his hands on your cheeks and staring into your eyes with adoration.

You laughed “I love you”

“I love you so much more, princess. Way more than I can even explain”

You beamed up at him, you felt like you could honestly explode at this point. all those years of crushing on him and wishing you could tell him how you felt, and here you were.

“I'm going to kiss you” He whispered

“I think it's about time you did”

He moved slowly before giving you a sweet but passionate kiss. His lips were softer than you thought they'd be.

“At least now we don't need to worry about telling our friends,” You joked, resting your forehead against his.

He laughed and kissed you again. Something you know you would never get tired of. As cliche as it seemed, you did it, your best friend was now your boyfriend. It was just you and Draco, safe in your perfect bubble.

[knifeshoeoreofight]

Part 1  Part 2  Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Mr. Heinze shakes his head as he pours Sidney a glass of brandy. “His other lordship was difficult to persuade, my lord. It did take some managing to get him to admit a single sartorial preference.” He looks off into the middle distance, as close to perturbed as Sidney has ever seen him. “He has alarming taste in waistcoats, my lord.”

Sidney accepts the glass from him and laughs. Mr. Heinze had accompanied Evgeni to the tailor’s and had apparently had a trying afternoon.  “Let him get the most eye-searing waistcoat in the whole of Britain. I don’t care.”

“You may eventually care,” Mr. Heinze warns, and Sidney laughs again. He’s happy. Evgeni came to see him for a reading lesson and it had been a pleasant, if torturous hour of bending close and guiding Evgeni’s hand as he formed the letters. He’s very intelligent, and is picking written English up exceedingly quickly. Forming the letters himself is still proving difficult, however, hence the need for Sidney’s help.

It fascinates him, the glimpses he gets of Evgeni’s brilliant mind, sweeping emotions, and big, expansive heart. He wishes, more than almost anything, that he understood Russian. But Evgeni is surprisingly cagey about teaching him and Sidney has only been able to wrest the barest bits and pieces of vocabulary from him. Half of which are completely unsuitable for polite company. But nothing makes Evgeni snigger and grin his wide scoundrel’s grin like Sidney butchering Russian sailing profanity. And so he indulges him.

He would indulge almost anything that would make Evgeni happy, and it’s an almost frightening thing to learn about himself.

“At least teach me that thing you always call me lately,” Sidney had complained, and Evgeni had barrelled on as if he hadn’t heard, teaching Sidney instead how to thoroughly question the legitimacy or even humanity of someone’s parentage.

Now, he takes another sip of brandy and contemplates the fire, unable to keep the corners of his lips from curving upwards at Mr. Heinze’s long suffering tone.

“I had to manage him a little, my lord. Tell him you would be disappointed in my service if I did not extract his true wants in regards to his evening attire, and provide him with as much of it as was fitting for someone of his rank. He has a loyal heart. He would not hear of either disappointing you or allowing myself to fall in your bad graces.”

Sidney smiles, feeling wistful. “Yes, he is a good man.”

“With questionable taste in clothing.”

“Even so.”

***

Sidney eventually settles on attending a ball held by the Barrie-Landeskogs. He’s not close to them, but his friend Sir Nathan Mackinnon is and he supposes they’re tolerable enough. The Viscount and his husband typically put on a raucous but well-appointed event. They employ a talented kitchen staff, at any rate.

Two weeks before the ball, Sidney is in Truro on business when he pulls Cole up short outside the window of a jewelers, struck by a sudden whim.

Not all men or women are fond of jewels, but he has a feeling his husband might be, given the opportunity. He spends rather more than he is used to in one sitting, at least when not purchasing fine horses or the like. The thrilled jeweler cannot seem to bow deeply enough on Sidney’s way out.

***

When the day itself arrives, Sidney nervously slides the velvet case containing his gift across the table to Evgeni at breakfast.

Evgeni sets down his tea and blinks. “What’s this?”

Sidney clears his throat. “Something to wear for the ball tonight, if you wish.”

Evgeni’s eyes go wide and his mouth falls open when he sees the cravat pin. It’s an ostentatious thing- the Crosby family crest worked in bright enamel, inlaid with jet and citrine and bordered with glittering diamonds.

Evgeni’s eyes go to where the family crest is also carved into the marble mantlepiece. “This…”

“The family crest,” Sidney says, suddenly terribly nervous that he’s made the wrong decision here. “Gold inescutcheon on a white field.”

“Who’s him?” Evgeni asks, a smile beginning to bloom. He’s reverently cradling the pin as if he expects it to break, and Sidney breathes a sigh of relief.

“It’s a Great Auk,” Sidney explains. “A seabird. You rarely see them now but they used to live all along the coast here. The estate is named after them. Ydhyn Dhu means ‘black bird’ in Cornish.” It’s an unusual animal for a coat of arms, but his family has always been a little different.

“They can’t fly, but they can swim like fish,” Sidney continues. “Do you like it?”

“I’m love,” Evgeni says softly. “This is yours?”

“Oh, no, I had it made especially for you,” Sidney hastens to explain. “Consider it a late wedding present.”

Evgeni’s head is bowed, and he doesn’t look at Sidney, but he traces the auk with his thumb so gently that it makes Sidney want to saddle Cole this instant and go purchase every last bauble the jeweler has.

When Evgeni speaks again his voice is rough. “I’m also get you present. Not so fancy like this, but maybe, think you like simple?”

Sidney is not a child, the prospect of a gift has no business making him this giddy. “Oh! You didn’t have to-- yes, I do prefer fairly simple attire.”

“Should still have something nice for party,” Evgeni says, head still ducked shyly. “Maybe you already have. But I see and I think, maybe you like.”

He pulls from the pocket of his coat a box not dissimilar to the one Sidney had given him. Sidney accepts it from him with eager hands. Inside, on a bed of tissue paper, lies a delicate gold chain. It has a pendant on it, also gold, in the shape of a ship under sail.

“I see you have many ship things, in your study. Painting, compass, sextant. Think maybe you like.”

Sidney flushes, both from Evgeni noticing his alarming weakness for nautical objets d'art and from pleasure in being understood so well.

“It’s absolutely perfect,” Sidney says fervently. “I love it.”

“I know is mostly ladies wear necklace,” Evgeni goes on, looking pleased but still rambling a little nervously. “But I see some ladies wear cravat, some gentlemen wear necklace.”

Sidney unhooks the necklace clasp and drapes it around his neck. The pendant rests where a cravat pin typically would, and it looks very well. “As I said, perfect.” He fumbles with the delicate closure for a moment, and Evgeni stands, and goes behind him to do it for him.

Sidney closes his eyes at the brush of Evgeni’s hands on the nape of his neck. Evgeni fusses with it for a moment, running a finger along the chain to make it lie smooth and perfect. Sidney wants to lean back into the touch, but does not.

“Thank you,” he tells his husband.

“Thank you too,” Evgeni returns.

***

In the carriage, Evgeni cannot stop jouncing his leg up and down from nerves, and Sidney cannot stop noticing how fine a figure Evgeni cuts in evening dress. The coat of arms pin twinkles expensively from Evgeni’s cravat, and Sidney is a little ashamed of how much he likes seeing his crest worn on Evgeni’s person. Not to say that Evgeni belongs to him, but rather that Evgeni belongs with him.

He touches the ship necklace where it lies over his own cravat, and Evgeni’s eyes follow the movement. He smiles.

“Look so good, Sid,” Evgeni says, low, and it makes heat pool in Sid’s belly.

“It was a lovely gift,” he says, and Evgeni shakes his head and gestures vaguely at Sid’s entire body.

“Everything looks good,” he says, and Sid wills his face not to flush scarlet. He smooths a hand self-consciously down his waistcoat. He’d come to the conclusion that if he dressed as plainly as he was wont to do on his own, Evgeni in his resplendently embroidered waistcoat and fine lace cuffs might stand out a little too much. So he’d enlisted the help of Letang, who exhibited an ungentlemanly amount of glee in finally being allowed control of Sidney’s wardrobe.

He’d insisted on a russet velvet coat and a gold silk waistcoat. Sidney was intensely skeptical but Letang had only said some nonsense about his eyes and had insisted. At least he would approach Evgeni in spendor somewhat, this way. And it did go well with the necklace.

“You as well,” Sidney said, after perhaps too great a pause. “I mean, you look very well, also.”

Evgeni lifts his arm and turns his wrist to admire the gold embroidery on the wine-red velvet of his sleeves. “I’m like,” he says, pleased. “And Mr. Heinze say is fine to choose.”

“I’m glad you chose something you liked,” Sidney tells him, and Evgeni looks over at him. He has this way of looking sometimes, like his eyes are smiling even more than his mouth is. He’s looking at Sidney that way now. Sidney wishes--

Well. There is much Sidney wishes for.

He’s suddenly reminded, so clearly that he practically hear his voice, of his father gruffly intoning that “wishes have no practical use, son. What are you going to do to make them come about, instead?”

What indeed. Sidney has been assuming this entire time that, in effect, romancing his own husband would be an egregious abuse of power. But, would it? Under the thrall of Evgeni’s warm, dark-eyed gaze, Sidney begins to wonder.

***

The Barrie-Landeskog estate is ablaze with light when they arrive. Torches line the drive and gleaming carriages wait to disgorge thier dazzlingly dressed occupants. When their own carriage draws up before the wide marble front steps, Sidney meets his husband’s eyes.

“Ready?” he asks.

Evgeni looks a little green but Sidney watches him swallow, close his eyes, and open them with an expression of fierce resolve.

“Yes,” he says firmly.

