Chickens for 10-20 years or more? Pull up a rockin' chair and lay some wisdom on us!

[al6517]

LOL I never get a chance to yank his chain as much as he ribs me............... I like me some Walt he's a good guy for sure, but don't even think about cutting in line ahead of him during Tapioca night at the Senior center.

 

[Beekissed]

 

[Mountain Momma]

Ok, here is the promised Pop Quiz. But here are the rules and background info.
There are two birds focused on here. I will try to identify them simply as Bird #1 and Bird #2. They are both ISA Browns, the quintessential layer. Think the CX of the layer birds. These are not dual purpose fowl. They are dedicated purpose fowl. Eggs, eggs and more eggs. They are both 8 months old, all the birds came in a box of 25, hatched on the same day, brooded together and raised together. Always been fed the same feed, in the same environment.
Apologize for my crappy photography and camera quality. It is what it is. While it doesn't come through on the camera well, I can give you this hint. Their feathering quality is vastly different in real life. You'll have to decide which is which and why.
Rules for the Quiz.
1. Only those who've kept backyard birds for less than 3 years are allowed to take the quiz.
2. No one can reply right now. Anyone who replies today, will be DQ'd. No ifs, ands or butts.
3. The window of turning in your Quiz responses will NOT be until this time tomorrow. There will be an open window of 8 hours in which to turn in your Quiz. Anytime tomorrow is just fine, after 1 pm EST. Noon CST, 11 am MST and 10 am PST. Sure, this is a gimmick, but hey. I want to think about this quiz and not give instant, knee jerk responses. OK?
4. Tell me what you see in comparing these two birds.
5. Tell me if you would cull one, both, neither, and why you think so.
OK, there it is. Is everyone ready for the photos to judge?
Well, to me she, bird#1, has a smallish comb thats a little pale and her tail seems too tight. I like her color, her shiny legs but she is not really projecting anything regal in personality and I am not impressed with her over all. In the other pics she seems meatier to me. Her legs seem stronger than the other one. Some sites explain that these chickens will look haggard due to protein redirection to egg making. So a poor feathering might be a good trait or at least expected. See article below. http://www.suburbanchooks.com.au/isa_brown_information.php. It is a snapshot of the page as it appeared on 7 Mar 2012 22:39:44 GMT. The current page could have changed in the meantime. Learn more
I cannot tell which has the better feathering at all. Bird #2 has a more appealing comb size and comb color to me, a tail a little too high but not as pinched- might grow out good. Seems more active and curious and the paler legs might mean she is a good layer. Her thinner structure is more true to her heritage- I think. Her attitude is fiestier-maybe,- which I like. I am not feeling very impressed with either one, esp after seeing all the great photos recently. Now I am comparing them to those Cornish that are so amazing and they seem like sad little replicas. Hen #2 I would be more likely to keep. If they are laying well and healthy I’d keep them but some of my flock look just like them so I know what I would do. IF I had an opportunity for better chickens I’d cull #1 and not breed #2. If this is all wrong please be gentle. It’s difficult for me not being perfect.

Isa Brown Information

Isa Browns are an incredibly popular chicken choice, and that is mainly because they are the producers of the big brown eggs that you buy on supermarket shelves. Although they have an excellent reputation for egg laying, 95% will meet this reputation, 4% will be mediocre layers and 1% complete dud layers. We are referring to an animal with has natural variances, not a machine (which honestly, I think some people forget sometimes... LOL)

Please be aware that the name Isa Brown is actually a brand, much the same as Toyota or Samsung. It stands for "Institute de Selection Animale" - a French company that developed the breed in 1978 as a battery hen for optimum egg production. Biada Poultry have the Australian rights to market Isa Browns.

