Chickens for 10-20 years or more? Pull up a rockin' chair and lay some wisdom on us!

[Beekissed]

Nothing? Aw, c'mon, folks!!! Tear these gals apart! I'm curious if what I know about one of them shows up in your critiques of their builds.

 

[fowlman01]

Let's have some fun....can you breeder OTs tell me some points about these two birds that you like and/or dislike?

The first one shows a very good front and good width of back. On the negative side she has a cushion at the base of the tail and the tail is pinched. ....all the feathers in a bunch unlike the other bird that has a very nice back line and a well spread tail good width of feather and good condition overall. The second one could have a shallow lower breast, but I can't see well enough.

I will add that pictures online can be very misleading and for all I know they could be the same bird. In addition I am not grading it as a breed, both birds look to be in excellent condition.

Walt

 

[galanie]

Nothing?  Aw, c'mon, folks!!!  Tear these gals apart!  I'm curious if what I know about one of them shows up in your critiques of their builds. 

 

I'm not an OT but I like chesty girls with lots of egg laying. Dang, and I'm a woman, too!

For a utility flock the first is most certainly chesty but does she lay well?

 

[Beekissed]

The first one shows a very good front and good width of back. On the negative side she has a cushion at the base of the tail and the tail is pinched. ....all the feathers in a bunch unlike the other bird that has a very nice back line and a well spread tail good width of feather and good condition overall. The second one could have a shallow lower breast, but I can't see well enough.

I will add that pictures online can be very misleading and for all I know they could be the same bird. In addition I am not grading it as a breed, both birds look to be in excellent condition.

Walt

Excellent critique! Let's see if I can find a side pic of that second gal...




I think the same thing as you, Walt. The first hen has something amiss in her tail end...I've never seen that weird pad of feathers before and such a low slung tail head. Underneath that tail is a vent with an overbite, so to speak. It's not designed correctly and it's much, much too loose even when not in lay. Consequently, this creates a leaky valve...she has a messy butt most of the time and has a continual problem with ulcers at the corners of the vent. When she came to me she had pretty bad gleet and though that has been cleared up, her vent is decidedly not healthy. She is a cull bird and is next on my list.

The second hen, to me, has a flat chest even when in good condition. I love her tail and tent but she is too narrow all along her frame for her breed, and her chest, though wide now, is just as you said...flat. I don't know her laying abilities yet and even her age..she is not one of mine but got thrown into the mix along the way.

Guess that's why you are the judge, Walt! Good eye.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Let's have some fun....can you breeder OTs tell me some points about these two birds that you like and/or dislike?

The first one would make good dumplings. The second has possibilities. Have you weighed her?

 

[al6517]

Quote:


I also prefer a chesty girl the bigger the better, I also don't mind what Walt said about having a little cushion, doesn't bother me in the least.

 

[stonykill]

while not an OT I really want to see a rear view. I always compliment my girls on their wide stance with chunky thighs. Those girls always lay nice fat eggs.

 

[Beekissed]

The first one would make good dumplings. The second has possibilities. Have you weighed her?

Don't have the capabilities here but if I had to guestimate her weight it would be around 4-5 lbs. She's small and might not be a pure BA, judging from her shape and size.

Yes..Ruby Crockett will be tasty dumplings! Here's a pic of her horribly amiss vent when cleaned up....now, keep in mind this is upside down, so the bottom lip in this pic is actually the top of the vent.

We call this one the "Happy Vent" pic because of her big smile....




...and over on the Road Thread we've had much fun with captions for the "Mad Vent" pic of Ruby's vent.

These pics show pretty clearly what lies under that underslung tail head...an overbite on a vent.

 

[Fred's Hens]

I also prefer a chesty girl the bigger the better, I also don't mind what Walt said about having a little cushion, doesn't bother me in the least.

We're still taking about the birds, right?

 

[al6517]

LOL birds, chicks whatever heheheheee.