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

[Florida Bullfrog]

Very accurate advice!

I value roosterhavoc’s input and experience. I would point out that many well-bred gamefowl cocks of high game drive will still run from a hawk, and some non-game roosters will beat a hawk down with everything they have. A hawk is not a rival rooster and the instinctual response is not necessarily the same. No more than a mature whitetail buck that’s ready to fight all deer rivals will also plunge head-first into an attacking cougar.

The only genetic consistency I’ve seen is that oriental gamefowl seem to be more likely to throw birds that will flog a predator than bankivoid gamefowl. But beyond that, how likely a rooster is to attack a hawk consistently is all over the board. About like trying to predict which domestic cats will be good mousers.

I do agree one increases their odds of having a hawk-flogger by selecting for a rooster with a high game drive. Even if the odd shift is slight. I don’t know why one wouldn’t want the strongest rooster to be their breeder for purposes of free-ranging, with strength being proven by a dominant game drive.

 

[Florida Bullfrog]

It's hard to get good pics of the Sherman terrorfowl. They lay up in the heat of the day. I was able to just catch some out foraging on the edge of a thunderstorm.

 

[Crazy0ne]

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It's hard to get good pics of the Sherman terrorfowl. They lay up in the heat of the day. I was able to just catch some out foraging on the edge of a thunderstorm.

Beautiful

 

[troyer]

They're looking great!

 

[Florida Bullfrog]

 

[AGeese]

Oh boy I am about to finally become a member of the club! In talks to get 2 Liege pullets.

 

[Florida Bullfrog]

The stags are fighting a lot in the mornings. Usually the brood cock steps in and breaks it up.

 

[Bigtom Turkey]

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The stags are fighting a lot in the mornings. Usually the brood cock steps in and breaks it up.

I usually separate long before this stage. Your playing with fire. Its your fire to play with, just sayin'.

 

[Florida Bullfrog]

I usually separate long before this stage. Your playing with fire. Its your fire to play with, just sayin'.

There’s about two dozen such stags, and any one individual is expendable. I figure that with room to spread out, the brood cock will keep peace until they’re about 18 months old.

The only stags I have that are not expendable are some of my improved Cracker stags, which are currently dominant over the terrorfowl stags and are already mounting hens even though they barely have bumps on their legs. I am concerned they’ll draw the strong ire of the brood cock and get blinded or ran off. I may pen one of those. But the terrorfowl have to sink or swim in the free range flock.

Currently I’m letting them all roost in various open coops. When we have a few days of no chance of rain, I’m going to shut them out and make them start tree roosting.

 

[Bigtom Turkey]

Just so you know, I normally try to pen my stags around 8-9 months. Thats when they will quit running. At that that age they may still run from the broodcock, just not each other. The liege will likely dilute this drive some. Just so you can plan.