Sidney steps out first, and turns to extend a hand to Evgeni and help him down. It’s a rather useless gesture, given how long Evgeni’s legs are and how little he needs the help. But Sidney is determined to let society observe him awarding his husband every courtesy.

Evgeni slides his hand into the crook of Sidney’s elbow, as smoothly as if he’d been escorted into ballrooms all his life.

He grins at Sidney. “I’m practice with Mr. Heinze. What you think?”

“Very elegant,” Sidney replies, helpless to do anything but grin back.

They ascend the steps, and are bowed inside by the footmen. It is a riot of color and sound: chandeliers glowing with hundred of candles that glint off gilt scrollwork amid a ceiling of painted cherubs and divinities. The guests below gleam in a rainbow of velvet and silk, jewels flashing, ostrich plumes fluttering from hair ornaments and fans. Strains of music rise above the murmur of voices.

Sidney glances at his husband to see him gazing about himself with an expression of dazzled wonder. He smiles at Sidney, joyous as a child.

“Sid!” he exclaims.

“You like it?” Sidney asks.

“Most beautiful thing I’m ever see,” Evgeni breathes, mouth dropped open. He glances down at Sidney for a fleeting instant. “Almost.”

“Well. if you like it so much, we should open up the ballroom at Ydhyn Dhu. Maybe hold a ball ourselves.”

“There’s ballroom at Ydhyn Dhu?” Evgeni goggles incredulously at Sid.

“Well. It’s shut up since it’s used so seldomly,” Sid explains.

Evgeni raises his free hand to pat Sidney’s arm, laughter in his eyes. “I know, I know. Sid doesn’t like big noisy party.”

“If you like them, we shall have them,” Sidney insists. He’s not completely stodgy.. He can throw his husband a ball, for god’s sake.

Evgeni’s gaze is fond, and he leans down and brushes a kiss across the back of Sidney’s hand. “Maybe. But now, first?” He cocks his head at where the hosts are greeting all of the new arrivals.

“Lord Crosby!” The Viscount exclaims, when they draw near. Heads all around turn with alarming alacrity at the words. “And your husband—”

“Lord Evgeni,” Sidney supplies. Evgeni takes and bows over the hands of the Viscount and his husband with careful politeness.

“We were all astonishment, I must say, to hear of the wedding. Our congratulations, however,” the Viscount continues, bright-eyed and merry. “Nate had precious little information, for all that you are close friends.”

“There is not much to tell,” Sidney replies, and the Viscount nods sagely.

“I understand, I understand.” He leans closer, with a conspiratorial air. “Tall, handsome, and foreign. An irresistible combination, I know.” He leers at his own husband, who rolls his eyes, but also looks a little smug.

“Well-” Sidney is sure he is blushing. “I daresay-- oh look, it’s Nate, I must say hello. Many thanks again for the invitation.”

He angles for where he caught a glimpse of Nate in the throng but before he gets there they are accosted. Inwardly, Sidney groans, for Sir McGuire is one of the most tedious men he has ever had the misfortune to know. Outwardly, he just smiles blandly at the man’s overly familiar greeting.

“And this, this is the husband? Well, it was certainly a surprise to us all when the news reached us,” Sir McGuire burbles. “Tell me, Lord Evgeni, what was your family name again? I do believe I forgot.”

Sidney’s stomach tightens in sympathy for Evgeni and he prepares to intervene, but Evgeni merely lifts his chin, gracing Sir McGuire with a look of such perfected aristocratic boredom that Sidney has to stifle a laugh.

“My name is Evgeni Vladimirovich Malkin-Crosby,” Evgeni proclaims. “Of St. Petersburg and Moscow. But my family spend most of our time on our land in the Ural Mountains.”

Sidney knows for a fact that Evgeni’s family owns no land and that he’s only been to Moscow once in his life. He wants to smirk at the look of confusion on McGuire’s face as he tries to figure out a way to be snide about Evgeni’s origins without knowing the slightest thing about what he’s talking about.

“Ah. And was your family able to visit the royal court in St. Petersburg?” McGuire asks with an oily smile. Sidney wants to roll his eyes.

“Dear Katya would not hear of us staying away,” Evgeni replies, with a condescending smirk Sidney should not be finding attractive. Gratifyingly, Mcguire’s jaw drops.

“By Katya, of course you cannot mean--”

“So nice, English education must be better than I’m think, if you know of the Empress Yekaterina,” Evgeni says patronizingly. “Maybe hope for you all, yet.”

Sidney cannot stifle a snort, and bites his lip to try and keep his smile in check as McGuire takes his leave with gratifying alacrity.

“Rogue!” Sidney hisses delightedly. “You know he is a horrible gossip, the entire ballroom will be hearing about that in a matter of minutes.”

“Good,” Evgeni says contentedly, and Sidney bursts out laughing at the serene expression on his face.

Just then the music issuing from the ballroom changes to a minuet. It would probably be a good idea to start off with a couple’s dance, instead of the more complicated dances involving multiple sets of partners. Sidney inclines his head toward the open ballroom doors inquiringly and Evgeni nods. Sidney takes Evgeni’s from its place on his arm and holds it in his own, as correctly as his dancing master would have insisted upon, and leads Evgeni forth.

***

Sidney had not, perhaps, fully considered the ramifications of dancing with Evgeni. The minuet is slow, and stately, and there is nobody to watch for or pay attention to besides one’s partner.

The ballroom is lit up by more chandeliers and candles, and heady with the scent of hothouse flowers. Evgeni’s hands are enormous and strong in Sid’s, and his eyes never seem to leave Sidney’s face. Every time they meet after a pattern of separate steps, Evgeni seems to pull Sidney a little closer. Almost too close, for propriety’s sake. Sidney chalks it up, perhaps, to a lapse in Mr. Heinze’s deportment lessons.

The turns are a little amusing. Sidney can step easily enough under Evgeni’s arm, but they have to get a little creative when it comes to Evgeni getting under Sid’s. They laugh at themselves a little, and it strikes Sidney that he has never had such a pleasant time on a dance floor before. Dancing had always made him feel stilted and awkward, too busy trying to remember the steps to really enjoy himself.

Now, he has Evgeni, who he can laugh with if either of them make a mistake, smiling at Sid like there’s nowhere else he wants to be in the world. Sidney cannot help it-- every warm brush of his fingers to Sid’s own makes him want.

When the music ends and the ballroom breaks into applause, Sidney blinks as if awakening from a spell.

“That was--” he isn’t sure how he is going to finish that, because they are accosted by Letang and Catherine for a quadrille, and the dancing resumes once more.

***

They take a respite from dancing to refresh themselves with glasses of orgeat and negus. Sidney has the taste of rosewater and almonds on his tongue, and Evgeni near him, leaning close to joke about this dandy’s particularly elaborate cravat or that haughty woman’s peculiar hair arrangement. He cannot remember ever enjoying a ball so much.

They are interrupted by Nate, arriving to clap Sidney on the back and cheerfully complain about his inability to convince any young ladies to dance with him.

“It’s because you tread on their feet and are an unromantic lout,” Sidney says dryly. Nate throws his head back and laughs.

“Hilarious, coming from you. Although, I suppose, you do have the higher ground now that you have managed to convince someone to marry you!” Nate toasts Evgeni with his glass of negus and Evgeni frowns a little.

“Come on, Sid,” Nate continues, wheedling. “Don’t let me be utterly humiliated. Stand up for the next dance with me, just the one? I’m sure Evgeni wouldn’t mind, would you?”

Evgeni looks taken aback, perhaps by Nate’s jovial noisiness, but nods, and carefully takes Sidney’s glass when it is handed to him.

“I’ll be back soon,” Sidney promises, and leaves to line up with Nate and a bevy of others for a country dance.

The liveliness of the particular dance means that it is long minutes before he has a moment to stand still as he waits to take his turn in a series of steps, and look back to where he left Evgeni waiting.

He’s startled by the dark look he sees leveled at him, immediately smoothed out to blank nothingness as soon as Evgeni sees that Sidney is looking back. It shakes Sidney, and he can barely concentrate on the rest of the dance. He treads rather badly on poor Nate’s feet, and he knows he is in for an exceptional amount of ribbing from that quarter later.

“Well,” Nate says breathlessly, as the dance finally draws to a close. “I daresay marriage has only worsened your dancing. I would not have though it possible for you to get worse!”

Ordinarily, Sidney would have liked nothing better than to exchange friendly repartee with Nate- the friendship they have has always included a great deal of good-natured teasing. But he is distracted now. During the very last series of steps, he’d spent much of the time craning his neck to see if Evgeni was still staring at the dancers like a thundercloud, but he seems now to have vanished. He take his leave from Nate, and makes his way through the throng to find out where his husband has gone.

A man of Evgeni’s height is not easily missed, so Sidney need only make a few inquiries to find out he has gone outside,to the wide stone veranda running along the back of the house. Tall windows spill light from inside, and it is easy to make out Evgeni, leaning on the balustrade and staring moodily out onto the Barrie-Landeskogs’ extensive lily pond.

Sid comes up beside him, feeling once again wrong-footed and unsure of what to say. The night air holds the promise of spring. It smells of damp earth and green growing things, and there is a chorus of frogsong loud enough to be heard over the strains of music from inside.

“Hello,” Sidney says softly, and Evgeni turns, and gives him a smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes.

“Where you displeased, that I danced with Nate?” Sidney asks, a little conflicted as to how it makes him feel. Deep down, he fears he might actually...enjoy the idea of Evgeni being desirous of his time and person, at least when it comes to dancing. “Perhaps it was bad of me to leave you alone?” To face the gossips without Sidney at his side. The more he thinks about this the worse he feels. But Evgeni is shaking his head, and his expression has gone rueful and soft.

