Chicken Breed Focus - Sebright

[uzisuzuki]

Ok, so I had to remove the latest crower (#3 of 12) and the next one started trying out a strangled attempt at a crow in the coop that very night.

I've got this crazy idea that the problem is that I have only sebrights plus one white bird who's even smaller. This, in combination with their talky, chippy (perfect descriptor, Uzi ) nature and the absence of Roos is generating this crowing pattern. I have different kinds of chicks ordered for spring but it will be months before there's any hope of them taking over leadership of the flock. So I thought I might try to find a pair of bigger bantam hens to introduce to the flock now and try to take alpha away from the sebrights. What do you think? I'm worried about what I might be bringing in with a couple adults from a different farm and flock, maybe this is just asking for more trouble?

This is just so frustrating. I've also been reading the threads about the no-crow collars, maybe I'll try one of those on the next one.....

I used to like watching ice hockey & that's how my dad would describe players that weren't outright fighting but just on the edge. He just has a way of coming in sideways that let's me know when he's in a mood.

When Odysseus started treating me like his large hen, I was kind of in a scramble to get him some actual hens before the weather turned fully into winter. So, I ended up with 4 regular sized Polish pullets. I was worried they'd turn on him since he was so much smaller then (he must have been a pound at the most when he landed with me). But they got on on great. Whether that was dumb luck, the cold snap that hit the night I brought the ladies home, their easygoing disposition, or a combo, I'm not sure. I'm only 2 months into my second year with chickens, so maybe someone with more knowledge has a better answer?

 

[member 373180]

I used to like watching ice hockey & that's how my dad would describe players that weren't outright fighting but just on the edge. He just has a way of coming in sideways that let's me know when he's in a mood.

Funny! I'm a hockey fan, too, so maybe that's why I like the expression.

Thanks for the input. From everything I'm reading it seems like a very unusual situation and I'm just trying to identify factors in which my flock might be different from everyone else's.

 

[Faraday40]

I knew it was getting cold out there! What is my little Sebright thinking?

 

[Faraday40]

Ok So here's another breed question: We only have the pullet above, but boy is she a cry baby! When she gets scared, picked on, or even if I simply leave, she screams. It sounds so intense, so I run out to check on her, & she's perfectly fine. Now she knows that I come running when she makes that noise, so you guessed it..... she learned a new trick. Does anyone else notice that Sebrights are cry babies?

Still no Sebright eggs, but her BFF (Bubbles) just started a few days ago. They're both 5.5 months old.

 

[uzisuzuki]

Ok So here's another breed question: We only have the pullet above, but boy is she a cry baby! When she gets scared, picked on, or even if I simply leave, she screams. It sounds so intense, so I run out to check on her, & she's perfectly fine. Now she knows that I come running when she makes that noise, so you guessed it..... she learned a new trick. Does anyone else notice that Sebrights are cry babies?

Still no Sebright eggs, but her BFF (Bubbles) just started a few days ago. They're both 5.5 months old.

Mine does when his son is near him and I need to rescue him before injuries occur. He doesn't make that screaming/crying noise any other time but I thinks that's because he doesn't like me messing with his ladies.

 

[crazychimum]

having trouble posting lol is this male then? Are males noisy cos so far he hasn't made a sound...he can stay if he's quiet but not if he cries which is sad cos he's my only sebright

 

[Faraday40]

having trouble posting lol is this male then? Are males noisy cos so far he hasn't made a sound...he can stay if he's quiet but not if he cries which is sad cos he's my only sebright
A roo could be quiet if there's already a flock leader. I'm no expert, but I thought the bantam roos crow more frequently (Like those little dogs who love to bark. LOL) but the sound doesn't carry very far. My big Orpingtons rarely crow but they can be heard several blocks away when they do. To keep them quiet, they sleep in the garage. They get to go outside with the hens after 8:30am. By then their morning crowing is done.

 

[Faraday40]

Boy these Sebrights are excellent flyers! I let them out this morning & we had a light dusting of snow on the ground. While the flock was working their way toward me, Trouble took to the air. She was the last out of the run & flew about 50' (over the waddling hens) to land at my feet. It was neat to see her fly straight, then upward, then land gracefully. From my current hens, I've only seen awkward flap-running & an occasional 1-3' jump up onto a piece of furniture. They're all heavy breeds, so seeing a chicken fly is so new to me.

 

[WVduckchick]

I knew it was getting cold out there! What is my little Sebright thinking?

That is too stinkin cute!

Boy these Sebrights are excellent flyers! I let them out this morning & we had a light dusting of snow on the ground. While the flock was working their way toward me, Trouble took to the air. She was the last out of the run & flew about 50' (over the waddling hens) to land at my feet. It was neat to see her fly straight, then upward, then land gracefully. From my current hens, I've only seen awkward flap-running & an occasional 1-3' jump up onto a piece of furniture. They're all heavy breeds, so seeing a chicken fly is so new to me.

Mine are starting to fly around a bit more now too. Pretty cool huh

 

[Halloweengirl13]

My golden sebright Frigga trying to stare me down because I am sitting in the door between the aviary and the coop