Chicken Breed Focus - Sumatra

[BullFrogDog]

To those familiar with Sumatras, would you say they are not a breed for the beginner? I'm not new to chickens, but theres alot to still learn and I've been getting mixed results on temperments of these birds.

I have pullets ordered already, as Im bull headed and will do my darndest to keep anything I like. And Ive fallen for Sumatras.

 

[Gray Farms]

I wouldn't recommend them to people who are buying chickens for the first time. They're fairly wild birds and don't like people around they aren't used to.

 

[BullFrogDog]

Ok, I will keep that in mind.
The girls will be a few days old when they get here. What do you recommend for getting them used to us as they grow, Gray Farms? I am not worried about others outside the household being able to be around them. Should all of the family handle/get them hand friendly as soon as we can? Of course, not at the expense of the babies' health since they'll be so young at first.

Also, I have been wondering how intelligent they are.

 

[Gray Farms]

I'd recommend that anybody who is going to be around them regularly do so as soon as possible and as much as possible. They won't like being handled so be careful that they are not dropped or injured if they try to escape. As with all breeds, chickens are very smart. Almost problem solving intelligence at times. In the game breeds, like Sumatras, its especially true. They will seize any chance to escape their pens. And if they get out its extremely hard to catch them again, they extremely fast and very good fliers.

 

[BullFrogDog]

Everything noted^-^ Thank you very much for the information!

 

[itspebbl]

I love Sumatras. They are one of my favorite breeds! I wish I could get some good quality ones someday(I don't have any though)

 

[Then I Will]

Hi guys,
Is it too late to jump into this thread?
I'm getting back into chicken ownership after having married and moved across the country. I had good success letting my broody game hens raise chicks for me in the past, so I'm very interested in up-keeping a rarer chicken breed for fun and for the preservation of a threatened breed. I really admire the black Sumatras and plan on ordering a clutch from Murray McMurray hatchery this year.
Because my property is not suitable for free-ranging (neighbors, cats, and oh...a busy road out back)-- I aim to have a fairly large run/aviary available for this breed.

From owning game hens in the past, I know how crazy they are for the wild horizons, but wonder if always penned in a large run from chicks on up if they'll have an easier time with it.

Also, is this a hard breed to show? What is required to make a Black Sumatra a show-worthy bird? (I know some breeds are harder than others, such as Andalusians require blue and breed blue out to black and white and then back to blue again.)

 

[Gray Farms]

Hi guys,
Is it too late to jump into this thread?
I'm getting back into chicken ownership after having married and moved across the country. I had good success letting my broody game hens raise chicks for me in the past, so I'm very interested in up-keeping a rarer chicken breed for fun and for the preservation of a threatened breed. I really admire the black Sumatras and plan on ordering a clutch from Murray McMurray hatchery this year.
Because my property is not suitable for free-ranging (neighbors, cats, and oh...a busy road out back)-- I aim to have a fairly large run/aviary available for this breed.

From owning game hens in the past, I know how crazy they are for the wild horizons, but wonder if always penned in a large run from chicks on up if they'll have an easier time with it.

Also, is this a hard breed to show? What is required to make a Black Sumatra a show-worthy bird? (I know some breeds are harder than others, such as Andalusians require blue and breed blue out to black and white and then back to blue again.)

They adapt to confinement well. So you'll have no trouble there. Sumatra females are easier to show than males due to keeping up with their tails. And keeping the faces of males dark is hard to breed for. The best advice I have for show Sumatras "or any breed" is to start with the best stock you can afford and breed up from there. Ideally find someone who shows themselves and try to acquire stock from them if possible. Most breeders will be glad to get another person started in their breed. And will sell some of their "lesser" stock, don't expect them to sell their best. But it will get you started. Might even sell you some eggs. I wouldn't start with hatchery stock if you intend to show someday. It'll take several more generations to breed up something show quality. Have patience and find a breeder rather than jumping right in a getting hatchery birds.

 

[Then I Will]

Thanks for the reply,
I was not aware that one had to breed for black faces. I assumed that once you had purebred stock with black faces you would continue to hatch birds with black faces.
I'm perfectly fine with going through a few generations to create show quality birds as I have patience and time for this, but will try to find a breeder first. Also, it's unfortunate that Pennsylvania has no listed Sumatra breeder!!

Does anyone know if and how mature chickens are shipped? Supposing I found a breeder some states away- Or, can anyone link me to breeders nearby Pennsylvania?

 

[Gray Farms]

Yes mature birds are shipped. But with game breed.... I wouldn't recommend it. If they should get frightened they could escape if the box doesn't hold. Or get injured if the box does hold. I bought eggs from a breeder in PA once, I'll see if I can dig up the information for you. The dark faces in male is hard to control, even in show stock. I've bred Black Sumatras longer than I haven't and still get red faces. As you can see from one of my pictures posted here.