Cream Legbars

[Fire Ant Farm]

Update and a question about flightiness...

Here are some update photos of my girls (Sorry, they were moving around a lot, I did my best). Paula the "crowing hen" at 9 weeks still looks like a hen, and she hasn't crowed since, but she definitely sounds like she smokes a pack a day and drinks her whiskey neat. Sort of a Janis Joplin pullet (with a similar attitude). She wouldn't let me get a profile shot of her - she still likes to look straight at the camera for all photos.



Jenny and Lissa (8 weeks) are lovely - Lissa has an impressive bouffant and the prettiest markings so far. (I know, it was hard to get a good photo. They were on the hunt for bugs.)


I am REALLY enjoying these girls. They love to forage (and adore all dirt in general), and are very good at taking cover if a hawk flies over (though they are protected from that), or if the neighbor's dog goes on a barking jag. Or when the lawn mower starts. They HATE the lawn mower.

Now my question: These girls fly REALLY well. I have them ranging in a temporary paddock under a large oak tree with low branches (we have a hawk on the property, and this gives them some overhead protection), but when they want to, they can pop over the 3ft netting - though they usually only do it to get to me (Paula is VERY attached to me, since it was just her and me for a week when she was a baby), or when scared (Lissa did this today when the mower went on). I am 5'6", and Paula can fly straight form the ground to my shoulder. Obviously I need a higher barrier when I change from a temporary/mobile to a more permanent paddock, but I was wondering - I know all chicks/juveniles fly well, but I understand that as they become adults, most lose this ability (presumably due to changes in body weight/balance). For those of you with a lot of CLB experience, will my girls settle down, or will they always fly this well? How high does my fence need to be?! (I kinda need to know for long term planning of the height of the fence around their chicken yard...)

- Ant Farm

 

[caychris]

Everything Ive seen indicates they will still be able to fly really well and prefer to be high up whenever not foraging.

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

Everything Ive seen indicates they will still be able to fly really well and prefer to be high up whenever not foraging.

::::Sigh:::

That's what I was afraid of. But thanks - you have cut my denial short, and I can now plan for reality, rather than fantasy.

- Ant Farm

 

[ChicKat]

Update and a question about flightiness...

Here are some update photos of my girls (Sorry, they were moving around a lot, I did my best). Paula the "crowing hen" at 9 weeks still looks like a hen, and she hasn't crowed since, but she definitely sounds like she smokes a pack a day and drinks her whiskey neat. Sort of a Janis Joplin pullet (with a similar attitude). She wouldn't let me get a profile shot of her - she still likes to look straight at the camera for all photos.



Jenny and Lissa (8 weeks) are lovely - Lissa has an impressive bouffant and the prettiest markings so far. (I know, it was hard to get a good photo. They were on the hunt for bugs.)


I am REALLY enjoying these girls. They love to forage (and adore all dirt in general), and are very good at taking cover if a hawk flies over (though they are protected from that), or if the neighbor's dog goes on a barking jag. Or when the lawn mower starts. They HATE the lawn mower.

Now my question: These girls fly REALLY well. I have them ranging in a temporary paddock under a large oak tree with low branches (we have a hawk on the property, and this gives them some overhead protection), but when they want to, they can pop over the 3ft netting - though they usually only do it to get to me (Paula is VERY attached to me, since it was just her and me for a week when she was a baby), or when scared (Lissa did this today when the mower went on). I am 5'6", and Paula can fly straight form the ground to my shoulder. Obviously I need a higher barrier when I change from a temporary/mobile to a more permanent paddock, but I was wondering - I know all chicks/juveniles fly well, but I understand that as they become adults, most lose this ability (presumably due to changes in body weight/balance). For those of you with a lot of CLB experience, will my girls settle down, or will they always fly this well? How high does my fence need to be?! (I kinda need to know for long term planning of the height of the fence around their chicken yard...)

- Ant Farm

Hi Ant Farm,
When I kept mine in a netting fence to have 'safe' free ranging -- none flew over the 4' fence. I kind of think that they gain weight and flying isn't as easy as it is when they are little chicks...and different environments - (and chicken physiology ) will give various results. I think that they can fly to a branch and/or a perch -- but would only fly over a 4' fence if they were in danger. JMO.

