My realistic watercolor: Resting in the henhouse

Today's theme, although fairly simple, was all the more full of subtle, distinctive detail and texture. These lovely and useful inhabitants of the yard are now sitting peacefully in the coop, and have no desire to come out.
In the original photo I took of them back in the spring, they were sitting in a garden in the warm sunshine, but now they are in an old, but sturdy boarded up shed.
They're not just any birds - they have beautiful colourful plumage, and they're slightly smaller bodied, and very gentle.
We call them ornamental chickens, ornamental roosters, there are so many of them. Hens lay the same eggs, but maybe a little less. I would gladly accept them if I had a place to keep them, just need to secure them against foxes.

What I don't have now, I can at least paint, can create, can almost bring to life what I desire.

First see the finished watercolor.

Then see the step-by-step process.

I'm getting closer from the back, working out the planks first.
The base color is gold ochre and a little brown, on which I then draw textures with different colors. Then I loosen the contours with a little clean water.

I continue with the head of the rear rooster.

I work with the rooster plumage for at least an hour and a half. The colors are stunningly beautiful, it's hard to describe the texture!

Next comes the straw on which the birds sit.

I will continue with the red rooster and the black hen, their bodies first. Some of the straws are playfully extended.

I am still working on many details, including the birds' faces, pinkish "headdresses" and lobes.
I started it yesterday evening, worked on it for an hour, resumed at 3pm today and it's now 8pm! But I'm done!

Look at some details! I love them all!

My original photo: