constructing a single chicken family unit for porch

[welasharon]

My shamo has gotten one hen whipped into shape (she had just started to lay) but hasn't quite managed to get the other in line yet. She has not started laying yet. Does whether or not they have started laying have anything to do with the effort he will put into the fight?
sharon

 

[centrarchid]

Quote:
Maybe. My males are more inclined to "cut wing" for birds with redder face, comb and wattles. Hens early in laying tend to have redder such surfaces and roosters tend to be more of a virile threat. Behaviors to me are now begining to make since in that not random.

 

[welasharon]

Quote:
Maybe. My males are more inclined to "cut wing" for birds with redder face, comb and wattles. Hens early in laying tend to have redder such surfaces and roosters tend to be more of a virile threat. Behaviors to me are now begining to make since in that not random.

The two shamo females are a good bit older than him but about the time the larger female started to lay, he started to stand up to her. I was afraid she may kill him when I first got them but he grew larger really quickly. He now stands 3 or more inches taller than her. He is about 25/26 inches tall and he has put her in her place. The other hen is younger but reddening up quickly now. I will watch them interact more this next week as I am out of school.
sharon

 

[centrarchid]

REDUCED TEMPERATURES MAY BE PROMOTING INTERACTIONS WITH NEIGHBORS FLOCK OF SHAMO X JERSEY GIANTS


Now that temperatures are dropping, the front porch flock tends to ranging much farther. They are more agressive at foraging with less time spent loafing. The free-range dominique x California greys and pure dominiques are simply more aggressive in their pursuit of feed bucket. The dominique x American games get out almost as much as the front porch flock be even those birds tend be happy with what feeder provides only. I have been providing a fixed ration lately which is less than what all birds consume in a day. When weather is cold they range further, apparently to consume more for purpose of combating cold temperatures. This has been taking them in direction of neighbors flock of Shamo x Jersey Giants. One of the higher ranking dominique x American games with swollen red comb appears interested in emmigrating to neighbors flock.

 

[welasharon]

You wouldn't happen to have a picture of neighbor's shamo cross?

 

[centrarchid]

Quote:
I will try. See them every day but seldom have camera at ready when driving by on motorcycle. To me they are not very pretty owing to feather development issues. They are also very prone to leg problems. Most importantly they can not fly well!

 

[welasharon]

That's okay. I was just curious. Wonder what was the purpose behind the cross? More meaty birds?
sharon

 

[centrarchid]

Quote:
Owner is trying to develope his own line of larger black Jersey Giants with more Shamo like attributes which could easily be more meaty build. They still grow terribly slow and will have a very difficult time if snows are deep again this coming winter. Their feathers are poorly suited for insulation when cold and windy so maintenace cost (feed intake) will be high to compensate.

 

[welasharon]

Probably what contributes to the leg issues as well. The shamo take up to two years to mature and need to grow slowly to prevent the leg issues. I have to give mine lower protein feed than the regular chickens. He probably ought to pick a different mix?

 

[centrarchid]

Quote:
I think he uses the same feed applied to cornish crosses so feed would indeed be on rich side. Do they not also do better when allowed to free range as juveniles to help with muscle and bone development? I do not see those Shamo x Jersey Giants until they are much bigger than my American dominique cocks so they must be confined for some time.