“No, Sid,” he says. “Is good, to dance with friends. I’m should not--” He doesn’t finish.

“I like it when you’re honest with me,” Sidney says. “Did you mind very much?”

Evgeni doesn’t answer, and he doesn’t look at Sid. Instead he asks: “You like him, Nate?”

“Our parents were good friends,” Sidney says, wondering what Evgeni is getting at. “I’ve known him since he was a snot-nosed infant. How he used to squall! He’s a good lad, if hopeless with the ladies. I fear it may be years before he finds a girl with the fortitude to become mistress of MacKinnon Hall.”

Evgeni looks intently at Sid, as though trying to gauge his emotions. So Sid continues. “And I hope you don’t take his teasing seriously; heaven knows I don’t. He’s just lively, is all. He means no harm.”

“He’s only like ladies?”

Sid shrugs. “As far as I know.”

“And you all right?”

Really, Sidney isn’t sure why Evgeni is looking at him with so much concern.

“Why should I care who Nate likes?” Sidney says, frowning. “He’s like a little brother to me, I’d just as rather not think about his romantic inclinations, at all.”

Evgeni’s shoulders slump and he shakes his head, laughing soundlessly, seemingly at himself.

“What is it?” Sidney says, concerned. “Did you think...did you think I had a tendre for Nate?”

Evgeni buries his face in his hands with a groan. “Don’t tease, Sid. I’m just be little bit foolish.”

“No, I wouldn’t,” Sidney protests. “I don’t. Have a tendre for anyone, I mean.” A horrible thought strikes him. “Wait, do you?”

Evgeni shakes his head and sighs. “Only person here I’m want be married to, is you.”

“Oh good,” Sidney says, feeling relieved his anxiety was for naught. “Me too.”

Good god, he sounds a right fool. He wonders bitterly if, had the circumstances been different and he’d met Evgeni at a ball like this, he’d been able to get someone as naturally charming to look at him twice.

“Mean that, Sid?” Evgeni is saying, voice hushed. He is suddenly standing very, very close. Sid can smell his sandalwood shaving soap.

Sid has to clear his throat before he can speak. “I’m not in the habit of saying things I don’t mean.”

Evgeni’s lips are softly parted, as if he wants to say something, or even, perhaps, lean forward and press them to Sidney’s.

Sidney’s heart pounds, and he finds himself swaying ever so slightly forward into Evgeni’s space. Please, he wants to beg. Kiss me. Kiss me because you want to.  

“Sid,” Evgeni says huskily. He raises a hand and softly touches Sidney under the chin, tilting Sidney’s face up towards his own. Sidney cannot breathe. There is only Evgeni’s heavy lidded gaze, and the warmth of his touch. He slides his other hand down Sid’s side to rest at his waist, and--

There is a crash as one of the sets of French doors from the ballroom violently swings open, expelling a couple obviously in their cups, giggling and loudly shushing each other. Evgeni drops his hands and steps back. Sid wants to curse at the loss.

“Go back inside?” Evgeni inquires, tilting his head towards the lit-up windows. “Dance more?”

Sidney wants to protest, but one of the young ladies who’ve disturbed them sighs out “Oh, Annabelle” in tones that suggest vacating the premises with alacrity to grant the young lovers some privacy might be in order.

“Always a flurry of engagements after a ball,” Sidney mutters as they walk in, still a little miffed.

“Romantic,” Evgeni says indulgently. “Very sweet.”

“Yes, quite,” Sidney says, feeling considerably less charitable.

Inside, the musicians are playing something totally unfamiliar, and there is rather a lot more standing around and tittering going on than usual. Sidney has to crane his neck and practically stand on his toes to see past the crush of people standing around the dance floor. When he sees what the precious few couples dancing are doing, his eyes widen. It is one thing to have a genteel rendez-vous with a spouse or a betrothed on a darkened balcony away from prying eyes, but this?

“Good lord,” a woman says to his right, fluttering her fan vigorously. “How..Continental.”

“Very...daring,” says her companion.

“That’s one way to describe it,” huffs a portly older gentleman.

Sidney glances up to see what Evgeni is making of all of this but he looks completely unperturbed.  

“I’m know this one,” he says, pleased. “Waltz. They dance like this in Vienna. I’m have friend on ship who teach me.” He looks down at Sid and holds out his hand. “Dance?”

Had he asked earlier in the evening, Sidney would have most likely said no. The idea of taking such liberties, in full view of society? But he is still flushed and disappointed from the ruined moment outside, and he feels reckless. He wants Evgeni’s arms around him and if a scandalous dance in front of all their acquaintance is the only way to get it, then, well.

“Why not,” Sidney says, with a sangfroid he does not feel. “You will have to teach me, however, I do not know the steps.”

Evgeni lights up. “I’m best teacher, come.”

And then he leads Sidney into the open space on the floor, and tugs him close in front of all the staring eyes around them. He slides one arm close about Sid’s waist, and takes Sid’s hand and lays it on his shoulder. Their free hands he clasps together, not extended a careful distance like in a minuet, but pulled close.

“Watch feet,” he murmurs in Sidney’s ear. “It’s count of three.” Sidney shudders, heat blooming through his whole body. He is certain his face must be scarlet.

Evgeni counts softly under his breath for a moment, to show Sidney how, then begins to move.

Sidney is consumed for a short while with attempting to replicate the movements of Evgeni’s feet, and then Evgeni says “turn now,” and swoops them around to the music so quickly it makes Sidney’s head spin.

It is like no dancing Sidney has ever done. There is nothing stately or decorous about this. There is instead the warmth of Evgeni’s arms around him, pulling him so close that their bodies press together at times. There are twirls and turns that send them flying around the dance floor and turn the ballroom around them into a blur of light and color.

When the music stops, Sidney’s chest is heaving, both from exertion and from having Evgeni so close. He cannot look at Evgeni’s face, he cannot, for surely everything he wants will be clear in his expression, and he does not wish to share with the entire ballroom how desperately he wants to ravish his husband.

“Good?” Evgeni asks, and Sidney can only nod.

“You’re a magnificent dancer,” he says

Evgeni shrugs. “When I’m know dance better, I’m not so bad. You want more drink?”

“Please.” He could drink a gallon or orgeat, he really could.

On their way, they encounter the Letangs. Kris gapes at Sidney.

“Lord Sidney Patrick Crosby,” he exclaims with a smirk. “Did I just see you waltzing? In front of God and this entire assembly?”

Evgeni looks puzzled. “What’s wrong with waltz? It’s nice dance.”

“Ooh, I see now,” Letang drawls. Then smirks. “Godspeed, my lords.”

“Whatever do you mean,” Sidney says flatly, and practically drags his husband the rest of the way to the refreshment table.

***

Sidney stays well past the usual hour when he usually make his excuses and leaves. He’s never seen a ball to its end before, but he is actually enjoying himself immeasurably with Evgeni at his side.

He drinks rather a lot of negus, and the cook must have made it uncommonly strong. The drink and his exhaustion cause him to list sleepily into Evgeni’s side after they step wearily into their carriage for the ride home. Sidney had gone to sit in his previous position opposite his husband, but Evgeni had pouted and tugged him down next to himself, instead. Highly satisfactory arrangement.

The first blush of dawn is pinking the eastern sky and the morning chorus of birdsong serenades them as Sidney gives in to his tipsy weariness and lets his head rest on Evgeni’s shoulder. Evgeni hums and tilts his own head onto Sid’s.

All is peaceful quiet, save the birds, the jingling of the harnesses, and the creak of the wheels for quite some time.

Eventually, though, Evgeni sighs softly and tilts his face so that his nose brushes Sidney’s hair.

“Why you stop call me ‘Zhenya’?” he says, so quietly Sidney wonders if he was meant to hear it at all.

“It seemed...an impertinence,” he says sleepily into Evgeni’s lapel.

“Don’t know what’s mean, ‘impertinence,” Evgeni grumbles.

His accent is so much thicker when he’s this tired. It’s delicious.

“Do you want me to?” Sidney says, laboriously blinking his eyes open, because this seems important. He squints muzzily up at Evgeni.

“I’m want. It’s close name. Was want… we be like family.”

The soft hurt in his voice makes Sidney sit up to look at his face better. Evgeni’s expression makes Sidney feel like he’s swallowed a stone.

“Darling-- I’m so sorry,” he exclaims, drink and exhaustion wringing full honesty from his lips. “I never meant for you to-- I want that too, Zhenya, I want that too.”

Zhenya stares at him, eye wide and lit up rich wood-brown in the morning light. Sidney reaches up and cups Zhenya’s face in his hand. He tugs lightly, just enough for Evgeni to know what he wants.

Zhenya obliges, leaning down and brushing a kiss to Sidney’s cheek. Sidney makes a dissatisfied noise.

“No?” Oh, Zhenya’s voice just then. A deep caressing purr that Sidney feels in his very bones. “What you want, Sid?”

“More,” Sidney breathes. “You.”

Zhenya groans and leans down, his lips finally against Sidney’s own, warm and desperate. He groans into the kiss as Sidney yields to him, lips parting to let him take.

When Zhenya moves from Sidney’s mouth to his neck, Sidney makes a sound that’s almost a gasping sob. Zhenya stills. He presses a series of chaste, gentling kisses to Sidney’s throat, his jaw, the corner of his mouth.

“You drink a lot,” he says. His voice is hoarse, his tone regretful.