 

[chicken pickin]

Hi Ant Farm,
When I kept mine in a netting fence to have 'safe' free ranging -- none flew over the 4' fence. I kind of think that they gain weight and flying isn't as easy as it is when they are little chicks...and different environments - (and chicken physiology ) will give various results. I think that they can fly to a branch and/or a perch -- but would only fly over a 4' fence if they were in danger. JMO.

I agree. I have 8 adult Legbars and the only one that will fly up on the front gate of the chicken yard and jump out to the other side is the male CL, and that is only if one or more of his hens are on the other side the. The female CL will only leave the fenced chicken yard if they crawl under the 6 inch gap of the back gate, they do not jump the gate or fence. I have had 2 hens that will perch on branches, but only the lowest ones about 4ft off the ground. They definitely arent heavy enough to stop them, I have a huge hen that is like 10lbs and she can can still roost 10feet up in the trees. CL definitely can get over a 4foot fence, but will they? If they did I blame the naughty Spitzhaubens for teaching them bad habits lol.

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

Hi Ant Farm,
When I kept mine in a netting fence to have 'safe' free ranging -- none flew over the 4' fence. I kind of think that they gain weight and flying isn't as easy as it is when they are little chicks...and different environments - (and chicken physiology ) will give various results. I think that they can fly to a branch and/or a perch -- but would only fly over a 4' fence if they were in danger. JMO.

Or... when they really want to cuddle. Jenny (the smallest) flew up onto my shoulder and snuggled against my neck this evening. Paula then flew up to displace her (which offended her as you can see).


Jenny flew out AGAIN later, and got a cuddle and actually fell asleep in my arms.

So far they've only tried to get over to snuggle with me (except the lawn mower incident), so I suppose I'll need to stay well away from the fence. If only they weren't so sweet...

- Ant Farm

 

[Sylvester017]

Or... when they really want to cuddle. Jenny (the smallest) flew up onto my shoulder and snuggled against my neck this evening. Paula then flew up to displace her (which offended her as you can see).


Jenny flew out AGAIN later, and got a cuddle and actually fell asleep in my arms.

So far they've only tried to get over to snuggle with me (except the lawn mower incident), so I suppose I'll need to stay well away from the fence. If only they weren't so sweet...

- Ant Farm..

Towards evening pullets look for a high safe place to perch for the evening- even better if it's on Mom's/Dad's shoulder! Yesterday evening I was sitting at the computer and my pullet jumped onto my shoulder. Tonight I was at the sink washing dishes and she jumped on the counter looking to jump onto my shoulder again. Any other time of the day she's content to stay on the floor or toodle after me but eves she looks for a high perch and my shoulder seems to be it- I give her a treat and then take her to her kennel for the eve.

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

Towards evening pullets look for a high safe place to perch for the evening- even better if it's on Mom's/Dad's shoulder! Yesterday evening I was sitting at the computer and my pullet jumped onto my shoulder. Tonight I was at the sink washing dishes and she jumped on the counter looking to jump onto my shoulder again. Any other time of the day she's content to stay on the floor or toodle after me but eves she looks for a high perch and my shoulder seems to be it- I give her a treat and then take her to her kennel for the eve.

Oh, that makes TOTAL sense! They only do this in the evening. So, maybe I only have to avoid the fence line in the evening... (Though it's so sweet...)

- Ant Farm

 

[ChicKat]

Or... when they really want to cuddle. Jenny (the smallest) flew up onto my shoulder and snuggled against my neck this evening. Paula then flew up to displace her (which offended her as you can see).


Jenny flew out AGAIN later, and got a cuddle and actually fell asleep in my arms.

So far they've only tried to get over to snuggle with me (except the lawn mower incident), so I suppose I'll need to stay well away from the fence. If only they weren't so sweet...

- Ant Farm

That really IS touching and sweet. I have one that doesn't like to be picked up at first - once she is she settles in and actually tells me everything that happened to her that day.....a little chicken conversation. me: "how was your day, dear?" her: "(very softly) bawk, bawk-bawk, burble, gurble blah blah blab"

 

[chambe94]

Here are a few comparisons of the capons and intact males of the same age. The capons have orange legbands. At this age ( around 12 weeks i think) the size is about the same. I don't think capons grow much faster, but in theory you can grow then longer before they get tough.

They generally do not crow. Some people claim they brood chicks well ( not set eggs, just raise the babies), but I haven't tried this.