Arizona Chickens

[DesertChic]

My wife and I went to the fair this afternoon to take a look at the birds. There were a couple of nice ones there but I thought the showing was pretty light. We saw a whole bunch of Polish's and Cochin's but I was hoping to see more Barred Rocks, Leghorn, etc. We only saw one pair of Barred Rock bantams and no Leghorns. There was a real nice RIR cock there - would've loved to have had him. Thanks for the heads-up on the animal sales. I might head back over there that last week and see what's available.

If I do ok with my breeding projects I'd certainly like to enter a bird or two as well. If I do I'll shoot you a pm ahead of next year's fair in case you're entering any too and maybe I'll see you there and we can talk shop. If I do have any entries I won't have any idea what I'm doing since it'll be a first for me. That's one of my goals though - to enter birds every year and hopefully learn a lot and become a better breeder. That would be pretty cool.

If you have the time and inclination, the Tucson Poultry Show is on the 22nd at the Pima County Fairgrounds. They usually have a really good showing of a nice variety of birds. Yes, there are typically A LOT of Polish, Silkies and Cochins, but they all have a lot of birds you may never get a chance to see otherwise...not only Barred Rocks, but White Faced Spanish, Javas, etc.

I'm trying really hard to get my hands on some Silver Grey Dorking hatching eggs right now. If I manage to procure them and have a decent hatch, I plan to breed to as close to SOP as possible and show the birds for the first time ever for me. I'm also working on my pure NNs in the hopes of achieving one that's really close to SOP to show and hopefully increase recognition and appreciation of the breed.

 

[ejcrist]

If you have the time and inclination, the Tucson Poultry Show is on the 22nd at the Pima County Fairgrounds. They usually have a really good showing of a nice variety of birds. Yes, there are typically A LOT of Polish, Silkies and Cochins, but they all have a lot of birds you may never get a chance to see otherwise...not only Barred Rocks, but White Faced Spanish, Javas, etc.

I'm trying really hard to get my hands on some Silver Grey Dorking hatching eggs right now. If I manage to procure them and have a decent hatch, I plan to breed to as close to SOP as possible and show the birds for the first time ever for me. I'm also working on my pure NNs in the hopes of achieving one that's really close to SOP to show and hopefully increase recognition and appreciation of the breed.

Roger that. I really want to go to the Tucson show because I heard it's one of the best so I'm going to try to make it. I just have to finish my multi-coop building inside because my birds are shipping the week of the 24th. Gosh us chicken farmers are awfully busy ain't we? I don't mind being busy when it's stuff I like to do though.

I saw a pedigree Dorking at the show yesterday. That was the first Dorking I ever saw in the flesh. My wife was fascinated by his 5 toes - he was really cool. I should've got the name of the breeder that was on the tag but I didn't think to get it. I thought it was someone out of Avondale if I remember correctly. I'll definitely keep an eye out for ya and remember to bring my cell or pencil and paper the next time. I'd love to get a breeding pair myself.

There were a couple of NN's at the show yesterday, maybe a half dozen or so. I remember seeing buff and brown I think. I'm with you on the NN's. Being ideal for our climate I'd like to see more of them too.

 

[bunsnpupsnchick]

Roger that. I really want to go to the Tucson show because I heard it's one of the best so I'm going to try to make it. I just have to finish my multi-coop building inside because my birds are shipping the week of the 24th. Gosh us chicken farmers are awfully busy ain't we? I don't mind being busy when it's stuff I like to do though.

I saw a pedigree Dorking at the show yesterday. That was the first Dorking I ever saw in the flesh. My wife was fascinated by his 5 toes - he was really cool. I should've got the name of the breeder that was on the tag but I didn't think to get it. I thought it was someone out of Avondale if I remember correctly. I'll definitely keep an eye out for ya and remember to bring my cell or pencil and paper the next time. I'd love to get a breeding pair myself.

There were a couple of NN's at the show yesterday, maybe a half dozen or so. I remember seeing buff and brown I think. I'm with you on the NN's. Being ideal for our climate I'd like to see more of them too.

I remember seeing that one too. I think it was west valley. I was just going to suggest might be worth coming to the last week in hopes that maybe they'd be selling any--eggs or babies. I think my step-mom & I are going to go that Friday (take advantage of the fry's free tickets & hopefully not as crowded again) if we do I'll see about grabbing as many names, numbers & breed they have information for the sellers as I can. Then I'll happily share.

