Mottled Java!!

[Wolf-Kim]

How many people here have them? Did you buy them as chicks, eggs, or adults? How many ya got and how long have you been breeding them?

I need someone more experienced with the breed to talk to. LOL So few people have them, and it's my first time having them, most people I talk to are just looking for some of their own. LOL

Do the chicks first feather out white, like their fluff? Does this change over a molt?

I just hatched out a few Mottled Java chicks, but the majority of their new wing feathers are white, all white feathers. Are they going to stay like this or change? How long til their change?

I would love to have a list of the more experienced breeders of Java, especially Mottled Java, just people I can talk to and have close personal experience with this breed.

Thanks,
-Kim

 

[jimnjay]

There was a very good article about Javas in the September 07 edition of Backyard Poultry Magazine.

Javas are critically endangered and are difficult to find. They are thought to be the oldest, possibly the second oldest American chicken breed, dating back to the mid 19th century. It once was a popular breed for homesteaders as it is a wonderful forager. People report that feed bills can be cut by 50% when Javas are give the opportunity to have free range. Many of today’s most popular breeds are derived at least in part from Javas.

By around 1990, there were fewer that 200 Javas known to exist. Today there are between 1,000 to 2,000 and the fate of the breed remains uncertain.

They lay large light brown eggs. They come in White, Black which is stunning and the Mottled variety. They are a gentle dual purpose breed with the roosters tipping the scales at around 10 pounds.

It is so sad to see the wonderful work horse breed on the brink of extinction. They have been so influential in providing the rich genetic diversity we now know.

There was a Yahoo group dedicated to Java Chickens, I am not sure how active they are.

 

[jennjenn6]

I am just starting out here in Springfield, Oregon and ended up getting a mottled Java chick at the local Wilco feed store. Came home and found out how endangered they were, wish I'd gotten more! Here's a pick of "bean"

 

[rlhagan56]

Last spring one of my local feed stores had some chicks that caught my eye because they were so pretty and unusual looking. Grabbed 2, got home and looked them up, Mottled Java. I love these two pullets so much I want to find more! They were skittish as chicks, then bullied a little as youths, and after they started laying they are so friendly! They are so pretty and I want to find more! I was raising Ameraucana's in 4 color varieties, but I must say that I would love to focus on these Mottled Java.

 

[Wolf-Kim]

Thank you Fancyfowl4ever, for the exchequer comparison, I hope this is the case. Many of the chicks I have hatched so far this season have almost completely white wings, heads and tails. I only have one breeding pair so far, so if they are going to steadily throw birds with white wings, I cannot use them. I guess I can only wait and see.

Fancyfowl4ever, so how long before their next molt? How long(age wise) does it take your leghorns to get their pattern? Doesn't need to be exact, I just need a round-about time frame to work with.

I am an active member of the Java Yahoo Group(see in my signature). I have been meaning to call Tommy(the group creator) and see if I cannot become a moderator of the group. The group is fairly active, but the creator has recently become very inactive, I think this is due to a very busy life with his hatchery. Most people who are a member of our group are looking for Java and not breeders of Java(yet). This truly is an endangered breed.

I have read all of the online information I could find on them, sadly this isn't much at all. Just 4 or 5 articles, even then the articles repeat themselves. Just a general description, basic history, and how endangered they are. I'm 'hoping' to get more firsthand, more detailed information from people who deal with them.

I was just hoping to find someone with more experience than I in this breed.

I appreciate the help everyone. If you know of anyone who has/had this breed or have/had them yourself, please speak up!

-Kim

 

[lyric]

Just starting our flock and we fortuned up on ONE. Learning they are endangered we want to join the effort in revitalizing the breed but as has been stated here, where do we find them? We got our hen via Craigs List.

 

[SubruralGirl]

This is Abby. We hatched her last summer in an ice chest incubator my husband made. She is quite a character! Abby is not short for Abigail, it's short for abnormal! Lol! I told my husband we may have turned her a few extra times! She started laying at 5 1/2 months which was great but, she went broody at 6 mos. and when she was about 8 mos. I think it has more to do with being the bottom of the pecking order. Not for long! We are hatching eggs right now, as I type! When we found out how rare they are we decided we would try to do our share to help preserve the breed. They're a wonderful chicken. At least Abby is!
Baby Abby


All grown up!

 

[DotRanchChurros]

I am just starting out here in Springfield, Oregon and ended up getting a mottled Java chick at the local Wilco feed store. Came home and found out how endangered they were, wish I'd gotten more! Here's a pick of "bean"

You know, there's been quite a few Mottled Javas available in Oregon feed stores lately, but most of them mature out to something fairly far from the breed standard. Every once in a while, I'll luck out and find some that pass muster to join my flock, but it's not often. Most of my stock came from a breeder up in Washington, and a few came from SE bloodlines. It's great to see that they're starting to catch attention though, even if they aren't always ideal!

 

[Robert Blosl]

I just found this old tread but I got a very old original strain of rare suppose to be gone Mottle Javas. A fellow brought me three females and two males about two to three years old from the old breeder Dr. Albert McGraw of Alabama. He died about 7 years ago or so and his son kept a few and a fellow got some from him about five years ago. He can no longer take care of them so he gave them to me to keep for him until he gets back from Afghanistan working as a contra tor. I will be sharing some of these latter this fall as I get a few hatched. They are laying very well right now with out even lights. I have the eggs in the incubator and will be taking orders for partners on this old line. Many tell me that the Mottle Javas that are out there came from him many years ago. Regardless this is a lost rare gene pool. If you are interested in joining me in trying to build up this old strain send me a personnel message. I need partners in this venture as I do not have the space or time to keep many. bob

 

[motherochickens]

Here is my Amelia - she's miss adventure. 2 months & 2 weeks old