constructing a single chicken family unit for porch

[centrarchid]

Interesting observations made today. While mowing lawn I saw bulk of free-range flock fly from farthest part of free range back to house (see image below). Distance by some exceeded 300 feet. Those flying longest leg flew along roadway, evidently pushed into flight by vehicle driving down same roadway. First I saw a red jungle fowl hen, then Sallie immediately followed by Eduardo as they flew into area I was mowing. Chick (Spud) appears to have attempted same distance in two legs, each about 100 feet. She was unable to keep up. A second red jungle fowl flew her 200 foot path about 10 minutes later over a pasture of tall fescue. Distances covered quite a bit greater than those performed when coming off roost in winter. I was very surprized at Spud's performance since she is 50% dominique.

Sallie also starting to peck Spud once in a while but not hard.

Sallie and red jungle fowl hen squabling over who can lay egg first in same nest.

Flight paths in yellow (red jungle fowl 1, Sallie and Eduardo), blue (Spud) and red (red jungle fowl 2).

The egg song (wah-wah-wahh!) definantly comes before egg deposition. Sallie was making it big time after flight while trying to get into her nest. I removed red jungle fowl hen from nest called in Sallie and picked her up and placed near nest. She stepped of my hand, walked into nest and got down to business @ 1200. I will sit with her to determine exact laying time.

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
Must have been the call of something good to eat....

 

[centrarchid]

No food available at time of flight. Motivation not clear. Appears leading hens will have each produced an egg within an hour following flight. Possibly flight may have been simply back to nest. Eduardo possibly wanted to stay with hens producting his offspring. I know he likes to cover them as soon as they come off nest.

Lots of conjecture here.

 

[centrarchid]

Flock is waiting I guess for Sallie to finish laying egg. Spud is standing tight with Eduardo (see below). Hen I removed from nest before she was ready now making sound hens make after coming off nest and walking some distance. Yes, Eduardo covered her and she shut up. Interesting.


I think I can hear Sallie grunting as she passes the egg......

Sallie left nest with new egg by 1235. She is back in flock with Spud in tow.

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
That picture with Eduardo and Spud is priceless. Eduardo is a handsome fellow. Reminiscent of the San Diego Zoo Jungle Fowl we used to get around here. These are a cross I am sure they used to keep at the Zoo to help with the insect population.

 

[centrarchid]

perchie.girl :

Quote:
That picture with Eduardo and Spud is priceless. Eduardo is a handsome fellow. Reminiscent of the San Diego Zoo Jungle Fowl we used to get around here. These are a cross I am sure they used to keep at the Zoo to help with the insect population.

He is similar to a jungle fowl although almost twice the size. Sallie, his sister, is nearly identical in coloration to the red jungle fowl hens they range with. Eduardo also not quite wild type in coloration as he lacks the duckwing of male red jungle fowl. He is good looking bird and extremely trustworthy to have around kids not familiar with livestock. I have red some about red jungle fowl research from San Diego Zoo I think. Pretty cool stuff. I would like to replicate with grey jungle fowl.​

 

[centrarchid]

It appears Sallie is setting out to prove interval between eggs need not exceede 24 hours. Interval between last two could not have been more than 24 hours. She has been doing "egg song" big time since before 1100 and if she pops this one out prior to 1200, then less than 24 hours possible and maybe not unusual. As she made the annoying "egg song" she jumped up on me and computer forcing me to re-type this whole post. I placed her near nest and she stepped right in and got down to business. Spud followed her in and is trilling while sitting next to her mother (Image below).

Just saw the red jungle fowl that is laying fly from day roost on opposite side of fescue pasture to front yard. Distance ~ 200 feet. She will be approaching nest shortly to lay as well. Apparently even need to lay an egg can motivate a voluntary flight.

I am curious to see if Spud will engage in alloparenting when brood 2 hatches. So many other bird species around here do it. I am pretty sure I have seen in past where juvenile female from previous brood would associate with mother and subsequent brood. Would make biological sense.

 

[centrarchid]

Yes, Sallie produced egg before 1154. Therefore roughly 23 hours between last and next to last eggs produced.

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
Curious. Do you think since she lost all but one of her first brood that some sort of biological trigger has ramped up her egg production? For replacements?

Spuds cute.... its like shes taking notes.

 

[centrarchid]

perchie.girl :

Quote:
Curious. Do you think since she lost all but one of her first brood that some sort of biological trigger has ramped up her egg production? For replacements?

In a way yes. Sallie has been able to put on weight since loosing bulk of brood 1. She now has reserves so egg production can resume. She is not trying to replace lost bitties, rather she is trying to optimize fitness / reproductive output by producing as many quality chicks as she can during her relatively short life. I will not be surprised if she attempts a third brood even if second survives.

The shortened interval between eggs I think is a function of optimal temperature and extremely good nutrition provided by her foraging and my modest supplementation. Previous brood had eggs produced at intervals of about 29 hours.​