The Isa Brown is not recognised as a breed as it a hybrid, meaning that the girls (hens) hatch out a different colour to the boys (roosters) - ideal for the commercial egg industry . Also, if you mate the rooster to a hen you will not produce an Isa Brown chicken which is another component of producing a hybrid chicken. The Isa Brown is not a recognised in poultry shows and cannot be judged as there is apparently no breed standard for them. Word on the street has it that the genetic make up of an Isa Brown is a closely guarded secret, much like the secret recipes of some well known restaurants so this is a topic of much speculation in the chicken world.

Like everything that dominates the market, there are a other commercial hybrid chickens, such as Hi-sex or Hy-line, which are often indistinguishable in looks and egg production. Some sellers use the term Isa Brown quite loosely... either way you should be able to discuss the origins of your Isa Brown chicken from the person you are buying it from.

Temperament

Isa Brown's are a great starting point for people who are new to chickens as they get along with humans extremely well and will give you a fantastic number of eggs. A great choice for those with children, whether they are at home or in an educational setting. They can be quite affectionate, definitely not adverse to a pat or a cuddle, especially when they learn that you are the provider of food and treats!

They are however, quite 'chookist' in so far that once they are part of an established flock they can be quite brutal to newcomers. This can be overcome by ensuring that any new additions to a flock which has Isa Browns are of a similar size (if not bigger) and have plenty of room to run away until the new pecking order is established. We also recommend having more than one food and water station to decrease the chances of the newcomers being denied access to food and water by the more dominant Isa Brown.

It is possible to have bantam chickens kept with Isa Browns and something that we do ourselves. Introducing the different sized chickens is actually best done when bringing your new flock home (or very close to if you have to get them from different buyers/locations). The logic here is that the girls will be having to adjust to a new environment anyway and even if you got them from the same buyer/location they won't have lived together as a smaller flock and will still need to settle into their pecking order anyway... so the 'normal' amount of bullying and squabbling will take place despite any differences in size.

Egg numbers

Egg for egg, Isa Browns are a great value chicken producing over 300+ eggs for an initial investment of $25 per bird. This can only really be compared to other pure breed chickens or commercial layer strains of chickens which were used originally for egg production (i.e.. The Australorp or leghorn).

They are also bred to begin laying at around 20-22 weeks of age, much younger than the 24 weeks plus of a pure breed chicken.

One downside to the fact that they will lay abundantly for the two years of their life is the fact that the Isa Brown can look quite "moth eaten" and will often have a loss of feathers around its neck and/or bottom. This is because they will direct the protein they gain from food into egg production instead of feather production...

Broodiness

Although Isa Browns have a reputation of not becoming broody, it is necessary to remember that in a commercial caged egg environment there would be at least 8 chickens in a space 1m wide and 50cm deep with no actual nesting area (or access to natural light really).

In a backyard setting, Isa Browns are in a much better environment and do become broody (and are capable of being good mothers to chicks). Again, we are talking about a living animal with natural urges. We will not refund you for your Isa Brown purchase if your girl does become broody (and therefore stop laying eggs) although we will assist you to rehome them if you are really that unhappy with the situation.

Life expectancy

More significant for the backyard chicken keeper (in our opinion) is the fact that the Isa Brown has a significantly reduced life expectancy compared to a healthy pure breed chicken - with a majority living for between 2-3 years. Some backyard chicken keepers report that their Isa Brown pets are living between 5-8 years but it should be noted, however, that this lifespan for an Isa Brown is in the vast minority as it simply isn't what the chicken is bred to do...

The decreased life expectancy is directly related to their high egg production - pure breed chickens will definitely moult, possibly go broody and a majority will take a break during the colder month to grow back their feathers (and rest their reproductive systems).

Isa Brown's (and a lot of other commercial hybrid chickens) are bred to continue laying most of the year. This means that they won't have the opportunity to rest their reproductive systems and will therefore develop tumours, cancers and other health issues relating to their high egg production. Either that, or they will pass away from sheer exhaustion.


The best looking picture of an ISA Brown that I could find is closer to resembling chicken number 2.

