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

[galanie]

I have asked this very question about pinched tails. From the back, you should see the tail make a perfect teepee shape. If the top section sort of blends together you've got a pinched tail. From the side they can be pinched too. You want each feather to be in line evenly. There's pictures out there but at least this might give you the idea.

 

[thedragonlady]

I have asked this very question about pinched tails. From the back, you should see the tail make a perfect teepee shape. If the top section sort of blends together you've got a pinched tail. From the side they can be pinched too. You want each feather to be in line evenly. There's pictures out there but at least this might give you the idea.

I find that it is easier to see pinched tails by looking down on the bird. Throw out some scratch by your feet, and see which birds are narrower in the hips (base of tail) than the others. Bet the birds who lay the most, and the largest eggs, are wide in the hips. Those wide hips, and therefore tails, leave more room for the birds' reproductive organs.

 

[fowlman01]

I have asked this very question about pinched tails. From the back, you should see the tail make a perfect teepee shape. If the top section sort of blends together you've got a pinched tail. From the side they can be pinched too. You want each feather to be in line evenly. There's pictures out there but at least this might give you the idea.

Here is one way to visualize a pinched tail. Put your hands together as if praying...that is a pinched tail from the rear of the bird. Now keep the fingers touching and move both palms out until you have an A frame or teepee. That is an open tail from the rear.

Pinched tails can also be a side thing. If the tail looks like one or two fingers it is pinched. Then look at your open hand with all fingers open and extended. That is a full tail.

Pinched tails are usually a sign that the bird is an unthrifty bird.....as is a tail angle of 80-90 degree's.

Walt

 

[Ridgerunner]

I don't have nearly the experience or knowledge as many people on here as far as breeding. This point has been touched on but I don't think it has been emphasized enough. Something I've learned with my little backyard project is that you need to be able and willing to hatch out a lot of chickens and raise them to a point that you can make a rational decision on which ones to keep. I only hatch enough for the two of us to eat. Except for injury or disease, I don't cull, kill, or in any way dispose of any chicks until they are eating size. Even with my limited goals it is hard to improve my flock with those few chickens to choose from.

I can't imagine how many you would have to hatch to get them to conform to the SOP and then keep them there. As someone mentioned, just a couple of generations of bad breeders and you have lost everything you have gained. To be able to choose good breeders you need a lot to choose from.

 

[fowlman01]

I don't have nearly the experience or knowledge as many people on here as far as breeding. This point has been touched on but I don't think it has been emphasized enough. Something I've learned with my little backyard project is that you need to be able and willing to hatch out a lot of chickens and raise them to a point that you can make a rational decision on which ones to keep. I only hatch enough for the two of us to eat. Except for injury or disease, I don't cull, kill, or in any way dispose of any chicks until they are eating size. Even with my limited goals it is hard to improve my flock with those few chickens to choose from.
I can't imagine how many you would have to hatch to get them to conform to the SOP and then keep them there. As someone mentioned, just a couple of generations of bad breeders and you have lost everything you have gained. To be able to choose good breeders you need a lot to choose from.

Once you get your birds to where you want them (for either show or utility) it is much easier to keep them that way and requires far less birds hatched.....if you follow good breeding practices and there are several ways to do it. There are several systems in the beginning of the Oriental game bird thread.

Walt

 

[thedragonlady]

Once you get your birds to where you want them (for either show or utility) it is much easier to keep them that way and requires far less birds hatched.....if you follow good breeding practices and there are several ways to do it. There are several systems in the beginning of the Oriental game bird thread.

Walt

Walt is right on. Once I got my Silkie line going, I never kept more than 10 birds of each color in white, black, buff and grey. They were all the same shape, and all carried a very high percentage of white blood for type. I showed a lot, but I never took more than 8 birds to a show. That was the joint ABA-APA Natl. in Columbus of 10,000 birds. What fun that was! BV,RV, BB,RB across the board on those 8 birds. Now if I can just get my Orps there, I'll be a happy gal!

You don't have to show to enjoy a level flock. They will perform better if their similarities are correct for the job you intend.

 

[Christie Rhae]

wow..this is my new favorite thread!

 

[wgidir]

Christie Rhae: where are you in Hawaii? I am from Oahu and my husband is a big island boy. We are doing a swap meet run this weekend as a matter of fact. I plan on keeping my eyes peeled for chickens since this is my first trip back since we got our flock.

 

[Christie Rhae]

Christie Rhae: where are you in Hawaii? I am from Oahu and my husband is a big island boy. We are doing a swap meet run this weekend as a matter of fact. I plan on keeping my eyes peeled for chickens since this is my first trip back since we got our flock.

I am on the Big Island! Are you on Oahu now? I am so bummed I missed the big farm fair they have on Oahu every year. I am going for sure next summer.

 

[wgidir]

I am on the Big Island! Are you on Oahu now? I am so bummed I missed the big farm fair they have on Oahu every year. I am going for sure next summer.

No - we are on the mainland but making a trip to Oahu tomorrow. My husband's family is in Kohala.