Chantecler Thread!

[RhodeRunner]

I am not seeing the difference here. My birds look just like this picture as far as color. I could use an example of bunny tail.
Thank you for the overall go on these birds. I think the cock I had a pic of is pretty darn good for type... just not enough black in the chest. Plop her on a scale huh? I have yet to have a scale here, not even one for people. What's a good way to get a chicken to sit still on one of these? So... who has a darker bird they want to share?

The following hen I posted, is a perfect example of a bunny tail! See how short it is?

There is actually a color difference in those two hens, though it isn't easy to see. The one above is orange in that photo, the one below is red. The Partridge color is very difficult to photograph, as the camera flash lightens the color, and has a hard time focusing on all the penciling.

For now I will use these Wyandottes as examples (none of these are my birds.)

UK Partridge (This is the desired Partridge color in the UK)



Desirable Partridge coloration in the USA



Most PC's are somewhere between these two colors.

Weight: I use a baby scale. I just plop them on it. If you have troubles you can get a human scale, and hold the chicken for a weight measurement, and subtract your weight. You could also put the chicken in a box.

 

[toofarout]

I think my location (Alaska) might have a bit to do with my bad luck with eggs. However, there is someone else in Alaska that went for the hatching eggs from Fayrehale and apparently had some luck!

Toofarout, it is threatening snow here today too after a streak of lovely weather. I'm sure it won't amount to much, but it's disheartening nonetheless. I will definitely post when they arrive.

Thank you!

 

[Jake Levi]

Thanks Rhode Runner, very good comparisons. They help.

 

[ashandvine]

Oh, you were talking hackles!! I kept looking at the partridge pattern thinking they look the same to me. The judge who recently looked at my birds said the pattern was really well defined and clean so that is nice. And YES bunny tail is what I thought. I can see it in that hen but I know people can be sensitive. Maybe she was young and growing out her tail... or something Hackle color is something I can watch. I have BCM that I work with a little here so that's familiar to me. Not sure I can get that darker color with these reddish males here BUT we'll see what the next year brings.

Does anyone else notice their birds having dry legs? The judge also told me I should be moisturizing their legs. What with?

 

[Apyl]

I have White Chanteclers and have no intention of showing. So their main purpose is being dual purpose for me as the were bred to do. Is there a certain age I should aim for , to butchering for meat ? Also about when do they mature for laying ?

 

[ashandvine]

I want to give showing a try. You learn so much! I also figure it can't hurt to learn what they 'should be like' and eat the rest Looks like I have a long way to go.

 

[RhodeRunner]

Oh, you were talking hackles!! I kept looking at the partridge pattern thinking they look the same to me. The judge who recently looked at my birds said the pattern was really well defined and clean so that is nice. And YES bunny tail is what I thought. I can see it in that hen but I know people can be sensitive. Maybe she was young and growing out her tail... or something Hackle color is something I can watch. I have BCM that I work with a little here so that's familiar to me. Not sure I can get that darker color with these reddish males here BUT we'll see what the next year brings.

Does anyone else notice their birds having dry legs? The judge also told me I should be moisturizing their legs. What with?

Yes, I was speaking of hackles. But, the general body should be the same color as the hackles, in the brown penciling areas. Sorry, for not being specific, I have a knack for that. For some reason, I have noticed that for most birds the darker they are, the worse the penciling is.

I wish her tail was growing in, but that hen has always had a pathetic tail. You can tell bunny tails pretty early on, as they just are not as long as their siblings.

We never had any problems with dry legs on the Chantecler. (Feather legged fowl have been a different story.) But, moisturizing their legs, probably would make them a lot nicer. They sell a leg moisturizer a Cutlers Poultry Supply, called Blue Ribbon. But, I imagine any safe oil would work, such as butter, cooking oil, bag balm, or bee wax.

 

[Blackhorsehill]

I have White Chanteclers and have no intention of showing. So their main purpose is being dual purpose for me as the were bred to do. Is there a certain age I should aim for , to butchering for meat ? Also about when do they mature for laying ?

Depending on your growth rate, you could look at 4 months for butchering. I usually wait until 6 months because I like to get a good look at the boys before I make a final decision. If you seem something obvious, like a bad comb, you could do it earlier, of course. As far as laying, generally 5 to 6 months old.

I just sent some 4 week old chicks to Nevada (by vehicle) and I think I was able to choose with a certain amount of certainty girls vs. boys, but honestly, I feel much better at 8 weeks. By then, you start to get some obvious differences showing up. I can't tell you how many times when going through the young stock that I marked one down as a pullet, only to have them start showing up as cockerels a week or two later. Seems like they all have the rounded feathers until a certain point. Then, bam...

 

[Apyl]

Quote: Thank you for the info Age wise that will work out perfect for the butchering. They were born April 3rd so that will bring us to end fo Sept / begingin Oct, so the weather will be perfect.
and sounds average for laying. Very good !

Do you supplement light in the winter for laying ?

 

[Blackhorsehill]

Thank you for the info Age wise that will work out perfect for the butchering. They were born April 3rd so that will bring us to end fo Sept / begingin Oct, so the weather will be perfect.
and sounds average for laying. Very good !

Do you supplement light in the winter for laying ?

I never use supplemental light for laying. If I'm trying to breed for winter laying with out light, then adding light defeats the purpose.

I have that as one of my criteria, even with my cross-breeding experiments. The White Chantecler and the Albertans are pretty reliable for laying without light. They don't lay as many eggs as when they have more light, but they do indeed provide them.

It will be interesting to see how they turn out for you. In general, one of the problems I've been seeing and hearing about is a tendency for birds that are too small. I think there are a variety of reasons for this, depending on what traits people are selecting for.