“Not-- so very much,” Sidney protests, when he can find his speech again. But Zhenya presses one last kiss to his forehead, and tugs Sidney back down onto his shoulder.

“Rest,” Zhenya insists.

Disappointment floods him, thick and stinging. “If you wish,” Sidney says.

Zhenya, however, makes no answer.

Part 9

[livejournal24]

80 Chicken Breeds Information (A-Z List)

When we think of animals in our lives, one of the last ones that I think about is the chicken even though we eat eggs and chicken weekly. So today, I’m going to enlighten you all on the breeds and differences in chickens. I will describe to you, what chickens are best for laying eggs, which ones are best for meat purposes, the chickens that are best for eggs and meat, show poultry, and Bantam. At the end of the article, you’ll see a list of chickens to have as a reference source.

Chicken Breeds - Type, List, Picture & Information

Meat Breeds We have chicken breeds that are for meat. Many people are worried about hormones in our foods, therefore decided to raise their own food. If you want to follow their lead, these are the chickens to raise. The Cornish Cross is preferred when picking a chicken for meat. They can be up to 12 pounds in 6-8 weeks. The Jersey Giant weigh up to 13 pounds, but they are slow growers who need a lot of food. Bresse is a white chicken that is a fairly large chicken breed. With their bright blue feet, it's not hard to see this bird. They are expensive and popular. They can get up to 7 pounds. Orpington is the last meat chicken I’ll cover. They average 8 pounds and have tender meat. Dual Purpose The three best dual-purpose chickens include Black Australorp, its friendly, a great egg layer, and a great mother. They are protective of the flock. Speckled Sussex, which is beautiful and nice, protective as well. Rhode Island red, great layer and meat, they get up to 8 pounds. There are many resources to find the best meat birds online, so you can pick your favorite chicken to raise and eat. Exhibition/ Show Poultry The poultry show is a small piece of a livestock show, which involves an exhibition and competition of the chickens. Chickens are trained for these shows and they are cleaned very well and given manicures too. The chicken breeders are highlighted at the shows as well. It’s a display of beautiful birds. Related Article - Poultry Farming Guide and Information Bantam What are Bantam chicken breeds? They are a little smaller than other birds and they’re great for small backyards. They are very adorable birds. They are little versions of Brahma chicken. They lay eggs as well, but they do not produce that many eggs per year. They don’t eat much though and their eggs are smaller, but they still taste the same. Now that you know more about breeds of chickens, I’ll provide a list of the breeds of chickens that we have.

The A-Z of Chicken Breeds - Choosing the Perfect One

Ameraucana Egg Laying:Excellent (5/wk)Egg Color:Light BluePrimary use:EggsCold Hardy:YesTemperament:Broody COMING SOON

American Game Egg Laying:Fair (2/wk)Egg Color:Whitish/CreamPrimary use:OrnamentalCold Hardy:YesTemperament:Hardy LEARN MORE

Ancona Egg Laying:Excellent (5/wk)Egg Color:WhitePrimary use:EggsCold Hardy:YesTemperament:Active LEARN MORE

Andalusian Egg Laying:Good (3/wk)Egg Color:WhitePrimary use:EggsCold Hardy:NoTemperament:Active, Gentle LEARN MORE

Appenzeller Spitzhauben Egg Laying:Good (3/wk)Egg Color:WhitePrimary use:EggsCold Hardy:Yes (in winter)Temperament:Forager COMING SOON

Araucana Egg Laying:Good (3/wk)Egg Color:BluePrimary use:Meat/EggsCold Hardy:YesTemperament:Flighty COMING SOON

Asil (Aseel) Egg Laying:Poor (1/wk)Egg Color:Cream or TintedPrimary use:OrnamentalCold Hardy:Yes (in winter)Temperament:Aggressive LEARN MORE

Australorp Egg Laying:Excellent (5/wk)Egg Color:BrownPrimary use:Meat/EggsCold Hardy:YesTemperament:Hardy, Docile COMING SOON

Ayam Cemani Egg Laying:Fair (2/wk)Egg Color:WhitePrimary use:OrnamentalCold Hardy:YesTemperament:Flighty LEARN MORE

Double-Laced Barnevelder Barnevelder Egg Laying:Good (3/wk)Egg Color:Light brownPrimary use:Meat/EggsCold Hardy:YesTemperament:Friendly, Active, Quiet, Lively LEARN MORE

Braekel Egg Laying:Very Good (4/wk)Egg Color:WhitePrimary use:EggsCold Hardy:YesTemperament:Active LEARN MORE

Brahma Egg Laying:Good (3/wk)Egg Color:BrownPrimary use:EggsCold Hardy:FriendlyTemperament:Yes LEARN MORE

Buckeye Egg Laying:Good (3/wk)Egg Color:BrownPrimary use:EggsCold Hardy:YesTemperament:Peaceful COMING SOON

California Gray Egg Laying:Excellent (5/wk)Egg Color:WhitePrimary use:Meat/EggsCold Hardy:YesTemperament:Quiet LEARN MORE

California White Egg Laying:Excellent (5/wk)Egg Color:WhitePrimary use:EggsCold Hardy:YesTemperament:Quiet COMING SOON

Campine Egg Laying:Good (3/wk)Egg Color:WhitePrimary use:EggsCold Hardy:YesTemperament:Active COMING SOON

Catalana Egg Laying:Very Good (4/wk)Egg Color:Pinkish CreamPrimary use:Meat/EggsCold Hardy:YesTemperament:Active COMING SOON

Chantecler Egg Laying:Very Good (4/wk)Egg Color:BrownPrimary use:Meat/EggsCold Hardy:YesTemperament:Gentle COMING SOON

Cochin Egg Laying:Good (3/wk)Egg Color:BrownPrimary use:OrnamentalCold Hardy:YesTemperament:Friendly, Calm, Quiet LEARN MORE

Cornish Egg Laying:Good (3/wk)Egg Color:BrownPrimary use:MeatCold Hardy:YesTemperament:Aggressive LEARN MORE

Cubalaya Egg Laying:Very Good (4/wk)Egg Color:Light brownPrimary use:Meat/EggsCold Hardy:Yes (in winter)Temperament:Forager COMING SOON

Derbyshire Redcap Egg Laying:Very Good (4/wk)Egg Color:WhitePrimary use:Meat/EggsCold Hardy:YesTemperament:Hardy COMING SOON

Dominique Egg Laying:Very Good (4/wk)Egg Color:BrownPrimary use:Meat/EggsCold Hardy:YesTemperament:Forager, Calm, Personable, Hardy COMING SOON

Dorking Egg Laying:Good (3/wk)Egg Color:WhitePrimary use:Meat/EggsCold Hardy:YesTemperament:Calm, Docile COMING SOON

Dutch Bantam Egg Laying:Good (3/wk)Egg Color:Light BrownPrimary use:EggsCold Hardy:NoTemperament:Friendly, Flighty COMING SOON

Easter Egger Egg Laying:Very Good (4/wk)Egg Color:Green/Blue/Pink/MultiPrimary use:EggsCold Hardy:YesTemperament:Peaceful COMING SOON

Faverolles Egg Laying:Very Good (4/wk)Egg Color:Light brown, PinkishPrimary use:OrnamentalCold Hardy:YesTemperament:Gentle, Docile COMING SOON

Fayoumi Egg Laying:Good (3/wk)Egg Color:Off-white, TintedPrimary use:EggsCold Hardy:NoTemperament:Flighty COMING SOON

Hamburg Egg Laying:Very Good (4/wk)Egg Color:WhitePrimary use:EggsCold Hardy:YesTemperament:Docile COMING SOON

Holland Egg Laying:Good (3/wk)Egg Color:WhitePrimary use:Meat/EggsCold Hardy:YesTemperament:Calm COMING SOON

Houdan Egg Laying:Good (3/wk)Egg Color:WhitePrimary use:Meat/EggsCold Hardy:NoTemperament:Sweet, Easily handled LEARN MORE

Iowa Blue Egg Laying:Good (3/wk)Egg Color:BrownPrimary use:Meat/EggsCold Hardy:-Temperament:Skittish COMING SOON

Ixworth Egg Laying:Very Good (4/wk)Egg Color:TintedPrimary use:Meat/EggsCold Hardy:-Temperament:Alert, Active COMING SOON

Jangmigye Egg Laying:Very Good (4/wk)Egg Color:Light BrownPrimary use:OrnamentalCold Hardy:-Temperament:Friendly, calm COMING SOON

Japanese Bantam Egg Laying:Fair (2/wk)Egg Color:Cream or tintedPrimary use:Exhibition /OrnamentalCold Hardy:NoTemperament:Hardy, Bit flighty LEARN MORE

Java Chicken Egg Laying:Good (3/wk)Egg Color:Cream or tintedPrimary use:Meat/EggsCold Hardy:YesTemperament:Hardy, Docile COMING SOON

Jersey Giant Egg Laying:Very Good (4/wk)Egg Color:BrownPrimary use:MeatCold Hardy:YesTemperament:Calm, Docile LEARN MORE

Kuroiler Egg Laying:Good (3/wk)Egg Color:BrownPrimary use:Meat/EggsCold Hardy:-Temperament:Friendly, Feed Continuously, Good Foragers COMING SOON

Lakenvelder Egg Laying:Good (3/wk)Egg Color:Tinted, WhitePrimary use:EggsCold Hardy:NoTemperament:Active, Quick COMING SOON

Lamona Egg Laying:Very Good (4/wk)Egg Color:WhitePrimary use:MeatCold Hardy:-Temperament:Friendly, Docile COMING SOON

