Campine Chicken thread?

[Wisher1000]

I could work with that tail! I love the barring on the hen and the combs on both. All in all, wouldn't cull either of them from my flock (sarcasm applied.) Beautiful birds.

 

[lawatt]

I could work with that tail! I love the barring on the hen and the combs on both. All in all, wouldn't cull either of them from my flock (sarcasm applied.) Beautiful birds.

that tail + my boy's tail might be just about right! they're beautiful. reminding me i need to try to get better pictures of my two... (the extra girl is so not right, there's almost no point in taking photos!) -- but they'd never stand still politely in front of a backdrop sheet!

 

[Wisher1000]

You might be surprised! I tacked up a sheet in the workshop and put the roosters on the table in front of it. They were in a strange place and weren't really sure what to do and they did stand pretty well. The secret is to be ready as soon as you set them down there. Don't give them time to formulate a plan.

 

[lawatt]

You might be surprised! I tacked up a sheet in the workshop and put the roosters on the table in front of it. They were in a strange place and weren't really sure what to do and they did stand pretty well. The secret is to be ready as soon as you set them down there. Don't give them time to formulate a plan.

mine are not at all accustomed to being handled and freak out if i enter their pen, even with treats. i didn't start with the girls early enough, and Franklin the boy was brought up by a broody mom -- all three are deeply suspicious of me. i will try to do better with any hatchlings i get!

 

[Wisher1000]

Mine came from the breeder that way. Bat crap Crazy! The second day they were here, one of the hens was attacked by a dog and broke her leg. I put her in a dog crate and kept her in the garage. She would squawk and flop when I opened the wire door to feed and water her. That lasted a week. Then she would hobble to the back (it was a small crate.) Next, I noticed that she would just turn her head away. Finally, she started coming toward the door at feeding time and I got her to eat first out of the cup, and then out of my hand. Just before I returned her to the flock, she would trill (sort of a chicken purr) to me whenever I was in the garage. That took about two and a half months. Now, she will come to me to get treats when the others press themselves against the back wall of the coop.

The original SC flock I had, the ones that are responsible for my obsession, were raised by a broody. They never wanted to be held, but were constantly under my feet and would hop on my lap if I had some particularly yummy treats. They also kept a close watch on any projects I worked on in the yard or coop. All the other birds were off free ranging as soon as they were sure there were no treats to be had, but the SC were under my feet, perched on something at eye level, or looking into the tool bag. They were such little imps!

Don't give up on yours. If you bring them just a few really tempting treats, just enough for one to get if it is the first one to you, at the same time of the day, you will be surprised how fast they learn to run to you. Don't try to touch them, just talk to them and toss the treat close to you, with the goal of having them take the treats from your hand. I go into the coop after they go to roost and talk to them and stroke them on the breast if they are facing me and the tail if they are faced the other way. They are slowly getting better. If I have to catch them to care for them, they settle down pretty quickly.

 

[lawatt]

Mine came from the breeder that way. Bat crap Crazy! The second day they were here, one of the hens was attacked by a dog and broke her leg. I put her in a dog crate and kept her in the garage. She would squawk and flop when I opened the wire door to feed and water her. That lasted a week. Then she would hobble to the back (it was a small crate.) Next, I noticed that she would just turn her head away. Finally, she started coming toward the door at feeding time and I got her to eat first out of the cup, and then out of my hand. Just before I returned her to the flock, she would trill (sort of a chicken purr) to me whenever I was in the garage. That took about two and a half months. Now, she will come to me to get treats when the others press themselves against the back wall of the coop.

The original SC flock I had, the ones that are responsible for my obsession, were raised by a broody. They never wanted to be held, but were constantly under my feet and would hop on my lap if I had some particularly yummy treats. They also kept a close watch on any projects I worked on in the yard or coop. All the other birds were off free ranging as soon as they were sure there were no treats to be had, but the SC were under my feet, perched on something at eye level, or looking into the tool bag. They were such little imps!

Don't give up on yours. If you bring them just a few really tempting treats, just enough for one to get if it is the first one to you, at the same time of the day, you will be surprised how fast they learn to run to you. Don't try to touch them, just talk to them and toss the treat close to you, with the goal of having them take the treats from your hand. I go into the coop after they go to roost and talk to them and stroke them on the breast if they are facing me and the tail if they are faced the other way. They are slowly getting better. If I have to catch them to care for them, they settle down pretty quickly.

thanks for the encouragement! mine will come up near me if they're outside of the pen, i think they mostly don't like being confined -- wish i could let them free-range all day, but i live in a fairly wild place and i have the feeling they'd get gobbled up.

and here's a tail question: with what stance does one measure the tail angle? as i was just looking at my most recent photos again, and in one, Franklin's tail looks quite low, almost totally horizontal (while foraging), yet in another, it's way too high -- which is "really" his tail angle?

 

[Wisher1000]

Ah, good question. Poultry judges have debated this often. The most logical answer is the one most often held. In a show they are judged on how they are in the cage but that doesn't help the breeder for improving their line. Look for how they carry it the majority of the time.

 

[lawatt]

i will watch him more carefully next time they are out and about -- i've had a few extra predators visiting lately (fortunately when everyone's been safe in their pens), so free-ranging is on hiatus for a little while...

 

[campinechickens]

I haven't been online here for a while, and wow! the thread really took off! Great to see all the pictures and discussion going on.

I'm sorry to have to post this, but due to time constraints and finances... I need to sell my Chamois project. I have two hens and three cocks. They are all very nice. The hens are excellent layers of large white eggs. I have some older photos I'm posting here, but I'll get new pictures up within a couple days. I'll sell them for a low price, its more important to me that they go live with someone who has the time to work with them. Please PM me if you're interested. I'm located in Northern Nevada, USA.

 

[Drieslag]

Last weekend my staggered hatch number 2 delivered an extra chick! Huray.

However, it's quite white, I think. Any opinions?

In these pictures the chick is 2 days old.
Fourth picture is my campine chick from hatch nr one at 9 days old.