Did you see the sultan? Little white thing with a poof on top like a polish? It has 5 toes too & dark skin. They aren't the best of layers & lay small eggs/bantam egg depending on if standard or bantam sized. I've 2 & they're really pretty & can be very sweet. Though my Marshmallow does act like the queen. My Mouse is aptly named as she's shy, but doesn't put up with the antics of the younger cockerels. lol

The salmon favorelle was pretty too. I think they are feather legged, but 4 toes. Huge (well, to me with my bantams), but something I might consider if I need more regular egg layers.

 

[DesertChic]

Roger that. I really want to go to the Tucson show because I heard it's one of the best so I'm going to try to make it. I just have to finish my multi-coop building inside because my birds are shipping the week of the 24th. Gosh us chicken farmers are awfully busy ain't we? I don't mind being busy when it's stuff I like to do though.

I saw a pedigree Dorking at the show yesterday. That was the first Dorking I ever saw in the flesh. My wife was fascinated by his 5 toes - he was really cool. I should've got the name of the breeder that was on the tag but I didn't think to get it. I thought it was someone out of Avondale if I remember correctly. I'll definitely keep an eye out for ya and remember to bring my cell or pencil and paper the next time. I'd love to get a breeding pair myself.

There were a couple of NN's at the show yesterday, maybe a half dozen or so. I remember seeing buff and brown I think. I'm with you on the NN's. Being ideal for our climate I'd like to see more of them too.

Really??? Dorkings in AZ? I had no idea there was anyone around here raising or breeding them. I've been searching for a long time. The Silver Grey Dorking was love at first sight for me, and that was only a photograph. For the past two years I've suffered one disappointment after another in trying to get some, and my last batch of hatching eggs for purportedly "pure" SLGs turned out to be a bunch of broken eggs and produced one copper Ameraucana instead. Prior to that, the SLG eggs I've been shipped had actually been crossed with something else, and while most of them have 5 toes and a couple have feathering similar to SLGs, their personalities have been awful. All of the males were really aggressive and even the females have left much to be desired. I culled one of the hens for being downright mean and another for being an egg eater.

Ironically, I have a lot of birds with 5 toes. I've done a couple barnyard hatches since all of my birds were interacting regularly and discovered that not only my Silkie-mixes have 5 toes, but also some of my EE crosses. My Ameraucana/Bielefelder cross yielded a beautiful red barred cockerel with 5 toes and feathered shanks. Never saw that one coming.

I'm glad to hear the NNs were represented at the show. They are so underappreciated as a breed.

 

[bunsnpupsnchick]

Anyone have any idea why my ameraucana/ee girls just laid white(ish) eggs?! Not joking here....does diet impact it? Too much protein, not enough calcium, something else? I know it's not another white layer as I saw those girls in the nest box & my white layers are all small or bantam sized. Plus with 1 of the eggs there's a small spot that under light has color like it should be. The other doesn't have that.

The eggs I currently have separated out. The single is a sultan I believe, the 4 light eggs are my bantam cochin, the 11 brown are my gold sex-link, the next goups of 3 are crevecoeur &/polish, the group of blue/green/blue-green are the 3 ameraucana/ee, the last group is my black crested white polish (project color). So I pretty much know who's laying what & can identify by shape/size. I know that my darker hen lays the blue/bluer colored egg, but which of the other 2 do the others I'm not certain.

I can try for better pics if wanted. I've a terrible time capturing their correct egg color.



This is the closeup of their eggs. It kind of went white.

 

[bunsnpupsnchick]

Really??? Dorkings in AZ? I had no idea there was anyone around here raising or breeding them. I've been searching for a long time. The Silver Grey Dorking was love at first sight for me, and that was only a photograph. For the past two years I've suffered one disappointment after another in trying to get some, and my last batch of hatching eggs for purportedly "pure" SLGs turned out to be a bunch of broken eggs and produced one copper Ameraucana instead. Prior to that, the SLG eggs I've been shipped had actually been crossed with something else, and while most of them have 5 toes and a couple have feathering similar to SLGs, their personalities have been awful. All of the males were really aggressive and even the females have left much to be desired. I culled one of the hens for being downright mean and another for being an egg eater.

Ironically, I have a lot of birds with 5 toes. I've done a couple barnyard hatches since all of my birds were interacting regularly and discovered that not only my Silkie-mixes have 5 toes, but also some of my EE crosses. My Ameraucana/Bielefelder cross yielded a beautiful red barred cockerel with 5 toes and feathered shanks. Never saw that one coming.

I'm glad to hear the NNs were represented at the show. They are so underappreciated as a breed.

I know the thought about hatchery birds overall, but have you tried any chicks from them? With not having luck otherwise couldn't be any worse.