Thanks for the quiz and the time and energy devoted to my betterment.
Lisa

 

[maggiemo]

Quote:

 

[Mountain Momma]

Walt............. Did you get that care pkg I sent you, it had some Depends and some denture paste, and and some bright yellow tennis balls for that walker of yours in it.

AL

I thought you sent him some Viagra and a new hand carved cane with a brass rooster on the top!

 

[maggiemo]

Wow Mountain Mama, way to go for the extra points with the Isa Brown info!

 

[Mountain Momma]

Wow Mountain Mama, way to go for the extra points with the Isa Brown info!

Thanks, I'm really humbled by how difficult I found the quiz.
L

 

[cedavid2012]

Really a total newbie here, I don't even have chickens yet. I've just been lurking here and on some other threads trying to learn as much as I can for when I get chicks in the spring. I can't really answer the quiz, but I'm very interested reading the other answers. Thanks to all the OT's for sharing all of their knowledge and experience with us.

 

[JulieNKC]

FRED's Quiz:

Ok, here is the promised Pop Quiz. But here are the rules and background info.

There are two birds focused on here. I will try to identify them simply as Bird #1 and Bird #2. They are both ISA Browns, the quintessential layer. Think the CX of the layer birds. These are not dual purpose fowl. They are dedicated purpose fowl. Eggs, eggs and more eggs. They are both 8 months old, all the birds came in a box of 25, hatched on the same day, brooded together and raised together. Always been fed the same feed, in the same environment.

Apologize for my crappy photography and camera quality. It is what it is. While it doesn't come through on the camera well, I can give you this hint. Their feathering quality is vastly different in real life. You'll have to decide which is which and why.

Rules for the Quiz.

1. Only those who've kept backyard birds for less than 3 years are allowed to take the quiz.
2. No one can reply right now. Anyone who replies today, will be DQ'd. No ifs, ands or butts.
3. The window of turning in your Quiz responses will NOT be until this time tomorrow. There will be an open window of 8 hours in which to turn in your Quiz. Anytime tomorrow(NOW TODAY, DEC. 9) is just fine, after 1 pm EST. Noon CST, 11 am MST and 10 am PST. Sure, this is a gimmick, but hey. I want to think about this quiz and not give instant, knee jerk responses. OK?
4. Tell me what you see in comparing these two birds.
5. Tell me if you would cull one, both, neither, and why you think so.

OK, there it is. Is everyone ready for the photos to judge?

Bird # 1
Bird # 1 Bird # 2



Bird #1 Bird # 2
Bird # 2



Bird # 2

I'm not very active on this thread, but I do read it and absorb all the info everyday. I've had my flock less than 3 years.

I'm just now starting breeding my own, although mine are little ornamental chicken nuggets instead of useful chickens. I have limited space, and they work better for my purposes than large fowl.
I would cull #1. She looks too fat and dumpy to me for a layer. Something just seems off, she has her head tucked down and doesn't quite look right to me. Reminds me of the penguin stance, only not so upright. Her comb is also not as red, and she doesn't look even close to laying.
Bird #2 looks more like what I think a layer should. Lean, so her energy and the food I buy will go to making eggs. Her comb is also closer to what I would think an 8 month old egg production pullet's should look like.

 

[armorfirelady]

Ok OT's here are my answers:

Bird #1- good coloring on feathers. Nice & even. She has a wide breast which should mean lots of room for organs in there. Her back side is wide as well means she should have no problem laying. She seems to be maturing slower than the other bird which means she will lay longer and more reliable. Short stocky legs with good coloring. I wouldnt cull her- she looks like she will be a good long time reliable layer with out any visible chararistics that would impede her laying,

Bird #2- uneven coloring in her feathers. Looks muddied in spots. She seems to of matured very quickly & that super long neck & smaller breast area means less room for internal organs. Her rump is smaller which means might hinder egg production. Legs are pale. She is probably an early age layer with maturing so fast and means she will probably burn out faster as well. She would be a cull

Phew.....ojcurious to see how I did