Legbar Egg Laying:Very Good (4/wk)Egg Color:Light BluePrimary use:EggsCold Hardy:YesTemperament:Forager LEARN MORE

Leghorn Egg Laying:Very Good (4/wk)Egg Color:WhitePrimary use:EggsCold Hardy:NoTemperament:Nervous, Flighty LEARN MORE

Malay Egg Laying:Fair (2/wk)Egg Color:Light-brownPrimary use:MeatCold Hardy:-Temperament:Aggressive COMING SOON

Marans Egg Laying:Good (3/wk)Egg Color:Dark brownPrimary use:Meat/EggsCold Hardy:YesTemperament:Quiet, Docile LEARN MORE

Marsh Daisy Egg Laying:Good (3/wk)Egg Color:TintedPrimary use:EggsCold Hardy:YesTemperament:Calm, Active COMING SOON

Minorca Egg Laying:Very Good (4/wk)Egg Color:WhitePrimary use:OrnamentalCold Hardy:NoTemperament:Noisy, Flighty COMING SOON

Modern Game Egg Laying:Poor (1/wk)Egg Color:WhitePrimary use:OrnamentalCold Hardy:NoTemperament:Curious, Friendly COMING SOON

Naked Neck Egg Laying:Fair (2/wk)Egg Color:Light brownPrimary use:Meat/EggsCold Hardy:YesTemperament:Cold hardy COMING SOON Read the full article

[bliofficial]

Person Of Interest

A reminder to Battery City citizens living on the fringe to report any and all seen criminal activity out there in the zones. Those who provide details concerning wanted terrorists and their associates will be rewarded accordingly.

Person Of Interest. Potential link to core rebel groups. Potential information cell member :

Name and any known alias: Kookie Cutter - The BrainDead Witch - (Civil Name Unknown)

Gender: F/

D/O/B: Unknown. Reportedly born in March, between 1904 and 1991, though unlikely. - Estimated age: 35. 

Height: Approx. 160 cm.

Weight: Approx. 60 kg.

Ethnicity: White European origins. - Speaks English and French. (Possibly Welsh and/or Breton and/or Cornish).

Distinguishing features: Red hair (long), green eyes, large back tattoos, glasses.

Distinguishing dress: Yellow ray-gun. Yellow and black clothing. Black scarf with stars.

Known associates: Cactus Juice. Goldilocks. Lace Jester. 

Suspected associates: All desert food sellers. Potentially all desert residents, all zones. 

Last reported in all zones. (Transhumant)

All movements and customers to be reported in addendum file, and sent to analyst team. 

[horrorsleazetrash]

MURDERERS I HAVE KNOWN.

By Tom Leins

The first time I see Lucius Lamont he is wearing a nylon stalking mask and a pair of greasy jeans. There is a snail-trail of fresh semen down his right leg. At best, he looks like Tailgunner centrefold material on a particularly bad month. At worst, he looks like the kind of guy who advertises his services at the back of the magazine, and ends up handcuffing you to a radiator and stealing your wallet. Hell, what do I know? I only buy it for the fucking articles…

 My claw hammer craters the nylon when he opens the door, and I bundle him into the dingy hallway, away from the prying eyes of the other sheltered accommodation shit-bags. The sagging floorboards feel as soft as shit beneath my boots. I kick him down the dank passage and he moans like a fat hooker, curling into a foetal ball on the exposed wood.

 I don’t see the switchblade until it is wedged between my ribs, turning my sweaty t-shirt the colour of cheap lipstick. He laughs, but through the mangled bone and fabric it sounds like someone wanking into a verruca sock. Me? I don’t have too much to fucking laugh about…

 ***

 Four days earlier.

 The sky above the Dirty Lemon was the colour of diseased lungs. Fat clouds swirled above the pub, and the bronchial sky erupted as I pushed through the double-doors – bullets of rain thudding into the wheelchair ramp behind me.

 Remy Cornish was sat adjacent to the cigarette machine, perched awkwardly on his mid-range mobility scooter. He chose the meeting place – the only pub in Paignton with a ramp – but it was no hardship on my part – I was coming here anyway…

 I ordered a pint of Kronenbourg from Spacey Tracey and sat down opposite Remy. A thick, pissy stench hung in the air above him, and even the pub’s cigarette fug couldn’t mask it. Presumably showering has been a problem since Franco Moretti took his fucking kneecaps…

 He made half-hearted speech-marks in the air with his sausage-like fingers as he told me that his “niece” Claudette was missing. Wanted me to find her. He passed me a photograph. It was a typical small-town glamour shot: badly lit and barely legal. She was a toothy brunette with small, uneven breasts. She didn’t so much have blowjob lips as gob-job gums. I felt my cock twitch, took Remy’s money and finished my pint. In that order.

 ***

I didn’t find Remy’s “niece” – the harbour master did. Wedged behind a dumpster that was overflowing with fish guts. The Herald Express nicknamed the killer ‘The Cartographer’, because he carefully wrapped each one of his victims’ bodies in old maps. Claudette was the fourth victim. She even looked pretty in the autopsy photo. No tattoos. No piercings. No life in her dead eyes. She had been wrapped in a map of Paignton; her spine was very slightly curved – just like Hyde Road.

I tried to give Remy his money back, but he decided to renegotiate our contract instead. Find the motherfucker responsible and deliver him to his portakabin up at Paignton Yards. His bloodshot eyes were so red-raw that they look like flesh-wounds. I nodded and slipped the money back into my jacket pocket. An honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay.

***

The lead landed in my lap – like a cracked-out lap-dancer...

I met David Cummings outside Foxy Booze. He was wearing a denim jacket with a sheepskin collar. He had the word ‘Mum’ tattooed across his throat. It looked new. And infected.

He chuckled when he saw me.

“I heard you died.”

“You look disappointed.”

He laughed even louder.

He smoked two high-tar cigarettes in quick succession as he spilled the beans. Said he was in the cop-shop being processed for affray – he had been caught on CCTV beating a man with the metal bar from a dumbbell – when he heard the story.

While he was in the holding tank a guy named Lucius Lamont was cut loose due to a lack of evidence. The desk sergeants – Benson and Hedges – had been drinking brandy, and blabbed to Cummings that the skinny prick re-lacing his shoes in the police station lobby was the fucking Cartographer.  

***

When I rip off the nylon mask, I see that Lucius has grey hair shaved to stubble and a few pubic-looking beard hairs along his crooked jaw. He is skinny like a stray dog, and it is hard to believe that he is responsible for those strangled, mangled bodies.

He glares at me through his left eye – his crumpled right eye socket is already matted with black blood. He grins nastily, as I probe the knife-wound in my gut.

“You’re so full of doubt I can fucking smell it,” he lisps.

I shrug. The only thing I can smell is the wet stink of shit and blood.

“Is there another girl in the house?”

He shrugs.

“If you move I will kill you, you know that, don’t you?”

He shrugs again.

“I’m not afraid. Death is something that happens to other people.”

I trudge out of the room, checking the rest of the house as quickly as possible. Inside the third room I try is a teenage girl. She has been handcuffed to the rusty looking iron headboard. A stack of mouldy looking ordinance survey maps have been stacked neatly on the bedside table next to her.

She screams silently when she sees me, eyes pleading. Her left eye-socket has been broken and a single bloody tear slides down her badly bruised cheek.

I place my blood-soaked hammer on the floor and hold my hands up, trying to make myself look as unthreatening as possible.

I rip the parcel tape off her mouth, and remove the stained Y-fronts that have been wedged inside her mouth.

“Wh-wh-who are you?”

I consider answering, but grunt instead. Then I turn sharply and stomp back towards the lounge.

Lamont has replaced the nylon mask, but removed his filthy jeans. He is slumped against the wall, trying to masturbate with bloody fingers.

I weigh the gore-streaked hammer in my left hand, holding my pulsing guts in with my right. I swap hands and the hammer feels blood-slick.  

I raise it above my head, hoping that I don’t kill him – mainly because Remy will want his fucking money back…

He looks up at me curiously, but doesn’t bother to stop playing with himself.

Crunch.

Fuck it.

Death is something that happens to other people…

THE END.

 Biography:

Tom Leins is a disgraced ex-film critic from Paignton, UK. His short stories have been published by the likes of Near to the Knuckle, Akashic Books, Shotgun Honey, Flash Fiction Offensive, Horror Sleaze Trash and Spelk Fiction. He has published two novelettes, Skull Meat and Snuff Racket, and one short story collection, Meat Bubbles & Other Stories (Near To The Knuckle). His new book, Repetition Kills You (All Due Respect), will be out in September 2018.

https://thingstodoindevonwhenyouredead.wordpress.com/ Facebook . Instagram . Twitter . Patreon . HST Merch!

[ecotone99]

[RF] Chapter One - Fear and Liberation

Chapter One - Fear and Liberation

​

On my sixteenth birthday I moved out and was put up in a B&B by social services, in an old Victorian building next to a railway bridge. That's where I spent the next two weeks, alone in my small room with a selection of my favourite foods bought with shopping vouchers from my best friend's mum, and one communal bathroom with a precarious lock I didn't trust. When I went, I had to sit with both of my legs to the side pressing against the door.

​

The first step into that unfamiliar room, more than ten miles away from the town I grew up in, brought an extreme fusion of terror and freedom. I was frightened, because I was alone with no idea what was to come, and too young to make big decisions and face the adult world and my independence. But free, because I was outside the reach of tyrannical adult rulership, technically able to do whatever I wanted. I remember thinking, "I'M FREE!"

