Blue Andalusian thread!

[Hens and Roos]

I got a Blue Andalusian yesterday but she's from a hatchery... Do I still qualify for this thread? LOL

sure do! Welcome

 

[Lacy Blues]

This thread is for people who have them, regardless of their quality, so yes, you qualify. Enjoy her... they're fun.

 

[Malibu99]

Thanks I'll try to get pictures tomorrow.

 

[Malibu99]

Meet Anastasia

 

[chickenbutte]

Hello Andalusian friends. I am new to chickens. This spring my family hatched an assortment of eggs. We were lucky to get an Andalusian. Greyson, as my kids have named it, is now about 8 weeks old. Is there any noticible differences at this age, that would help to determine a pullet from a cockeral. Any info would be great.

 

[Lacy Blues]

If you have a cockerel at age 8 weeks, you'll know it.

Larger comb and they stand a bit taller too.

 

[momabuck]

We got three Blue Andalusians on Tuesday. Beautiful little chicks and very active. Hopefully all hens but if not we know a farm nearby that will take him.

 

[Thassa]

I have a really pretty boy who was my freebie from Murray last summer. I have a question about the breed. To they have a gait that is different from other breeds? Its really hard to explain but even my friends that don't have chickens notice it. Its like his legs are put on funny or his hips aren't bending. He walk almost with a goose step. I've checked his feet and he doesn't have bumble foot and I can't feel anything wrong with him.

 

[Lacy Blues]

How old is he? and what do you feed him?

 

[Lacy Blues]

Ok, whenever you get back on here...

You need to feed him something with calcium in it. A lot of people are afraid of feeding a layer ration to roosters but they need calcium too. If you'll notice on the bag of layer ration, it says to also provide free choice oyster shell along with the pellets so it isn't so high in calcium that it will hurt the rooster.

One thing I've noticed with the Andalusians is that by the time they are about 3 months old, they'll start walking like that so before that time is the time to start a ration higher in calcium than chick starter. Flock Raiser is good as it has a higher calcium content. On occasion, I will toss a handful of oyster shell to my roosters, some of them eat it, some don't but its there if they decide they want it and I don't watch for very long. However, I wouldn't rely on the oyster shell to fix him, a ration with higher calcium where it is part of his daily ration will do a lot for him. I'm guessing he's coming up onto one year of age? It may take a couple weeks before you notice he's not walking like that anymore.