 

[bunsnpupsnchick]

Really??? Dorkings in AZ? I had no idea there was anyone around here raising or breeding them. I've been searching for a long time. The Silver Grey Dorking was love at first sight for me, and that was only a photograph. For the past two years I've suffered one disappointment after another in trying to get some, and my last batch of hatching eggs for purportedly "pure" SLGs turned out to be a bunch of broken eggs and produced one copper Ameraucana instead. Prior to that, the SLG eggs I've been shipped had actually been crossed with something else, and while most of them have 5 toes and a couple have feathering similar to SLGs, their personalities have been awful. All of the males were really aggressive and even the females have left much to be desired. I culled one of the hens for being downright mean and another for being an egg eater.

Ironically, I have a lot of birds with 5 toes. I've done a couple barnyard hatches since all of my birds were interacting regularly and discovered that not only my Silkie-mixes have 5 toes, but also some of my EE crosses. My Ameraucana/Bielefelder cross yielded a beautiful red barred cockerel with 5 toes and feathered shanks. Never saw that one coming.

I'm glad to hear the NNs were represented at the show. They are so underappreciated as a breed.

Here's the link to the ideal poultry page: http://www.idealpoultry.com/item.html?i=223

I've gotten birds from them & they're doing great. Some are representative of the breed, but probably not going to be show quality/sop perfect. I say that because of my white crested black polish hen has too much black in her crest as an example. Otherwise, she's looking to be on the mark as best as I can tell. I figure they're a great start, good way to try out a breed. Besides, even as the supervisor told me yesterday, you can breed 2 show quality birds together & not end up with a show quality chick. He gave an example of a guy who bred a couple hundred birds & kept less than fifty...might've been closer to 30 that he kept.

I know in the case of the crevecoeur many folks wanting them have said that quality breeders are so rare & that ideal has been one of the better sources for them. Maybe the case is the same for the dorkings.

 

[DesertChic]

I know the thought about hatchery birds overall, but have you tried any chicks from them? With not having luck otherwise couldn't be any worse.

Actually, my first flock was all hatchery chicks...4 Australorps, 3 Barred Rocks, and 3 Buff Silkies. I still have all of the girls from that original purchase, but had to cull all 3 of the roosters for being too mean. They're now just over 2 years old. My lone Silkie is pet, my little darling that just charms me no matter how bad my day is. My two BRs are still outstanding layers and have given me 2 more lovely BR hens. And my Australorps...one of the four still lays very well and is very sweet. The other three appear to be reaching the end of their laying years.

That said....I just found out I won the hatching egg auction. My SGD eggs should be shipped tomorrow.

I haven't seriously considered getting SGD chicks from a hatchery simply because I really want to work on helping this breed reach and/or maintain SOP. This will be my heritage breed, and I think going with hatchery stock may lead to further disappointment.

 

[bunsnpupsnchick]

Actually, my first flock was all hatchery chicks...4 Australorps, 3 Barred Rocks, and 3 Buff Silkies. I still have all of the girls from that original purchase, but had to cull all 3 of the roosters for being too mean. They're now just over 2 years old. My lone Silkie is pet, my little darling that just charms me no matter how bad my day is. My two BRs are still outstanding layers and have given me 2 more lovely BR hens. And my Australorps...one of the four still lays very well and is very sweet. The other three appear to be reaching the end of their laying years.

That said....I just found out I won the hatching egg auction. My SGD eggs should be shipped tomorrow.

I haven't seriously considered getting SGD chicks from a hatchery simply because I really want to work on helping this breed reach and/or maintain SOP. This will be my heritage breed, and I think going with hatchery stock may lead to further disappointment.

Congrats!!!! I hope they hatch out nicely for you. I say go with what you can find, afford, & is as close as you can get.

Understand. That's what I want to do with my crevecoeurs. I've been & keep searching for potential breeders, but ones who are keeping the blue/white earlobs & not going after the red/pink. The original french has the blue/white. Which is not what the sop calls for, but it is what the original french text is. It was posted on the creve thread by someone who I think has been a judge before...least that's my impression. She indicated that if there gets to be enough breeders who have the birds to type, etc. with the blue then the apa can be approached about changing it. So, that's what I'd like to do with them.

 

[bunsnpupsnchick]

So I just did a quick search for any crevecoeur breeders in AZ & came across Rare Bird Farm in the west valley. http://rarebirdfarm.vpweb.com/chickens Looks as if they have Transylvanian Naked Necks in a few different colors. Is this along the lines of what you guys are wanting for your NN? Maybe you already know about them. Thought I'd post just in case.