Bantam chickens.. a friendly discussion about all pure and mixed breeds.

[john_wrightson2003]

Plain, 'black' Silver Duckwing is true breeding. What that means is breeding SDW to SDW will always net you more SDWs. Other varieties were crossed into SDWs to produce variations like my Fawns.

Fortunately, a lot of people have worked over a long time to cross colors and produce new varieties, giving us all a greater understanding of the genetic components behind those varieties. In the case of OEGBs especially, this gives genetic enthusiasts like me, who just want to produce pretty birds, not only many options for a foundation to start off of with the sheer volume of varieties that OEGBs are found in, but also what's basically a map for us to follow to reach our end goal. Basically, since I know the genetics behind my Fawn SDWs and behind the other varieties I've mentioned, I know how to cross them to make other colors, like Blue SDW and Silver Crele (which genetically is Barred Black SDW), and I know I can intercross the varieties I've chosen without spending more than a few generations on 'mixed color' birds before they're back to a true breeding variety.

And that was way more than you asked, so I'll shut up now. I tend to get just a little overly enthusiastic when it comes to this topic.

Ok, thats what i figured but just wanted to be sure. Thanks!

 

[Alexandra33]

@MysteryChicken , those are some amazingly pretty little ladies! I'm absolutely in love with their form. In winter plumage, you say? How does this differ from breeding plumage?

@Arbutus Peregrine Fingers crossed all of your boys turn out well!

I value an unfriendly, but well-behaved rooster every bit as much as one who wants my attention constantly. Therefore, it sounds as though your d'Uccle boy is wonderful in his own way. Aren't Sebrights terribly aggressive? And as for humane caponization options, it would certainly be nice....

You're more than welcome.

@chickens really, how is Rosebud doing? I'm so very sorry. She's in my thoughts and prayers right now.

@pipdzipdnreadytogo
Thank you!!! As soon as the coop expands....or maybe before?

Awwwww, they're absolutely preciously, perfectly fat. Mottled is a stunning variety....possibly the most gorgeous. And I can actually FEEL your silkied Cochins through the screen!!! Yes to a new project!

No apologies needed, it was time well spent. Little brings me more joy than "living" others' poultry-keeping experiences. Good thing aging brought Ihi down a notch. Her capers had potential to lead to a full head of gray! Oh my.....Vega's eyes....she could get away with murder. (if you suddenly disappear, we'll know what happened )

Again, thanks!!! He's breathtaking, and he knows it.

~Alex

 

[Alexandra33]

Beside OEGBs, my favorite breed for temperament? d'Uccles! These pants-wearing little goofs bring me so much joy with their fearless antics, and tendency to fly in my face.

Zara

Isabel

Zelda

Athena

Cooties, the craziest, most interesting bird I've ever met. I'm including a before vs. after picture showing "it" in 2016, then 2018.

~Alex

 

[MysteryChicken]

@MysteryChicken , those are some amazingly pretty little ladies! I'm absolutely in love with their form. In winter plumage, you say? How does this differ from breeding plumage?

@Arbutus Peregrine Fingers crossed all of your boys turn out well!

I value an unfriendly, but well-behaved rooster every bit as much as one who wants my attention constantly. Therefore, it sounds as though your d'Uccle boy is wonderful in his own way. Aren't Sebrights terribly aggressive? And as for humane caponization options, it would certainly be nice....

You're more than welcome.

@chickens really, how is Rosebud doing? I'm so very sorry. She's in my thoughts and prayers right now.

@pipdzipdnreadytogo
Thank you!!! As soon as the coop expands....or maybe before?

Awwwww, they're absolutely preciously, perfectly fat. Mottled is a stunning variety....possibly the most gorgeous. And I can actually FEEL your silkied Cochins through the screen!!! Yes to a new project!

No apologies needed, it was time well spent. Little brings me more joy than "living" others' poultry-keeping experiences. Good thing aging brought Ihi down a notch. Her capers had potential to lead to a full head of gray! Oh my.....Vega's eyes....she could get away with murder. (if you suddenly disappear, we'll know what happened )

Again, thanks!!! He's breathtaking, and he knows it.

~Alex

Winter plumage makes them darker in color, plus more downy feathers. It's also known as eclipse plumage when breeding season is over.

 

[Alexandra33]

Winter plumage makes them darker in color, plus more downy feathers. It's also known as eclipse plumage when breeding season is over.

Interesting! Thank you for the information. I was aware of eclipse plumage both from raising Mallards and birdwatching, but didn't realize it applied to Junglefowl.

~Alex

 

[MysteryChicken]

Interesting! Thank you for the information. I was aware of eclipse plumage both from raising Mallards and birdwatching, but didn't realize it applied to Junglefowl.

~Alex

It's good to know, ain't it?

 

[Delaneygraces]

Some pictures of my bantam Cochins. I have both silkied and smooth Cochin bantams at the moment and am looking forward to eventually crossing them and producing more silkie-feathered varieties. Yes, another breeding project.

Bunch of last year's pullets perched together (with two large fowl Dorking pullets on the end). Gosh, they look so different now I don't really remember who's who here! The silkied Red girl is Roxanne, I know that for sure!

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Vira. She's an oddball. She didn't get any of her mottling on her back until this year with her first adult molt. She now looks like a completely different bird!

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Rowena Such a cutie.