​

I freaked out whenever I heard a knock on the door. My uncle, who persuaded me to leave home in the first place, warned me of the dangers I might face in the social housing systems. Even though I'd already been through so much, I was naive and full of childish hopes, but in the back of my mind somewhere I was vigilant to the darkness of existence. Everyone in the building looked shady. I kept myself to myself.

​

I spent the first two days exploiting my newfound freedom, on my Nintendo DS, sending funny faces to my friend across the Wi-Fi, eating cheese toastie bagels with tomato ketchup, designing games from the paper and card I'd bought from Poundland and playing them on my own, and watching my Doctor Who DVDs on the small TV above my bed.

​

The next day my youth worker Kezia came to visit. She rocked up in her cute little car wearing those laced heels, I don't know what they're called. She had her shiny black hair in a ponytail, and pink rosy hamster cheeks and mousy lips with tiny teeth. I adored her in ways you can imagine a sixteen-year-old boy would.

​

She drove us to a coffee shop in town and we discussed my situation over a social-services-paid lunch (i). So far, I'd been living off an emergency payment by the government, she told me. I didn't really understand it that well. I was just pleased I somehow had more money to spend than I'd ever done. Though admittedly I wasn't buying any "toys".

​

Apparently, I wasn't guaranteed any money yet; I needed to go to the Job Centre and apply for something called Income Support and Housing Benefit. That's the only way I'd be able to live in accommodation long-term.

​

We chatted for a bit. I told her I was worried about what was going to happen with money and if I was going to be able to live anywhere. She reassured me that as long as we did all the things she said we needed to do, everything would be alright. But I was annoyed, because to me the process seemed so cold and heartless; at the end of the day, I was a kid with nowhere to go. The fact that I had to go through any process at all seemed crazy to me.

​

When we were done talking, we took a trip across town to the Job Centre and picked up a couple of forms, then went back to the car to head to what would be my new place, just as soon as everything went through, as Kezia told me it would. I was going to start the form in the car but before I even put pen to paper Kezia told me we were already there, and I was nervous.

​

The house was at the top of a steep hill, at the end of a secluded road. It was another Victorian-style building, but with unpainted grey stone and a lot bigger. As we traversed up the long hedge-lined driveway towards the big red door, I couldn't help get the creeps. It looked like some kind of haunted mansion, and with the trees around it in the middle of nowhere, it kind of felt like it.

​

The fact that it was social housing with six rooms, a communal living room and kitchen, and two communal bathrooms, didn't really sum it up.

​

We buzzed the Office button on the side panel next to the big red door. "Come in." A high-pitched voice replied. I tried pushing the door but it wouldn't open, so we buzzed again. "Sorry, the door mechanism sometimes gets jammed, we're having it fixed soon. I'll come down and let you in."

​

An old-ish woman ballooning at the thighs opens the door. "Heya. Miserable weather isn't it?" (It had been grey all day). As I stepped into the tiled hallway I felt empty. I wasn't sure whether that was me or the house. "I'm Karen. Nice to meet you Luke." She said, waddling us up the stairs and then through a door which seemed to lead up to the attic and into an office. We all sat down.

​

"Hello Luke. I understand you've come from a difficult situation and you're looking for a place to stay."

"Yeah." I didn't know how to feel about this whole thing. Is this really the place where I'd be living for the next year/ foreseeable future? "This is a new housing project. Currently there are no residents. There are six empty rooms, so all of you who are moving in will be new to this experience."

"That's something you were worried about, isn't it Luke?" Kezia turned to me. I nodded unconfidently. "Have you sorted out the housing benefit stuff yet?" The woman asked my youth worker as though I wasn't there. "Yeah we went down there today didn't we?" I nodded feebly again.

​

Karen told me some basic stuff about the accommodation and what my living situation would be like, by going through this wad of paper which she called a Tenancy Agreement. All of these words meant nothing to me. I was either living there or I wasn't. I don't know why I had to sign a piece of paper to make it official.

​

Memorable information from the Tenancy Agreement includes: almost nothing, except:

. Staff in the office every weekday from nine to five, available to chat and talk through problems.

. No curfew - can go and come back as I please.

. Guests must be signed in, and for no more than two days a week.

. Security take over from staff and don't leave until staff get back the next day.

​

This one interested me. I already didn't feel safe, especially how my uncle had hyped me up for some kind of life or death confrontation with someone who might want to steal my money. So, hearing there would be security made me feel a bit better. I didn't know at this point what I was up against. I'd been through many fights in school and wasn't confident or keen to go back to doing it. Especially since my last fight involved me getting repeatedly punched in the face with zero retaliation. Ever since that I had been humble.

​

But hearing there was security, it was like being in the presence of a teacher in the playground; you know the bullies can't harm you as long as they're around. At least, that's the way I hoped it would be.

​

I left with squids in my stomach; half excited, half terrified, and feeling slightly sick, dreading a little having to go back to my B&B room and spend the rest of the day on my own without Kezia. As she drove us back down the hill, I managed to persuade her to let me fill in the Job Centre forms in her car while she parked in town.

​

I scribbled through it quickly and she helped me with some of the questions. I ran through town and handed it in at the JC, then she drove me home. "Let's arrange another meeting. How about next Tuesday?" She said. I agreed, but secretly wished I'd see her sooner, and then sooner again. She was the only source of stability I had. "And Luke," I turned awkwardly towards her car, "Make sure you shower!"

"Yeah yeah." I said condescendingly, skipping back into the B&B like a div.

I know for a fact I hadn't showered in a week, at least.

​

I went to the supermarket twice that evening just as something to do and get my mind off being alone in the B&B, it was hard to sleep with all my anxieties swirling around my mushy head. I was floating in the ocean of uncertainty, as I had done for most of my life. But this time I was truly alone. One worry in particular kept circling: what will my housemates be like? Will they be as brutal as my uncle said they would be? Or will they be nice? I am nice, aren't I? Would I be able to make friends? Find a girlfriend, maybe?

​

The next morning I woke up dramatically, as though I had been pummelled in the chest with a bag of bricks. A bag of lead bricks. I felt the emptiness from yesterday creeping through the front door of the B&B, spreading its unwanted talons across the walls of my subconscious, attempting to trap me inside myself, inside the prison of panic I'd become accustomed to.

​

I couldn't spend another day cooped up in this B&B. I felt not-well, scummy, like I was deteriorating fast. I needed to do something, before this feeling swallowed me up completely. I got in the shower.

​

I spent fifteen minutes in the hot water and steam and decided to go on a long walk, explore the local area.

​

I had heard there was a beach about a mile away, which was one possible destination. The weather was grey again, but it didn't look as though it was going to rain. So that was something. Though, I'm not one of those people who is uppity about having ice creams on a cold day (ii).

​

Before I went out officially for the walk, I wanted to get some milk for my Cheerios (iii) and also maybe a packed lunch. So I put on some clean clothes and donned my blue rucksack, opened the door and set off down this road that was still alien to me.

​

It was strange. As I stepped out into the pavement, my anxieties lifted. Cars that scooted past me on the narrow road seemed friendly. The silver linings in the grey sky shone. The Cornish seagulls cawed in the distance. The coastal air filled my lungs. I had this feeling like New Beginnings. I could almost hear Rose's Theme in my head from Doctor Who. I was my own person in the big world, free from my tyrannical mother, with my whole life ahead of me.

​

I almost skipped to the supermarket. And I probably did.

​

​

​

​

​

Footnotes

(i) She told me she got a budget of about £5 for lunches and drinks. I am led to believe this has since been completely abolished due to Conservative government cuts and Brexit. Also youth workers are no longer part of social services.

(ii) This was before I found out that cold foods actually make you cold.

(iii) I liked to start the day with some calorie-rich cereal. I'd usually have two bowls. Sometimes it was Wheetos, sometimes it was Cheerios. It depends on how hung up I was about my health at the time (Wheetos being the sugary, unhealthier option I would avoid. They were also expensive).

submitted by /u/PuerEternus [link] [comments] via Blogger https://ift.tt/2Bds1jN

[josephkitchen0]

Understanding Sex-Link Chickens Today

By Doug Ottinger – Did you know that even if you have only purebred birds in your flock, they might be sex-links? Wait, don’t panic! Your birds are still purebred! The hatchery did not pull a “fast one” and sell you some sort of “Franken-chicken,” or a half-breed posing as a purebred. The terms “sex-link” and “sex-linkage” are often misunderstood, and sometimes have unnecessarily bad connotations to poultry keepers.

In the purest sense of the term, a sex-linked trait is simply one that is carried on a gene attached, or linked, to either the male or the female sex chromosome. Hence the term, “sex-link.” Sex-link chickens are the result of crossing birds, which have certain sex-linked traits so that the offspring can be differentiated sexually at time of hatching. In the case of chickens and other birds, these are traits that are carried on the male or Z chromosome. The female chromosome in birds, the W chromosome, is very small and has genes attached, but even after one hundred-plus years of intensive genetic research in poultry, we still have very little comprehensive knowledge about its workings or what traits the attached genes possess.

Our best chicken secrets revealed with this FREE guide!

Even old pros say they got dozens of tips for their flocks by reading this guide. YES! I want this Free Guide »

In birds, males have two Z sex chromosomes, and females have one Z and one W sex chromosome. Probably the best-known sex-linked trait in poultry is black and white barring of the feathers, as is found in the Barred Rock and Dominique chicken breeds. Barring is a dominant trait, carried by a gene on the male, or Z sex chromosome. Being dominant, only one gene is necessary to give the trait to the next generation. If a hen with barred feathers is mated with a red-colored rooster, such as a Rhode Island Red or New Hampshire Red, the male offspring will be barred, and the females will be a black color with a few blotches of red, when mature. These females are known by such trade names as Black Stars and Black Sex-Links and are generally very good laying hens. Immediately after hatching the males and females can be separated because of how they look. The cockerels will be black with a large yellow spot on the head. Their legs will also be yellow in color. The pullets will be all black, with dark coloring on the legs and beak. There are numerous sex-linked traits used in the poultry industry today so the chicks are easy to sex at hatching.

