EmilyRobb
Songster
I recently acquired 4 ayam cemani chickens, one male and three female. They were born at the end of January so they are about 20 weeks/5 months old now. I'm new to the breed, so I have a few questions about this guys so I'm informed more clearly about them and so that I can cater to their needs.
1) When will the rooster start crowing? He makes clucking noises, but I've never seen or heard an attempted or actual crow.
2) When will the females start laying? I've read that the POL can be as early as 5 months or as late as 7 months, but this is unclear for this breed.
3) What is the laying pattern for hens? I've heard that they won't lay for months, but also that they just alternate between weeks.
4) Will the chickens be able to breed as soon as the hens start laying? I'm not sure when the male will be mature enough.
5) How big approximately is the clutch size for a mother ayam cemani? In saying that they're "questionable" layers, I'm unsure on how many eggs they'll lay before the eggs sit for too long without incubation.
6) What foods do ayam cemanis prefer? I've tried to feed them the same food as my cochins, but they aren't fans of earthworms, strawberries, carrot shavings, etc.
7) How should ayam cemanis be kept to make them happy? They're in an enclosure where they each have 20sqft of space 6ft of height for flying up to perches, as well as a coop above the ground, some "stimulus", and food+water. They also get let out into a chicken tractor to pick at grass and bugs and such.
1) When will the rooster start crowing? He makes clucking noises, but I've never seen or heard an attempted or actual crow.
2) When will the females start laying? I've read that the POL can be as early as 5 months or as late as 7 months, but this is unclear for this breed.
3) What is the laying pattern for hens? I've heard that they won't lay for months, but also that they just alternate between weeks.
4) Will the chickens be able to breed as soon as the hens start laying? I'm not sure when the male will be mature enough.
5) How big approximately is the clutch size for a mother ayam cemani? In saying that they're "questionable" layers, I'm unsure on how many eggs they'll lay before the eggs sit for too long without incubation.
6) What foods do ayam cemanis prefer? I've tried to feed them the same food as my cochins, but they aren't fans of earthworms, strawberries, carrot shavings, etc.
7) How should ayam cemanis be kept to make them happy? They're in an enclosure where they each have 20sqft of space 6ft of height for flying up to perches, as well as a coop above the ground, some "stimulus", and food+water. They also get let out into a chicken tractor to pick at grass and bugs and such.