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Roscoe, my li'l hairy dude, showing his two sons, Rufus and Russell, where to eat when I first introduced them to him.

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Bunch of the Mottleds; this is Ida, Jasper, and Sylvie:

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And lastly, Abra (sort of partridge-colored?) and Ida (mottled) during an uneasy truce over the nest box they both wanted to use. Ida was there first, but Abra managed to boot her out not long after this picture was taken.

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Ahh!! The fluff!!!! Fluffy breeds have my heart, and I need to buy/find one to be my modern momma this upcoming breeding season.

Sweetheart's tail appears to be blooming, at long last. His is taking its sweet old time, in comparison with those of my previous Phoenix cockerels. Does anybody know approximately how much time it takes a Phoenix tail to reach maximum potential? He's currently around 7 months old.
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~Alex

Woah!!! He is stunning!! I can’t wait to see him with his full tail!!

@DelaneyMGB25, do you have any pictures of this lovely Lemon Blue boy?

Never was a name more fitting....I'm giggling like crazy. They generally exhibit enough attitude to match!
It sounds as though your remaining OEGBs are stunning! High quality, too.

@pipdzipdnreadytogo
Oh my, please tell me I have nothing to do with this! On second thought....ignore that first sentence. Creles are an absolute must, as they throw gorgeous, endless variety in colors. Not to mention that the roosters are STUNNING beyond words. Beast and Sleepy Scott are my babies. I'm dying to hatch Crele X Red Pyles from of these two.....
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Awww, I'd love to see pictures of them sometime.

Never be ashamed!!!! Before you are chicken lovers ready to ooh and ahh over the next generation of lovely, fluffy babies!

Oh my goodness, that adventurous Ihi! (I read through your entire thread a year or so back, therefore, I likely recognize most "characters" in the story ) She obviously intended to give her poor caretaker a heart attack! I'm sure you put a stop to that in a heartbeat. As for Altair and Vega, OEGBs tend to use their diminutive stature to their advantage. It's almost impossible to stay upset with them, and they know it. Just look at those precious, innocent little white faces.

Thank you! Why, yes, she is. The little brat decided to disappear again, but this time, with Beautiful by her side. Thankfully, Sweetheart found and brought them both back before dark, like a diligent gentleman should. He's on my side.

~Alex

Yes I do!! I don’t have any of my current hens (Guess I just HAVE to go spend hours taking even more photos )
But here is my sweet quadd, plus his now sold son Toulouse.(sorry for full images! The thumbnail wouldn’t load for any except the first one)

He escaped his box on the drive home from a show here!

 

[ariri30]

Ahh!! The fluff!!!! Fluffy breeds have my heart, and I need to buy/find one to be my modern momma this upcoming breeding season.




Woah!!! He is stunning!! I can’t wait to see him with his full tail!!




Yes I do!! I don’t have any of my current hens (Guess I just HAVE to go spend hours taking even more photos )
But here is my sweet quadd, plus his now sold son Toulouse.(sorry for full images! The thumbnail wouldn’t load for any except the first one)
View attachment 1947063
He escaped his box on the drive home from a show here!
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I’m in love

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

@pipdzipdnreadytogo
Thank you!!! As soon as the coop expands....or maybe before?

Awwwww, they're absolutely preciously, perfectly fat. Mottled is a stunning variety....possibly the most gorgeous. And I can actually FEEL your silkied Cochins through the screen!!! Yes to a new project!

No apologies needed, it was time well spent. Little brings me more joy than "living" others' poultry-keeping experiences. Good thing aging brought Ihi down a notch. Her capers had potential to lead to a full head of gray! Oh my.....Vega's eyes....she could get away with murder. (if you suddenly disappear, we'll know what happened )

Again, thanks!!! He's breathtaking, and he knows it.

~Alex

Before. Before is always better.

I'm just a bit obsessed with silkied feathering, so I get that sentiment of feeling it through the screen quite well. I hope some day to own as many breeds as possible in silkied feathering. I know of at least 7 more that exist, possibly an eighth, but I've only seen it mentioned once here on BYC and all the pictures I've found are on sites from other countries. These along with the OEGBs sort of augment the need for a barn in the future.

I love following those types of threads, too. But mostly I just like seeing other people's birds in the form of lots and lots of pictures.

Haha, I almost said as much about Vega!! Then I thought... Nah, probably better not joke about my own demise. Seriously, I doubt she would go that far... They have it good with me slaving over their every whim, you know.

~Alex

Goodness, Cooties is weird! No offense, of course! Have you ever gotten an egg from, err, them?

Ahh!! The fluff!!!! Fluffy breeds have my heart, and I need to buy/find one to be my modern momma this upcoming breeding season.

A bantam Cochin hen would definitely do the job! When they go broody, they cinch down and ain't nothing's gonna convince them to stop! Their little broody dinosaur noises are the cutest, too.

Love him!!

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

So, sort of off the cuff, but... Does anyone else have nicknames for specific bantam breeds?

Like, I call all of my bantam Cochins 'Munchkins'. All the OEGBs are 'Teeny-Tinies'. Anything with silkied feathering is a Fuzzy, so the silkied Cochin bantams are Munchkin Fuzzies. I do this to an extent with my large fowl breeds (for example, I call my Dorkings 'Dorks' ), but I have large fowl Cochins as well and they're just Cochins in my mind, so it's mostly a bantam thing for me for some reason.

Is... Is that just me?