Sumatra

I was given 5 chicks and ended up with 3 roos and possibly 2 hens.   I didn't spend a lot of time with the chicks, yet they are friendly and allow petting (when contained).  I don't think they're flighty as much as they are very much jungle fowl.  They like to roam and hunt for food, yet still come running when they know I have treats.  I've really enjoyed having them.  Once I narrow down the roo I want to keep I will be re homing the others.   I hope to raise a small flock.    They are territorial and make sure that the other chickens stay in their own fenced yards, though they have yet to hurt any of the other birds.  

 

The feathers are very colorful in the sunlight, despite being black.  beautiful birds.

 

The only thing I don't care for about the birds is that they won't stay in their yard and they dig up my flower beds.  If you wish to keep them contained, you must have a covered run and give them plenty of room.

I've raised Sumatras for several years. They are some of the most unique chickens I've raised. They are a lot of fun and very energetic birds. They can sometimes be aggressive especially toward new birds. The females were originally imported from the island of Sumatra in Indonesia for the purpose of crossing to other breeds to infuse aggressiveness for fighting birds. They are extremely adaptable and have no problems with the Michigan winters or the summers. (-20 to 100). They like free-range but if caged make sure they have room to run and roost. 

My Flo is a calm girl! shes not as flighty as some say the breed is.... a March hatchlingt, almost 9 mo. Stil no eggs! her mate was taken by a hawk prtecting his flock! i need a new boy!

Wonderful birds I got a pair for breeding and these birds are just wonderful. They look real nice if kept clean and the cocks have long sickle feathers. But hens in the breeding pen with the cocks can step on there sickle feathers and make them look ragedy. Also there feathers come out a little easier than most birds so dont try and grab them. Also when buying adult birds it will take some time for them to become tame for you because Sumatras are a little flighty.

 I got a Sumatra rooster a few years ago. He was the most handsomest and bravest rooster ever. Once a hawk swooped down to get his hens and he fought off the hawk talon to talon until it flew away. He never tried to chase me and he was always gentle with the girls. He chased off the other rooster sometimes, but that's normal. They didn't get in any major bloody fights or anything. He died protecting his flock from the dogs that attacked and he did save his favorite hen.

 

I then purchased three Sumatra chicks. I had them in with the other chicks I bought and they didn't do as well. So I'd reccomend keeping them with bantams. I did that and the remaning chick grew until she was laying age. I don't reccomend them for cold weather climates. I live in MN and even though I had the heat lamp on in the coop she got really cold and passed away sadly. She was very sweet and ever since she was a chick she would perch on your arm. She didn't mind behing held.

 

I highly reccomend this breed to anyone! If I didn't live in MN I would definatley raise a flock of these!

I love a challenge and Ive loved the fact they come bantam as well if i understood right . how can i aquire some of these fantastc wonders?

I always hand raise my chicks and make sure I'm around all the time so they imprint on me so that might be the reason my sumatras were so tame, but they were nothing like the temperaments described. My rooster would even sleep on my lap! Though they did have their wild side (my hen once flew 30 feet up into a tree), but in all fairness they didn't like other people and were even a bit aggressive towards the other chickens... Sadly, they were killed in a raccoon attack a few years ago.

Nice ornamental breed, very intelligent but not overly friendly to humans. My birds were poor layers but great foraging for food in the fields. Very flighty as well. As far as ornamentals go, I think there are prettier birds but the Sumatra is no slouch and they are pretty rare and that makes them interesting in it's self.

My black sumatra hen lays good and is a beautiful bird.