Chantecler Thread!

[Chantecler7]

http://chanteclerfanciersinternational.org Breeders Directory link

 

[Blackhorsehill]

Everything that could go wrong, did go wrong at my place over the summer. Injured hens, injured roosters, problem after problem with mechanical equipment, predators from hell, you name it. I scheduled deliveries only to have yet one more thing happen and be unable to make the deliveries.

As of now things have settled down, and the good thing is that I have a lot of nice looking birds growing out. I do have quite a few of them finally spoken for, but may have some limited trios from 2 or 3 lines later in the fall.

It is difficult to plan things out because I do not ship, and my main priority for the incubator space is my geese, but hopefully I should be able to have hatching eggs next year. My breeding pens are done for now.

This would be for the White Chantecler only.

 

[sonz77]

I'm curious about sexing whites? I have a WHOLE bunch and am newer to chickens. I seem to be mistaken on most of my guesses, but I wouldn't want to get rid of any pullets. They are 9 and 11 weeks old now. Some seem to really have a red face, lumpier combs and slightly larger wattles, I assume they are the cockerels?

Any advice would be appreciated. I don't understand the difference in feathering, it all looks the same to me

 

[sonz77]

Thank you for that!!! I was losing hope in finding any breeders near me!! This is great!!

 

[Chantecler7]

I'm curious about sexing whites? I have a WHOLE bunch and am newer to chickens. I seem to be mistaken on most of my guesses, but I wouldn't want to get rid of any pullets. They are 9 and 11 weeks old now. Some seem to really have a red face, lumpier combs and slightly larger wattles, I assume they are the cockerels?

Any advice would be appreciated. I don't understand the difference in feathering, it all looks the same to me

At that age you cannot go strictly by combs and wattles. Check the new feathers growing out just in front of the tail, on their backs.
If these feathers are coming in pointed they are cockerels. If they are more rounded they are pullets. Those are the saddle feathers in males, the cushion area in pullets.

 

[sonz77]

Thanks, I shall be attempting this later today!! I've been looking at the tails themselves (probably why it all looks the same), not the feathers just in front. I haven't really understood exactly where the saddle feathers were, that should help quite a bit!

 

[unkadan]

I took a few pictures of my 16 week old birds maybe these will help with that feather question. My first season with this breed. (click the image to enlarge)

2 pullets

cockerel

same k bird from the front

Not the best pictures but should help with your questions. At some point soon I will try and get some good shots of a few of these birds to post I am in the process of making culling decisions. They are the best foraging free range I have here, very nice birds all around. I look forward to working with this breed.

 

[sonz77]

Those are very helpful!! Thanks!! I found this breed by complete fluke, I did some research and they interest me and they're beautiful!!

 

[Blackhorsehill]

Not the best pictures but should help with your questions. At some point soon I will try and get some good shots of a few of these birds to post I am in the process of making culling decisions. They are the best foraging free range I have here, very nice birds all around. I look forward to working with this breed.

Unkadan, that is an interesting observation, and one that I have made as well. These birds range probably the farthest out of any of my chickens. It isn't unusual to see them halfway down my horse pasture. I used to worry about aerial predators, but don't anymore, as they are very hawk wise. Earlier in the year, I lost a lot of young birds I was growing out to hawks. Some of my colored egg cross breeds, and most of my partridge (Albertan/Chantecler), but only one white.

Just a wild guess, but I wonder if the tendency to forage also comes with those hawk watching instincts. The partridge birds tend to just stay in small areas and scratch, as opposed to searching around. So, they might not be as able to see the shadow as quickly. Nice head on the cockerel!

 

[thesweetone]

Natalie in Burlington has chanteclers. You can find her at http://www.auburnacresfarm.com/ I'm going tomorrow to pick up a few more hens...