Cubalaya Thread For Sharing Pics and Discussing Our Birds

[fowlsessed]

Since you're just interested in self sustainability then why don't you just try a few of each breed that you're considering? And keep your fav. I honestly don't think these or any other ornamental/gamefowl breeds would be the best choice. Might as well just get a light breed that will forage good and lays much more than the O's/G's. as well as matures faster. I see that all you have are heavy breeds. Of course, it wouldn't hurt to get a couple of breeds just for "eye candy". At any rate, cubas aren't BAD for the self sufficient holding. I have not had any (yet) so someone else will answer all your other ?'s I'm sure.

 

[fowlsessed]

Oh, and I know what you mean. I need to try 'n stay of all things poultry. lol

 

[welasharon]

 I got in touch with her and she does have some extra birds, she has decent birds too. But she's still four hours away from me. So I might not be getting any. Thanks for the info though.

I drove 14 hours with my daughter and her two small kids to Pride and Joy's to get some o shamo...and that was one way! Go for it!

 

[cubalaya]

i am trading her 2 of my whites for a bb red and probably driving 4 hrs to meet her. cubalayas aren't for every one but if i could only have one breed it would be them.

 

[fowlsessed]

could someone who has shipped a pair of birds before please give me an idea of how much it cost? I think shipping will come out cheaper than driving.

Thanks

 

[fowlsessed]

Oh, and is there anyone on here with cubas that's in Virginia or KY?

Thanks,

 

[cubalaya]

when i had some shipped from south carolina, it was about a hundred for birds and shipping. i am in va but dont have much to sell until spring. maybe a pair.

 

[RachaelS]

Edited: Okay guess I was doing my search wrong on BYC learning everything I need to know other than how to find the person in TX that has these. Also so torn between Gold Duckwing and Silver Duckwing, so many pretty colors, like the Red Plye a LOT also.

Okay I would like one of my other questions asked, just because I am curios, why are they called Cocks and not Roosters?

 

[gallorojo]

Okay so I need to stay off of BYC

. I am wanting to create a sustainable little farm, I have 5.5 acres. I keep changing what breed I should have. First I was looking for a "dual" purpose breed, but came across a comment made by gallorojo and it was actually to the point in what I was thinking. My guys go through a ton of food even though they get to free range, so what happens when I can't buy food anymore. The other thing I was going after was an autosexed breed (not sex linked) but then again, the more I started thinking about it, why would that be a really great thing, I don't cull upon hatch anyway and if the boys could get a little weight then be used as meat, why not keep them. So I have gone through this whole thread (yes I skimmed a bit LOL) but I still have a few questions/clarifications:

Egg Production: Medium sized egg, point of lay is approx 28-32 weeks (7-8 months), approx 160 per year? I read a few post that say they don't lay during the winter, then another said something about not laying during the summer. I am a little confused on that point. Also, since I am in TX would that make a difference? Egg size varies with the line of the birds, between small to large, average medium, between white to light brown and should be more round than oval. Point of lay for sure not as soon as 16 weeks, for me, tends to be right around 6 months, or 24 weeks. 7-8 months is excessively old to start to lay. No, they will not lay at all in the winter. Or, I should say, for me in PA, they will not lay in the winter unless they are young pullets just coming into lay, in that case, they will lay well through the cold. The older hens will not lay until March. You need to remember that in TX, they will start laying in late fall-early winter, and lay well all through your "winter", stopping when it gets truly hot. Your climate will influence things far more than the choice of breed will. They will perform very differently for you than they will for me. Mine do not lay in the worst of summer or winter, but, why would I want them to?

Heat Tolerance: How do they handle the heat? I have spent all summer running out frozen bottles of water to keep my guys cool, kind of tired of that. Also, on a rain water system but my current birds go through 5 gallons a day, what about these guys? Heat tolerance is very good, although they still suffer in heat, stop laying, and can die, like any other chicken. They tolerate heat a lot better than any dual purpose breed, they certainly will drink less. They will remain active longer in heat than some other breeds.

Cold Tolerance: Seems from other post they are good at that, does not get supper cold here, but every now and then it can, do they need a heat lamp? No adult chicken needs a heat lamp, ceratinly not in TX!!!!! I have overwintered lots of huge combed birds with no heat and no frostbite here. Frostbite in most climates is due to poor ventilation and dampness, not cold. Keep them dry and out of the wind, they will be fine. You are not doing any chickens a favor by heating them through the winter or keeping them closed up tight. The Cubalayas would be fine in much colder climates than mine, yours will be fine.

Attitude: I would not mix them with my other chickens, however, if they were out free ranging, would they attack my other breeds? They can mix fine with other breeds, they are not "game". They will feather pick some on feather legged, bearded, or crested birds, and they certainly dominate really docile, soft breeds, but they are not killers or anything. They tend to be sort of bossy with fat dopey chickens.

Meat Age: At what point do they reach a big enough size to kill for meat, I think I saw 20 weeks just wanted to confirm-- Whenever you want, but, keep in mind they are small and slow growing. I usually have killed mine between 16-24 weeks, and they will be small then.

Terms: Why aren't they called Roos? I don't have an issue with that, just a bit of curiosity LOL - Rooster is not a correct term for male chickens, period. It's PC bull invented because some folks did not like the correct term, COCK. An adult male is a cock, young male, a cockerel, young female, a pullet, old female, a hen. Young birds of both sexes, chickens, aka "chicks. Adults of both sexes, fowl. If you keep chickens for anything other than pets, best to learn the correct terms. "Roos" is even worse, as it 's an abbreviation of a wrong term, and sounds like an Aussie marsupial.

I saw a post that there is gent named Sam Brush in TX however I did a search and can not find him. Any help you can offer there is greatly appreciated. He was APA president last time I checked. His info should be on their webpage? He is a member here. He has the best Cubalayas in this country without doubt.

Finally, I also saw that OEGB are a good breed for sustainability, why in your opinion are these better? Larger, better temperaments, larger egg, nicer to look at, more weather tolerant.

 

[RachaelS]

Thanks gallorojo! I thought I had it right, but this helps a LOT by going a step deeper and explaining why. MUCH appreciated. I will do some more searching for Sam Brush. I hope to some day have a Cubalaya cock (lol, it is hard to even type that, but I will get over it) and hens. Seems like everything is winding down for the season, that gives me enough time to figure out what out of my current breeds I am going to hold on to and get a pen (or 2 or 3) built. I have seen so many wonderful birds on this thread, I wish I had more land and pens.