There are 3 types of Shamo: O-Shamo (largest), Chu-Shamo (medium), and Ko-Shamo (smallest). I have O-Shamo hens and an O-Shamo rooster. They are a lot of work because of their special housing needs, and because they are aggressive. I had one very aggressive hen that would attack me and other hens as soon as I stepped into the coup - I fixed that within a few months by picking her up every time she attacked, and holding her beak and body while I cleaned/fed the other chickens. I even had to put her in a separate enclosure at one point because she didn't get along with another hen. Roosters are often very aggressive and can be worked with the same way, but may take more time. Shamo roosters cannot be with other roosters because he'll try to kill any males around him - that's what they were bred for.
Shamos also have special housing needs because they are so lanky and have a fragile breast bone - the breast bone can easily be bent with a narrow perch. For this reason, they cannot perch like other poultry breeds. It is recommended that you house them separately so that they don't have the option to perch. By housing separate from other poultry, you are not only preventing bent breast bones from perching, but you are also preventing broken/hurt legs from jumping down from the perch (I've had that happen before), and aggressive behavior toward smaller chicken breeds. Shamos also need plenty of space to run around because they do not tolerate confinement well, and because they need lots of exercise while growing.
O-Shamos have special diets since they don't mature until they are 2 years old. Because of their large size, they must be fed a low-protein diet, so that their weight doesn't out-grow their slow bone development. If they get too heavy too quick, they won't be able to support their bodies since their bones are not made to carry that much weight until fully developed (around age 2). They should look skinny their first year.
With that being said, I love having O-Shamos around. Their personalities are very diverse and they strike me as one of the smartest breeds. They are also one of the most magnificent breeds. The males can stand over 2 feet tall (in the case of O-Shamos) and have a bird-of-prey look to them. If you decide to get one, make sure you find a legitimate and reputable breeder - there are a lot of mixed breeds that are claimed to be O-Shamo but are not.
Shamos also have special housing needs because they are so lanky and have a fragile breast bone - the breast bone can easily be bent with a narrow perch. For this reason, they cannot perch like other poultry breeds. It is recommended that you house them separately so that they don't have the option to perch. By housing separate from other poultry, you are not only preventing bent breast bones from perching, but you are also preventing broken/hurt legs from jumping down from the perch (I've had that happen before), and aggressive behavior toward smaller chicken breeds. Shamos also need plenty of space to run around because they do not tolerate confinement well, and because they need lots of exercise while growing.
O-Shamos have special diets since they don't mature until they are 2 years old. Because of their large size, they must be fed a low-protein diet, so that their weight doesn't out-grow their slow bone development. If they get too heavy too quick, they won't be able to support their bodies since their bones are not made to carry that much weight until fully developed (around age 2). They should look skinny their first year.
With that being said, I love having O-Shamos around. Their personalities are very diverse and they strike me as one of the smartest breeds. They are also one of the most magnificent breeds. The males can stand over 2 feet tall (in the case of O-Shamos) and have a bird-of-prey look to them. If you decide to get one, make sure you find a legitimate and reputable breeder - there are a lot of mixed breeds that are claimed to be O-Shamo but are not.