Barred hens and red roosters are one possibility to get sex-link offspring.

Another set of sex-linked traits are the plumage colors silver and gold. In the simplest of terms, silver is a genetic form of white, or white with (usually) some black pattern on it, that is carried on the male sex-chromosome. It is dominant to the gold plumage color. Examples of silver breeds include Delawares, Silver-Laced Wyandottes, Light Sussex, and Rhode Island Whites. Examples of gold breeds include Rhode Island Reds, New Hampshire Reds, many of the buff-colored breeds, and Brown Leghorns. Older information from 50 to 80 years ago mentions White Rocks as also having sex-linked silver plumage. These strains of White Rocks are hard to find and are almost non-existent today.

Silver hens crossed with gold roosters produce male chicks that are lighter yellow in color and female chicks that are a darker yellow, or light brown. These types of crosses are very popular for egg-laying strains. They are generally good layers with calm dispositions. Trade names include Cinnamon Queens, Red Stars, Sil-Go-Links, and Golden Comets. The female offspring have red feathers at maturity, and the males have silver or white feathers.

How about heritage chicken breeds that are also sex-links? Wow! Does that ever sound like an oxymoron! How can a purebred heritage breed also be a sex-link? Most often, we think of a sex-link as the result of breeding two separate breeds, that result in offspring that can be differentiated by color, at time of hatching.

However, there is one sex-linked trait, slow feathering, which is dominant and carried on the Z chromosome, that can be used in breeding even purebred and heritage chicken breeds, and will allow sex differentiation in the new hatchlings. The terms slow feathering and rapid feathering have more to do with how the chicks look at hatching, than long-term development (there will be some slight differences in speed of feather development, but not usually a great amount).

28-day-old black sex-link female, showing dark down and developing plumage, and dark shanks.

28-day-old black sex-link male, showing light patch on head, yellow shanks and barred feathers.

For many years, vent sexing was the industry standard for determining the sex of most newly hatched, purebred chicks. Chick sexers who were trained, and had very sharp eyesight, were in demand. They could differentiate chicks by extremely slight differences in the small, dermal papilla of the vent. A good sexer could determine the sex of the chicks at a surprisingly fast pace, and with about 95 percent accuracy. It was a field that was in demand and the sexers often worked on contract, with one or more hatcheries, rotating between hatcheries on hatch days. Today vent sexing has become an all but lost art, and hatcheries have had to develop other ways to determine the sexes of the newly hatched babies.

Some poultry breeds are known to hatch with a well-developed start to the primary feathers on the tips of the wings. This trait is known as rapid feathering. Other breeds are known to hatch with primaries that are not as well-developed. This trait is known as slow feathering. It was correctly determined, many years ago, that these traits were sex-linked and carried on the male or Z chromosome. It was also noticed, that even within the breeds, there was a fair amount of differentiation in primary feather development at the time of hatching. Experiments and reciprocal crosses showed that these variations were also sex-linked. They found that when they crossed a slow feathered female with a rapid-feathered male, the female chicks hatched with rapid feathering and the male chicks hatched with slow feathering. The chicks could be immediately sexed after hatching, with a high degree of accuracy.

Poultry folks began finding out that they could develop both rapid-feathering lines, as well as slow-feathering lines of the same breeds, without sacrificing breed standards. Fast forward to where we are today. According to Jeff Smith from Cackle Hatchery and Tony Halstad from Hoover’s Hatchery, the hatchery industry today sexes almost all its main breeds, as well as heritage chicken breeds, by this method. Hatcheries and breeders keep both slow feather and rapid feather strains of the same breeds going and cross-breed these to get baby chicks that can be feather or wing sexed at time of hatching. This method is also used for many hybrid sex-link crosses, including Cornish Cross chickens, various strains of multi-colored, slower growing meat birds, and strains of laying chickens that are not sexed by color.

Since this trait is sexed-linked and is used in the breeding of pure and heritage breeds, the resulting purebred offspring, in the truest sense of the term, are also sex-links! Now the riddle is solved how pure breed birds can also be sex-links!

There are other numerous sex-linked traits that can be used for breeding and sex determination in fowl. The wild-type pattern — those baby birds that have the little chipmunk stripes on their back — is one of these. Color patterns of many breeds are sex-linked, or partially sex-linked, and are far too numerous to mention here. Even brown eye color in chickens is because of a gene on the Z chromosome!

Whether you raise purebred birds or just have some little mixed-breeds as backyard pets, your birds probably have sex-linked genes somewhere in their genome or genetic make-up. No matter what group they fall into, chickens are truly fascinating little creatures. What sex-linked oddities interest you?

Understanding Sex-Link Chickens Today was originally posted by All About Chickens

[memoistore]

Abbie Cornish In Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini – 2018 SAG Awards

Abbie Cornish hit the red carpet at the 2018 SAG Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday (January 21).

The ‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’ actress wore a lovely Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini gown with black sandals and a black and gold clutch.

I am loving how unique this gown is. It’s not often you see white lace with so many various techniques happening all at once, but the ruffling, the stripes and the pleating in the lace all play in to each other beautiful, rather than competing for attention. Being a hybrid between a buckle and a bow, the black detailing is striking without being precious.

We’re clearly seeing a trend of stars leaving their hair down on the red carpet, and I love this easygoing, wavy blowout. Her simple makeup is just enough with the silver pop on the eyelids.

Credit: Getty

from Red Carpet Fashion Awards http://ift.tt/2Dv9nVb via IFTTT

[birdgenetics]

The Pattern Gene on Wheaten

Pg (pattern gene) can also create patterns on the e^Wh (wheaten) base, and while these patterns aren't widespread, they are common in Cornish.

It is interesting to me that while it is the lightest e base wheaten produces some of the darkest patterns, while E^R creates patterns with the least amount of black. This is only possible due to the melanizing affect of charcoal (cha).

The Cornish wheaten version of double laced is known as "Dark." The dark genotype is e^Wh/e^WhMl/Mlcha/chaMl/MlMh/Mh. They may have some additional genes that make them darker.

I got this photo from Countryfile.com

Laced Cornish

Laced in Cornish has black or diluted tails. I have recently discovered their necks can and should be laced as well but it seems to be more common that they are solid in color.

I haven't seen any black laced red Cornish, only blue laced red, or like in this picture, white laced red. The existance of blue laced red implies black laced red and splash laced red exist (and some splash laced red are probably exhibited as white laced red) but I digress.

All I have a picture of is the white laced red so I will stick to that. ("I" represents dominant white)

e^Wh/e^WhPg/Pgcha/chaMl/MlCo/CoMh/MhI/I

[josephkitchen0]

How to Choose Chicks for Your Flock

Is it time for you to choose chicks to add to your flock? Maybe you are going to choose chicks based on egg laying, or breed characteristics. Perhaps you are looking to increase one particular breed in your flock. When you get to the feed store, how do you make a decision on which chicks from the bin, should go home with you. What breeds will serve your purpose? And, what if you choose a rooster.

There are some important considerations when choosing chicks from the bin. Before heading out, know how many chickens your coop and yard can support. Be aware of the local laws on chicken keeping and the number you can legally keep. Some breeds grow larger than other breeds. Larger hens are obviously going to take up more space in the coop! Even though the weak little chick sitting in the brooder may look like it needs saving, try to choose the healthier looking, active chicks. It’s a sad fact that not all who hatch will grow into chickens. 

  The Purpose of the Chicken 

Chickens serve more than one purpose on a farm or homestead. They are kept for fresh eggs and for meat. When you choose chicks, keep in mind your purpose. Many egg laying breeds are available in most feed stores and garden centers. Popular egg laying breeds include, Buff Orpington, Silver Laced Wyandotte, Rhode Island Red, New Hampshire, Barred Rock, Speckled Sussex, Ameraucanas, Welsummers, Leghorns, and Australorps.  

Meat breeds include Cornish Cross and Freedom Rangers. These breeds gain weight quickly and within ten weeks you are ready to butcher. 

Dual purpose breeds can be kept for both egg laying and meat purpose. These breeds are often heavy weight, large breed chickens. Some choose chicks from the following breeds when looking for dual purpose chickens: Brahmas, Buckeye, Jersey Giant, White Rock, and Delaware. 

Sometimes people choose chicks based on appearance. Chickens are enjoyable to watch. Fancy breeds are sought by people who are interested in showing chickens, breeding, and just because. Who can resist a fluffy silky, a comical Polish, or the rare Olandsk Dwarf.  There are so many beautiful breeds to choose chicks from and that is before we even consider the wide range of bantam breeds available.

How to Choose Your Chicks at the Store

When you begin looking in the brooder bins of chicks at the store, it can be somewhat overwhelming at first. They all initially look alike! But watch them for a few minutes and you will see some differences. Look for chicks that are easily and frequently moving to the food and water areas. The chicks that are not finding water and food may just need a bit more time or they could be sleepy. All chicks wake up at different times after hatching. The chicks that are freely moving around the brooder are you best bets at this point. 

