Australia - Six states..and that funny little island.

[cluckcluckluke]

I didn't know rumpless were available here. As much as I like them though, it seems like such a waste breeding them to teh US Standard. So many have to be culled or die from conflicting genes. I love the tails, they are different to the other birds I have. Can't wait for these to lay.

I see so many breeds on this forum that I like, then when I try find them in WA I get stone walled lol, and I am reluctant to buy via post at the moment which is also really restricting.

Hat tip to your profile pic too....My goal a year or so from now! What cross is used for your Olives?

I wouldn't like to breed rumpless just from the fact that I know so many would die. I am pretty sure the rumpless gene is a defect and it is caused by a shortened back bone. Many chicks die in the egg before they even hatch because their development is different.
It's a bit like vaulted skulls in crested birds.
Ash have you had any problems with your Araucana's and their vaulted skulls?

 

[mogvgb]

My little Light Sussex bantam has completely recovered from her head wound and to celebrate has gone broody again - she'll probably run the full course this time as I am not home during daylight hours to foist her out of the coop.

She is hysterically funny when broody, goes very Mrs. Rochester - growls dramatically at everything, including food, gives very loud alarm calls over the slightest thing (this is a bit cringeworthy as she is LOUD and practically crows), conducts all her business at a gallop and gives tremendous full body fluff and puffs while muttering darkly to herself... never pecks though so it is quite fun.

I've been feeding fermented feed for about 2-3 weeks. They LOVED the first batch I made, but I put my second batch on this weekend and so far the girls are not impressed - maybe it isn't fermented enough yet for their new refined tastes.... it has seemed to help put condition on and build really nice feathers - the girls are all looking fantastic and popping out an egg a day each (apart from miss broody).

 

[Bens-Hens]

I wouldn't like to breed rumpless just from the fact that I know so many would die. I am pretty sure the rumpless gene is a defect and it is caused by a shortened back bone. Many chicks die in the egg before they even hatch because their development is different.
It's a bit like vaulted skulls in crested birds.
Ash have you had any problems with your Araucana's and their vaulted skulls?

I read that many die due to the chick getting two copies of the required gene. If they get two copies of the rumpless gene, they usually die in ovo as they are missing two sections of their spine (as you say) In addition, to meet SOP they should be tufted, which is also a dominant gene, so some will die if they get two copies of that one too. Then, if they are clean faced they are culled, or if they have a tail gene they are culled. Breeding to SOP is brutal. I read one breeder's remarks that a good keep rate of hatchling's was 15%-20%, then depending if they were after roo's or pullets they would be culled again once they could be sexed!

Some heavy losses there, maybe that's why I like our (and most of the world's) tailed version

Thanks for the Olive egg info. I have found a French Wheaten Maran breeder locally that I may be able to add to my next hatch. Expensive though. May have to take a drive down south, they are generally cheaper down there. Going to wait until the spring I think when our's should be laying.

 

[K Spot]

Wow, that seems like a lot of maintenance. Nothing like this was said when I watched 101 Dalmatians

!!!
Ouch! That sounds awfully painful...I know I wouldn't like that, not at all!!

Yes, they always include the good things, but leave out the bad!

I can't wait til my Araucana starts laying - she's a bit clumsy with all that crest going on blocking her vision.

 

[Blondiechic]

Mogvgb your description of your bantam had me so giggling!

Afro is home! She is currently out the front garden (enclosed) in isolation and eating away! I called this morning to see how she was, the girl who answered the phone kept saying 'he' did this and 'he' did that... I said, she's a she! She replied Oh well, its very hard to tell with chickens.
Seriously!

Anyway, all going well, she is out the front and in the house for a couple of days - so pleased Sydney has turned off the rain as its a lovely day to be out there!

 

[IamSamSam]

Mogvgb your description of your bantam had me so giggling!

Afro is home! She is currently out the front garden (enclosed) in isolation and eating away! I called this morning to see how she was, the girl who answered the phone kept saying 'he' did this and 'he' did that... I said, she's a she! She replied Oh well, its very hard to tell with chickens.
Seriously!

Anyway, all going well, she is out the front and in the house for a couple of days - so pleased Sydney has turned off the rain as its a lovely day to be out there!

Yay thats fantastic news Blondi

 

[IamSamSam]

Thanks

Sam is about 4yrs old and Finally out of the Puppy stuff of pulling washing off the line to 'help' Mum and digging up the weeds....

He still does eat the grass when I weed the veggie patch LOL

Thanks to the powers that be for the SUN ! the girls are out in the veggie patch sun bathing... ... ...

Their Run is drying out nicely with the wind and sun .. .. .. Hoping life is back on track

 

[K Spot]

Mogvgb your description of your bantam had me so giggling!

Afro is home! She is currently out the front garden (enclosed) in isolation and eating away! I called this morning to see how she was, the girl who answered the phone kept saying 'he' did this and 'he' did that... I said, she's a she! She replied Oh well, its very hard to tell with chickens.
Seriously!

Anyway, all going well, she is out the front and in the house for a couple of days - so pleased Sydney has turned off the rain as its a lovely day to be out there!

YAY - great news

 

[satay]

Mogvgb your description of your bantam had me so giggling!

Afro is home! She is currently out the front garden (enclosed) in isolation and eating away! I called this morning to see how she was, the girl who answered the phone kept saying 'he' did this and 'he' did that... I said, she's a she! She replied Oh well, its very hard to tell with chickens. 
Seriously! 

Anyway, all going well, she is out the front and in the house for a couple of days - so pleased Sydney has turned off the rain as its a lovely day to be out there!

Yah glad she is home now.

 

[Teila]

Mogvgb your description of your bantam had me so giggling!

Afro is home! She is currently out the front garden (enclosed) in isolation and eating away! I called this morning to see how she was, the girl who answered the phone kept saying 'he' did this and 'he' did that... I said, she's a she! She replied Oh well, its very hard to tell with chickens.
Seriously!

Anyway, all going well, she is out the front and in the house for a couple of days - so pleased Sydney has turned off the rain as its a lovely day to be out there!

Mogvgb's bantam tale had me chuckling also but your Vet story made it so much worse!

Good news about Afro, I am pleased for you both