Cream Legbars

[sol2go]

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

Hi Ant Farm

I have a fairly large collection of CL of different ages, some in mixed flocks, and it just depends. Some like to pop up (and over) when they are young, I think hormones are a factor. I also agree with @chicken pickin that they learn from those around them. When I first got chickens I was told "monkey see monkey do".
I also agree that they are not too heavy to fly up and over when they are mature (my "bowling ball" weight Marans hens are most likely to pop over anything if they think they are missing out on treats).
I have added tall stakes with bird netting "walls" in a few strategic places, but generally utilize 3 ft fences. Usually it's to keep them out of the garden, or to deter the rogue hen; roosters seem to prefer their own space.
As my flocks get moved around to different coops, a hen may try to return to a specific coop to lay an egg, but most hens adjust.

Happy Fourth of July and watermelon for all!

 

[sol2go]

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"

that is sweet

 

[sol2go]

Here is a bit better view and yes she does look very gold.

The fluffy feathers around the legs and backside can be helpful indicators as well. They should look more gray than gold; the SOP says "silver-gray". I also like the term "taupe".

 

[sol2go]

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.

The orange band on the left is such a nice size and has nice barring. You must have had some nice options; updated flock pics please =)

I believe you mentioned extra measures when canonizing? "humane"? Did you anesthetize or?

What's the 411 on showing caponized males?

haha, "caponizing", no saints I presume =)

 

[chambe94]

These are crosses between my orginal imports and my Rees line. At the moment I didn't want to keep any crosses, because I am trying to expand both lines, then start a spiral breeding program. Also, I have to caponize at about 4-6weeks, so it's really hard to pick the good ones out I am really liking these though, so I'm excited for next year. I sold all my crossed pullets away as chicks, and now I'm regretting in. But I have too many projects going (just got some crested snowy call ducks yesterday -who knew!), so don't have space to keep them all long term.

I anesthetize mine. I am a pretty open-minded person, but I really don't think it would be even remotely humane to caponize when they are awake. It's pretty invasive.

I don't think you could show a capon in regular class, but I think I remember someone saying there used to be capon classes? They would have a much less developed comb and wattle (if I did a good job ). Plumage should be pretty rooster like though. I might keep on just to see how they turn out. I just did an EE "pullet" that turned out to be a boy who will get to be a freeloader too as long as he doesn't start acting like a rooster.

 

[Phage]

These are crosses between my orginal imports and my Rees line. At the moment I didn't want to keep any crosses, because I am trying to expand both lines, then start a spiral breeding program. Also, I have to caponize at about 4-6weeks, so it's really hard to pick the good ones out I am really liking these though, so I'm excited for next year. I sold all my crossed pullets away as chicks, and now I'm regretting in.  But I have too many projects going (just got some crested snowy call ducks yesterday -who knew!), so don't have space to keep them all long term.

I anesthetize mine. I am a pretty open-minded person, but I really don't think it would be even remotely humane to caponize when they are awake.  It's pretty invasive.

I don't think you could show a capon in regular class, but I think I remember someone saying there used to be capon classes? They would have a much less developed comb and wattle (if I did a good job ). Plumage should be pretty rooster like though. I might keep on just to see how they turn out. I just did an EE "pullet" that turned out to be a boy who will get to be a freeloader too as long as he doesn't start acting like a rooster.

How do you anesthetize them?

 

[drumstick diva]

X2 would like to know that myself- what is the"oops" percentage of non-survivors ?

 

[chambe94]

I have (legal ) access to sevoflurane, so I can cheat.

The original 3 I did, one died 3 days after surgery from massive air under the skin that showed up overnight. Not sure what happened ( if he was to active, or if it was my technique). I now keep them separated for 4 days afterwards.

In the next group of 9 I lost 3. The first I hit the aorta trying a new technique. The other two were sebrights and I think just a little too small for the instruments I was using, plus I think I would not fast them as long as a bigger bird in the future.

 

[ChicKat]

Anyone have any interest in some CLB capons? I have 6 I've done so far (all humanely done) as an experiment to compare them to intact boys I'm growing out to eat. But honestly I don't eat that much farm raised chicken (the store bought is just so good and cheap *hangs head in shame* ). So if anyone has any interest in them as pets I would let a few go just so I could see how they matured. Vaccinated for Mareks. They are a Rees rooster over line D hens.

Wow -- what you did is so interesting in terms of the effects of color.....

It would be neat if someone could grow them out to full adulthood. Of course it would be just for a scientific check - their eventual fate would have to be for the table right?

Most people don't have the skill level that you have - or like me they would be way too squeamish! When I was in HS I thought it would be neat to be a vet -- because I thought you just played with puppies and kitties when you were one - I had absolutely no clue---and the amount of required education steered me into wanting to be a teacher -- I was sooooo clueless. But I'm still squeamish.

What you did though rang a bell from R.C. Punnett's study of cream -- it's his genetics paper number X I think - there is a link it the CL clubhouse or PM me if someone needs the link - here is a cut-and-paste:




If it is too small to read---basically he is talking about cream being more visible (more saturated, or darker) in females in his experiment - and lighter in males. He says that there is a difference, from silver -- however he is talking about buff Columbian-pattern Leghorns and selected for the lest melanization. The very last sentence he says "It would be interesting to carry out castration experiments with such a strain''

I guess in some ways -- with no controls, with no spectrophotometer. etc. it would be ultra difficult but still could be interesting -- back in the 1930's I think Punnett only had the naked-eye to judge coloration. Bottom line -- would these CL capons be 'darker' than any brothers from the same hatch showing more cream..........

Just hypothesizing here...LOL

 

[sol2go]

Wow -- what you did is so interesting in terms of the effects of color.....

It would be neat if someone could grow them out to full adulthood. Of course it would be just for a scientific check - their eventual fate would have to be for the table right?

Most people don't have the skill level that you have - or like me they would be way too squeamish! When I was in HS I thought it would be neat to be a vet -- because I thought you just played with puppies and kitties when you were one - I had absolutely no clue---and the amount of required education steered me into wanting to be a teacher -- I was sooooo clueless. But I'm still squeamish.

What you did though rang a bell from R.C. Punnett's study of cream -- it's his genetics paper number X I think - there is a link it the CL clubhouse or PM me if someone needs the link - here is a cut-and-paste:




If it is too small to read---basically he is talking about cream being more visible (more saturated, or darker) in females in his experiment - and lighter in males. He says that there is a difference, from silver -- however he is talking about buff Columbian-pattern Leghorns and selected for the lest melanization. The very last sentence he says "It would be interesting to carry out castration experiments with such a strain''

I guess in some ways -- with no controls, with no spectrophotometer. etc. it would be ultra difficult but still could be interesting -- back in the 1930's I think Punnett only had the naked-eye to judge coloration. Bottom line -- would these CL capons be 'darker' than any brothers from the same hatch showing more cream..........

Just hypothesizing here...LOL

I was wondering if the capons develop less autosomal red, as it seems to kick in with hormones…hope @chambe94 will keep the capons long enough to see how they grow out?