Some stores won’t allow the chicks to be handled for safety and sanitation reasons. If you can hold the chicks, do a quick tip to toe health scan on the chick before choosing it for your flock. Look for the following traits:

Clear eyes

Straight beak, not twisted or crossed

Dry and fluffy downy feathers

Legs are straight and strong, feet are symetrical and the chick can stand easily

Vent area is clear of droppings. Chicks commonly get a day or two of clogged vent from sticky droppings. The vent area should be cleaned with a warm wet cloth to soften and carefully remove the clot of droppings. As long as the chick looks otherwise healthy, this isn’t a reason to leave a chick behind. 

Pecking order starts young. Don’t be overly concerned if one seems to be a little bully. Wait ten minutes and it might be a different chick doing the same behavior.

Can You Rely on Vent Sexing and Wing Sexing?

Hatcheries rely on trained employees examining the chicks and determining if they are pullet or cockerel. Although some people are quite good at this, the margin for error is still present. Most hatcheries will give between 90 and 100% accuracy. Although you may order and pay extra for a batch of pullets, receiving a rooster can happen. 

Choose Chicks Based on Egg Color

White egg laying chickens include over 20 different breeds. The most popular or commonly available breeds are 

White and Brown Leghorn, California White, Ancona and Blue Andalusion. 

Brown egg laying breeds include, Rhode Island Red, New Hampshire, Red and Black Sex Links, Barred Rock, Partridge Rock, Orpingtons, Wyandottes, and the production hybrid breeds.

Heritage Breed Chicks vs. Hybrid Breeds 

Heritage breeds, hybrid breeds, Bantams, Dwarf, what do all these terms mean to you when you choose chicks for your flock?

Heritage breeds are purebred chickens of a specific breed. The heritage breeds must adhere to the American Poultry Association standards with a traceable genetic lineage. The chickens must be from naturally fertilized, heritage breed eggs. These breeds are slower maturing, and true to breed standards as stated in the American Poultry Association.

Adding Bantams to the Flock 

Bantam chickens are popular with many people. The Livestock Conservancy defines Bantam chickens this way, “Most bantams are scaled down models of large fowl and were developed for the pleasure of show”. The Bantams may be smaller but the eggs are still delicious. Use an extra egg for every two eggs called for in a recipe. Many chicken keepers with smaller properties appreciate the small sized Bantams. They don’t need as large a chicken coop and they are extremely beautiful birds, just like the full size chickens. 

Most of the time, adding a few bantams to a large sized flock will go smoothly. If you see pecking order issues, you may want to consider separating your Bantams from the larger chickens. In most cases, chicks of both sizes, raised together will do well. 

Hybrid Chicken Breeds 

Hybrid chicken breeds are a result of crossing two or more heritage breeds. Many of the breeds referred to as sex – link are hybrid breeds, created to be extremely good egg layers. These are the breeds many people will choose for high egg production.  Many of these breeds can be sexed at hatch because they are a certain color only found on one sex. 

What Methods Do You Use for Choosing Chicks?

Everyone is looking for their own special flock of chickens so it’s a good idea to choose chicks that will work for your purpose. Egg laying rate and temperament differ from breed to breed and chicken to chicken. A little research into the breeds before heading to the store can make the decisions easier.

                  How to Choose Chicks for Your Flock was originally posted by All About Chickens

[josephkitchen0]

Understanding Sex-Link Chickens Today

By Doug Ottinger – Did you know that even if you have only purebred birds in your flock, they might be sex-links? Wait, don’t panic! Your birds are still purebred!  The hatchery did not pull a “fast one” and sell you some sort of “Franken-chicken”, or a half-breed posing as a purebred. The terms “sex-link” and “sex-linkage” are often misunderstood, and sometimes have unnecessarily bad connotations to poultry keepers.

In the purest sense of the term, a sex-linked trait is simply one that is carried on a gene attached, or linked, to either the male or the female sex chromosome. Hence the term, “sex-link.” Sex-link chickens are the result of crossing birds, which have certain sex-linked traits so that the offspring can be differentiated sexually at time of hatching. In the case of chickens and other birds, these are traits which are carried on the male or Z chromosome. The female chromosome in birds, the W chromosome, is very small and has genes attached, but even after one hundred-plus years of intensive genetic research in poultry, we still have very little comprehensive knowledge about its workings or what traits the attached genes possess.

In birds, males have two Z sex chromosomes, and females have one Z and one W sex chromosome. Probably the best-known sex-linked trait in poultry is black and white barring of the feathers, as is found in the Barred Rock and Dominique breeds. Barring is a dominant trait, carried by a gene on the male, or Z sex chromosome. Being dominant, only one gene is necessary to give the trait to the next generation. If a hen with barred feathers is mated with a red-colored rooster, such as a Rhode Island Red or New Hampshire Red, the male offspring will be barred, and the females will be a black color with a few blotches of red, when mature. These females are known by such trade names as Black Stars and Black Sex-Links and are generally very good laying hens.  Immediately after hatching the males and females can be separated because of how they look. The cockerels will be black with a large yellow spot on the head. Their legs will also be yellow in color. The pullets will be all black, with dark coloring on the legs and beak. There are numerous sex-linked traits used in the poultry industry today so the chicks are easy to sex at hatching.

Barred hens and red roosters are one possibility to get sex-link offspring.

Another set of sex-linked traits are the plumage colors silver and gold. In the simplest of terms, silver is a genetic form of white, or white with (usually) some black pattern on it, that is carried on the male sex-chromosome. It is dominant to the gold plumage color. Examples of silver breeds include Delawares, Silver-Laced Wyandottes, Light Sussex, and Rhode Island Whites. Examples of gold breeds include Rhode Island Reds, New Hampshire Reds, many of the buff-colored breeds, and Brown Leghorns. Older information from fifty to eighty years ago mentions White Rocks as also having sex-linked silver plumage. These strains of White Rock are hard to find and are almost non-existent today.

Silver hens crossed with gold roosters produce male chicks that are lighter yellow in color and female chicks that are a darker yellow, or light brown. These types of crosses are very popular for egg laying strains. They are generally good layers with calm dispositions. Trade names include Cinnamon Queens, Red Stars, Sil-Go-Links, and Golden Comets. The female offspring have red feathers at maturity, and the males have silver or white feathers.

How about heritage chicken breeds that are also sex-links? Wow! Does that ever sound like an oxymoron! How can a purebred heritage breed also be a sex-link? Most often, we think of a sex-link as the result of breeding two separate breeds, that result in offspring that can be differentiated by color, at time of hatching.

However, there is one sex-linked trait, slow feathering, which is dominant and carried on the Z chromosome, that can be used in breeding even purebred and heritage chicken breeds, and will allow sex differentiation in the new hatchlings. The terms slow feathering and rapid feathering have more to do with how the chicks look at hatching, than long-term development (there will be some slight differences in speed of feather development, but not usually a great amount).

28-day-old black sex-link female, showing dark down and developing plumage, and dark shanks.

28-day-old black sex-link male, showing light patch on head, yellow shanks and barred feathers.

For many years, vent sexing was the industry standard for determining the sex of most newly hatched, purebred chicks. Chick sexers who were trained, and had very sharp eyesight, were in demand. They could differentiate chicks by extremely slight differences in the small, dermal papilla of the vent. A good sexer could determine the sex of the chicks at a surprisingly fast pace, and with about ninety-five percent accuracy. It was a field that was in demand and the sexers often worked on contract, with one or more hatcheries, rotating between hatcheries on hatch days. Today vent sexing has become an all but lost art, and hatcheries have had to develop other ways to determine the sexes of the newly-hatched babies.

Some poultry breeds are known to hatch with a well-developed start to the primary feathers on the tips of the wings. This trait is known as rapid feathering. Other breeds are known to hatch with primaries that are not as well-developed. This trait is known as slow feathering. It was correctly determined, many years ago, that these traits were sex-linked and carried on the male or Z chromosome. It was also noticed, that even within the breeds, there was a fair amount of differentiation in primary feather development at the time of hatching. Experiments and reciprocal crosses showed that these variations were also sex-linked. They found that when they crossed a slow feathered female with a rapid-feathered male, the female chicks hatched with rapid feathering and the male chicks hatched with slow feathering.  The chicks could be immediately sexed after hatching, with a high degree of accuracy.

Poultry folks began finding out that they could develop both rapid-feathering lines, as well as slow-feathering lines of the same breeds, without sacrificing breed standards. Fast forward to where we are today. According to Jeff Smith from Cackle Hatchery and Tony Halstad from Hoover’s Hatchery, the hatchery industry today sexes almost all its main breeds, as well as heritage chicken breeds, by this method. Hatcheries and breeders keep both slow feather and rapid feather strains of the same breeds going and cross-breed these to get baby chicks that can be feather or wing sexed at time of hatching. This method is also used for many hybrid sex-link crosses, including Cornish Cross chickens, various strains of multi-colored, slower growing meat birds, and strains of laying chickens that are not sexed by color.

Since this trait is sexed-linked and is used in the breeding of pure and heritage breeds, the resulting purebred offspring, in the truest sense of the term, are also sex-links! Now the riddle is solved how pure breed birds can also be sex-links!

There are other numerous sex-linked traits that can be used for breeding and sex determination in fowl. The wild-type pattern — those baby birds that have the little chipmunk stripes on their back — is one of these. Color patterns of many breeds are sex-linked, or partially sex-linked, and are far too numerous to mention here. Even brown eye color in chickens is because of a gene on the Z chromosome!

Whether you raise purebred birds or just have some little mixed-breeds as backyard pets, your birds probably have sex-linked genes somewhere in their genome or genetic make-up. No matter what group they fall into, chickens are truly fascinating little creatures.

Understanding Sex-Link Chickens Today was originally posted by All About Chickens