Developing My Own Breed Of Large Gamefowl For Free Range Survival (Junglefowl x Liege)

[Appalachian homestead]

I've been lurking for a while now. I've been trying to create a bird that reproduces and forages better, and is better at avoiding predators. I currently have a barnyard mix of old heritage breeds. Thanks to this thread, I decided they need a little more fire, especially the broodies,so I bought a trio of blueface American game. I'm excited to see how these cross into my layers.

 

[troyer]

I've been lurking for a while now. I've been trying to create a bird that reproduces and forages better, and is better at avoiding predators. I currently have a barnyard mix of old heritage breeds. Thanks to this thread, I decided they need a little more fire, especially the broodies,so I bought a trio of blueface American game. I'm excited to see how these cross into my layers.

They will certainly add some spark! I reckon it'll do the trick.

 

[Florida Bullfrog]

Followup video. It appears Indo is only culling weak chicks, not killing rivals’ chicks or simply eating them for the food value.

 

[Appalachian homestead]

Followup video. It appears Indo is only culling weak chicks, not killing rivals’ chicks or simply eating them for the food value.

I had been more interested in the blueface side of your experiment, but this just got a lot more interesting! You have a sister to indo, correct? Is she laying yet? And if so ,how is her egg production?

 

[Florida Bullfrog]

I had been more interested in the blueface side of your experiment, but this just got a lot more interesting! You have a sister to indo, correct? Is she laying yet? And if so ,how is her egg production?

Yes he has a full sister. Here is an updated pic of them both:

She lays well for what she is, around 3-4 eggs a week. I do not yet plan on in and line breeding her to Indo. Remember they were the only 2 of around two dozen of the F1 aseel x Liege crosses to survive. The rest of the F1s died of sicknesses relating to summer rains and generally were not hardy. I do not think F2s off the pair will be very hardy except for a few individuals. I am finding that Indo’s crosses to Crackers, Liege, and layers are extremely hardy. If I decide to line breed to make more “pure” Indos, I’m going to wait for both him and his sister to be fully mature. For now, Indo is in the coop with the Liege and sister is free range with Hei Hei. I will produce as many from her and Hei Hei as I can.

 

[Florida Bullfrog]

They will certainly add some spark! I reckon it'll do the trick.

I second that. Will probably also improve their physiques overall.

 

[Appalachian homestead]

Florida Bullfrog. How is blueface cracker cross coming along? Will you continue that? Or is indo close enough to what you were looking for that the blueface is on the back burner?

 

[sdm111]

If they are real Blueface Hatch you're getting one of if not the most hot headed pissed off American game there is lol.

 

[Appalachian homestead]

If they are real Blueface Hatch you're getting one of if not the most hot headed pissed off American game there is lol.

Good! I need a broody that will put the fear of God into the barn cats . Lol.

 

[Florida Bullfrog]

Florida Bullfrog. How is blueface cracker cross coming along? Will you continue that? Or is indo close enough to what you were looking for that the blueface is on the back burner?

Pics from today of the Cracker x American ("Blueface") stag. I put BF in quotes because that American hen (I'll call her American Hen 1) is the one that lays the bright blue eggs. In the last pic above he's with a pure Cracker pullet from the same brood. He is the last stag on the farm from Number 1, although I have other pure Cracker stags off-farm from Number 1.

I am absolutely continuing with the Cracker x American project concurrently with the Indo project. The N1 stag above just happened to be the first crossing and then N1 died of the apparent snake bite or raptor-talon wound. I have several chicks running around now that are continuing the project, except that they're made up of Hei Hei crossed to the other American hen I have. My plan is to cross the pullets from the Hei Hei x Amer. Hen 2 to the N1 stag above (made up of N1 x Amer. Hen 1) and see where that gets me.

This layer hen has 11 strong bitties that are all fathered by Indo except the two chipmunk ones, which are Hei-Hei fathered Cracker x Amer. Crosses.

Amer. Hen 1 has another 4 Cracker x Amer. crosses that she is brooding.

Hei Hei is out on free range and is covering all of the free range hens, including Amer. Hen 2, my layers, my pure Crackers, and Indo's sister.