Calling all Koekoek owners

[lanichicken346]

Hello everyone

About a month or so ago I got 2 koekoek hens. They are now 10 weeks old. There isn't a lot of info about them on the internet. Most mistake them for barred rocks. They are beautiful birds and are indigenous to South Africa. I thought I would start this thread for all koekoek owners to share info and photos of this chicken breed. Here are my 2 pullets...

To all that do owe them..how big do they get? I'm really excited to see what they will look like when they grow up.

 

[Pyxis]

Very cute with the little crest! Are they supposed to have that feature? Looks like they're a south African breed, there's an old thread for them here, you might be able to ask those that posted for more info on them.

Apparently they were made by crossing white leghorns and black australorps (and probably more breeds to get the barring and crest) so they'll probably be decent layers with the leghorn ancestry.

 

[lanichicken346]

Thanks I'll check it out

 

[chameleon]

Hey there, and welcome! I've also been looking for more info on Koekoeks but can't find much. I'm assuming you're in SA? I'm in the garden route area and I'm getting my first Koekoek chicks this afternoon, I can't wait! I'm not sure exactly how big they get but from what I understand they should get pretty big. The breeder I'm getting mine from says they get on very well with New Hampshires and you can cross them to get sex linked chicks so they should be about the same size.

Very cute with the little crest! Are they supposed to have that feature? Looks like they're a south African breed, there's an old thread for them here, you might be able to ask those that posted for more info on them.

Apparently they were made by crossing white leghorns and black australorps (and probably more breeds to get the barring and crest) so they'll probably be decent layers with the leghorn ancestry.

It was developed by cross breeding a number of other breeds like Black Australorp, White Leghorn, and Barred Plymouth Rock to obtain specific characteristics of each, making the resulting breed more suitable to Southern African conditions. After that they selectively bred for the barring gene. It is funny that one of yours has a crest, I've never seen that on a Koekoek before. They are beautiful birds.

Let's hope more people with Koekoek experience pitch in

 

[chameleon]

Sorry, just thought I'd add for the sake of completeness:

Koekoeks are considered a dual purpose chicken, but I found a study that was conducted recently that shows that of all the indigenous South African breeds, Koekoeks are the best layers, averaging 4 eggs per week.

 

[lanichicken346]

Hey there, and welcome! I've also been looking for more info on Koekoeks but can't find much. I'm assuming you're in SA? I'm in the garden route area and I'm getting my first Koekoek chicks this afternoon, I can't wait! I'm not sure exactly how big they get but from what I understand they should get pretty big. The breeder I'm getting mine from says they get on very well with New Hampshires and you can cross them to get sex linked chicks so they should be about the same size.
It was developed by cross breeding a number of other breeds like Black Australorp, White Leghorn, and Barred Plymouth Rock to obtain specific characteristics of each, making the resulting breed more suitable to Southern African conditions. After that they selectively bred for the barring gene. It is funny that one of yours has a crest, I've never seen that on a Koekoek before. They are beautiful birds.

Let's hope more people with Koekoek experience pitch in

Hi. Thanks for contributing with some info. Yes I am in Cape Town. I've also never seen a crest on a koekoek before. I got them from a reputable chicken breeder and she assured me she is a koekoek. She definitely looks like one. The crest must just be a random thing lol. How old are the ones you are getting? Please post pics of them if you can.

 

[chameleon]

Hi. Thanks for contributing with some info. Yes I am in Cape Town. I've also never seen a crest on a koekoek before. I got them from a reputable chicken breeder and she assured me she is a koekoek. She definitely looks like one. The crest must just be a random thing lol. How old are the ones you are getting? Please post pics of them if you can.

She's very cute with the crest, you should breed her to get more crested Koekoeks
The chicks were day olds when I ordered them but the guy is taking forever to deliver them. They should be about a week old when they arrive. I'll definitely put some pics.
The guy forgot to bring them today so he's delivering them tomorrow (I hope).

 

[lanichicken346]

She's very cute with the crest, you should breed her to get more crested Koekoeks
The chicks were day olds when I ordered them but the guy is taking forever to deliver them. They should be about a week old when they arrive. I'll definitely put some pics.
The guy forgot to bring them today so he's delivering them tomorrow (I hope).

I wish I could but I don't think roosters would go down well with my neighbours. I already have a leghorn rooster which I have to get rid of. Bought him when he was 7 weeks old thinking he was a she.
How many did you order?

 

[chameleon]

I wish I could but I don't think roosters would go down well with my neighbours. I already have a leghorn rooster which I have to get rid of. Bought him when he was 7 weeks old thinking he was a she.
How many did you order?

Oh, sorry. I've ordered 5 Koekoeks and 5 New Hampshires. I don't know yet if I will keep the roosters or not. I live on a small farm just outside town so the neighbours aren't an issue, but my husband doesn't like the noise, so I'll see how it goes.

 

[lanichicken346]

You must be very excited! 2 great breeds