Chantecler Thread!

[shelleyb1969]

Hmmm...I must've missed the census project topic.

My one and only partridge Chantecler hen, "Brownie" is actually the only broody I have in my free ranging flock. And she's very good at it to be so young. She'll leave her nest box, too, to forage and drink. But no other hen dares to get in it or they know they'll get a good booty kicking.

Miss Brownie is queen of all 21 free ranging birds...no one messes with her.

 

[HaikuHeritageFarm]

I haven't heard about that census project, either! For the record, I've just got the one buff cockerel.

 

[ChooksChick]

Well, I've determined that I've been counting wrong all along, and that 5 of my 16 Partridges are pullets, 12 weeks tomorrow.

I'm now at leisure to observe the remaining 10 cockerels for the best conformance to standard, and I'm ruling out the boys who are too black, too gold (rather than red), who are too short, too lanky, etc.

I'm wondering if there's a preference between clearly columbian neck feathering and feathering that is more solid? Does anyone know what the SOP called for? Also, some of my pullets have black in the neck, while others have a solid neck. I'm not sure which to select for.

 

[shelleyb1969]

My buff count is steadily rising.

I started out with 10 this past spring....sold 6. A few weeks ago I got 7 more from Sand Hill Preservation....still way too young to cull any. And in a few more weeks, I'm meeting up with a breeder from Wisconsin for a young breeding pair...definitely won't be culling them. So hopefully by next spring I'll have a nice breeding flock. Nothing against the partridge as I do own one, but I just love the buffs...they're so pretty, calm, and quiet.

 

[HaikuHeritageFarm]

Quote:
Shelly, that's what I'm finding with this boy, too. Are yours kind of "fluffy" as well, or more tight feathered? Seems like the whites I've seen were pretty tight-feathered. Couldn't tell as much with the partridge....I'd love to see pictures of yours!

 

[shelleyb1969]

Mine are quite fluffy compared to my partridge. They have big poofy pantaloons.

I'm not sure if they're supposed to be that way, though. I can't wait for my APA Standard of Perfection book to arrive. There's so much I need to read up on.

I'll get some pics of my young adults tomorrow. Also, mine are very regal looking in their eyes and posture. Are yours?

 

[HaikuHeritageFarm]

Quote:
Regal? Nah. This dude's kinda dopey, but in a sweet way.

It may just be because he's currently the low man on the totem-pole. We'll see if his posture improves one he's got his own digs with his own gals. I'm really looking forward to seeing how his babies turn out with both the Brahmas and the Orloffs, but I just may have to add on a few Chantecler girls for my spring orders, too.

 

[TimG]

I recently read this elsewhere in these forums and saved a copy:

APA Partridge Color Standard

Color of Male
HEAD: Surface of feather, brilliant shade of rich red.
NECK: Hackle - surface of feather, lustrous, greenish black with narrow edging around entire surface of rich brilliant red; shaft, black: to match saddle. Front of neck - black.
BACK: Surface of feather, lustrous greenish black with narrow edging around entire surface of a medium shade of rich brilliant red, a slight shafting of rich red is permissible. The surface of upper back should appear to be rich glossy red when viewed from a distance too great to distinguish the individual feathers.
SADDLE: Surface of feather, lustrous greenish black with narrow edging around the entire surface of rich brilliant red, shaft black; to match hackle in color.
TAIL: Main tail - black, shafts black. Sickles and lesser sickles - lustrous black. Coverts - lustrous greenish black, with narrow edging around the entire surface of rich brilliant red.
WINGS: Shoulders and fronts - black. Bows - medium shade of brilliant red. Coverts - lustrous greenish black, forming a well defined bar when wing is folded. Primaries exposed portion of outer web forming wing bay, reddish bay; shafts, black.
BREAST: Lustrous black with greenish sheen.
BODY & STERN: Body - black. Stern - fluff, black, slightly tinged red.
LOWER THIGHS: Black.

I've been told from the pictures that I've posted of my cockerel that he really isn't black enough through the chest (I mention this because someone mentioned too much black).​

 

[Chickanmanfromarkansas]

If I were to order Chanteclers from a hatchery who would be the best one to order from? I know that Ideal carries them and so does Meyer hatchery. Which variety would be the best to get, Meyer has Buff limit 10, Ideal has the Partridge, Red , and Buff. Sand Hill
Preservation carries the White variety.
Thinking about getting some and want to knowwhich hatchery carry the closest to the SOP.

 

[shelleyb1969]

Quote:
I was told that if you must get some from a hatchery, go with Sand Hill. I asked a buff Chantecler breeder your exact question and that's what he told me. But you won't get whites from them until AT LEAST next summer...maybe even later than that. You could also order some from John Blehm at ChickHatchery.com. He has buffs and partridge. You won't get them until next spring, though. I know John...he's a very nice man and a very dedicated poultryman.