The Heritage Rhode Island Red Site - Page 137

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYREDS 

Nice flat back & tail spread on that pullet. Be careful about too much time in full sun as the Red's feathers are easily sun damaged. In the summer months it's important that they be inan area that's primarily shaded.

Thanks for that information. That was something I didn't know.

On another breed, not trying to derail the thread, but as a side note; are the Dominiques the same? Do they need to be in a mainly shaded pen during the summer months too?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert Blosl 

Monnie: Where do you live in Missisippi? I see a Single Comb Male by your name. Looks nice what strain is he from? bob

I live in Yalobusha County, in the north central part of the state, live right in the middle of the county on top of a hill, oldest house in the county.  I'm about 30 miles from Oxford, MS, 80 miles from Memphis, TN.  My boy is a Don Nelson line.  And he is the only rooster on the farm. I have some eggs in the incubator from NYreds, suppose to hatch next week. I'm anticipating the hatch, but you know the saying, "don't count your chickens before they hatch."

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYREDS 

Nice flat back & tail spread on that pullet. Be careful about too much time in full sun as the Red's feathers are easily sun damaged. In the summer months it's important that they be inan area that's primarily shaded.

Hmm...  I've been wanting to get a heritage breed and had been considering Rhode Island Reds, but sun damage is an issue I hadn't considered.  It's easy to get sunburned even in the shade here.  Trees and natural shade are in short supply.  The coop/run has the most reliable shade in my yard, thanks to the magic of shadecloth.   I was hoping a heritage breed would be more free-range savvy than my production red "starter" chickens, and would be out of the coop/run more often, but if their feathers are easily damaged by the sun I'm going to have second thoughts about getting heritage Rhode Island Reds.    

Would Black Javas or heritage Barred Rocks do better in the sun, plumage-wise?  Or am I likely to have sun-related feather condition issues no matter what breed? 

Thanks for any advice you all can give me. 

Sarah

Quote:

Originally Posted by MagicChicken 

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYREDS 

Nice flat back & tail spread on that pullet. Be careful about too much time in full sun as the Red's feathers are easily sun damaged. In the summer months it's important that they be inan area that's primarily shaded.

 

Hmm...  I've been wanting to get a heritage breed and had been considering Rhode Island Reds, but sun damage is an issue I hadn't considered.  It's easy to get sunburned even in the shade here.  Trees and natural shade are in short supply.  The coop/run has the most reliable shade in my yard, thanks to the magic of shadecloth.   I was hoping a heritage breed would be more free-range savvy than my production red "starter" chickens, and would be out of the coop/run more often, but if their feathers are easily damaged by the sun I'm going to have second thoughts about getting heritage Rhode Island Reds.    

 

Would Black Javas or heritage Barred Rocks do better in the sun, plumage-wise?  Or am I likely to have sun-related feather condition issues no matter what breed? 

 

Thanks for any advice you all can give me. 

 

Sarah

I don't think it would matter unless you were going to show them. Most breeds will at least have color bleeding if left in the sun.

Ron

The advice on Reds & sun exposure was given to me by both Ken Bowles & Harold Tompkins a long time ago. I've seen how Red's feathers suffer if they are exposed to full sun all day, particularly true of males. I'll keep providing mine with lots of shade, you can do as you choose.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MagicChicken 

 

Hmm...  I've been wanting to get a heritage breed and had been considering Rhode Island Reds, but sun damage is an issue I hadn't considered.  It's easy to get sunburned even in the shade here.  Trees and natural shade are in short supply.  The coop/run has the most reliable shade in my yard, thanks to the magic of shadecloth.   I was hoping a heritage breed would be more free-range savvy than my production red "starter" chickens, and would be out of the coop/run more often, but if their feathers are easily damaged by the sun I'm going to have second thoughts about getting heritage Rhode Island Reds.    

 

Would Black Javas or heritage Barred Rocks do better in the sun, plumage-wise?  Or am I likely to have sun-related feather condition issues no matter what breed? 

 

Thanks for any advice you all can give me. 

 

Sarah

Don't know about Rocks or Javas. Never bred either & haven't done much breeding about them.

I search my archives & found articles by both Ken Bowles & Harold Tompkins that address this subject.

Bowles said "For years I showed cock birds at fall shows with surface feathers that were fuzzy & turned up" [this is what I've seen happen] He goes on to say he eventuall realized this was from sunburn & he recommended "males must never be exposed to direct, bright sunshine". "Cockerels shoul be placed in the shade or confined for 6 weeks before you wish to show them at fall shows. Cockbirds should never be allowed in sunshine as after the first year their feathers are dry & can not stand as much as young birds"

In an article titled  CARE OF REDS IN SUMMER Harold Tompkins said: "when hot weather sets in pleanty of shade is necessary". He goes on to talk about various heat related factor causing feather damage.

These two men were among the "Old Masters" of Red breeding and both wrote extensively about breeding, conditioning & showing issues. Their writings are well worth searching for.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYREDS 

 

 

 

Don't know about Rocks or Javas. Never bred either & haven't done much breeding about them.

I search my archives & found articles by both Ken Bowles & Harold Tompkins that address this subject.

Bowles said "For years I showed cock birds at fall shows with surface feathers that were fuzzy & turned up" [this is what I've seen happen] He goes on to say he eventuall realized this was from sunburn & he recommended "males must never be exposed to direct, bright sunshine". "Cockerels shoul be placed in the shade or confined for 6 weeks before you wish to show them at fall shows. Cockbirds should never be allowed in sunshine as after the first year their feathers are dry & can not stand as much as young birds"

In an article titled  CARE OF REDS IN SUMMER Harold Tompkins said: "when hot weather sets in pleanty of shade is necessary". He goes on to talk about various heat related factor causing feather damage.

These two men were among the "Old Masters" of Red breeding and both wrote extensively about breeding, conditioning & showing issues. Their writings are well worth searching for.

Thanks, NYREDS, I'll check out those references.  Even though I'm not planning on showing birds I still look at them - and the poor feather condition on the production birds I inherited has been really annoying me.  Off to study some more.

Sarah

Quote:

Originally Posted by MagicChicken 

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYREDS 

 

 

 

Don't know about Rocks or Javas. Never bred either & haven't done much breeding about them.

I search my archives & found articles by both Ken Bowles & Harold Tompkins that address this subject.

Bowles said "For years I showed cock birds at fall shows with surface feathers that were fuzzy & turned up" [this is what I've seen happen] He goes on to say he eventuall realized this was from sunburn & he recommended "males must never be exposed to direct, bright sunshine". "Cockerels shoul be placed in the shade or confined for 6 weeks before you wish to show them at fall shows. Cockbirds should never be allowed in sunshine as after the first year their feathers are dry & can not stand as much as young birds"

In an article titled  CARE OF REDS IN SUMMER Harold Tompkins said: "when hot weather sets in pleanty of shade is necessary". He goes on to talk about various heat related factor causing feather damage.

These two men were among the "Old Masters" of Red breeding and both wrote extensively about breeding, conditioning & showing issues. Their writings are well worth searching for.

 

Thanks, NYREDS, I'll check out those references.  Even though I'm not planning on showing birds I still look at them - and the poor feather condition on the production birds I inherited has been really annoying me.  Off to study some more.

 

Sarah

Are the feathers on the Heritage Reds the same as the feathers on the production Reds? The Production Reds have stiff feathers and are prone to damage. Most of my other breeds have soft feathers that don't break.

I suppose I will find out for my self soon. I have 6 two week old Heritage chicks 

Ron