Do Hens Go/Stay Broody When It's The Heat of the Summer?

[ClareScifi]

Soooo pretty!: https://buzzquack.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/swedish-flowers.jpeg

 

[ClareScifi]

How fun to learn a new chicken term, Chiques chicks-- "landrace." I guess this is what my Blue-and-White Gingham chickens will be, a landrace? I'm trying to mate my solid rooster, a teen in my Avatar, now 4 years old, with my elderly Barred Rock Mama. Some of the males come out blue-and-white gingham looking, like the one below.

 

[ClareScifi]

Not sure how to get blue-and-white gingham hens? Maybe by mating a blue-and-white barred Papa with a solid hen from the mating of my 4 year old rooster and Barred Rock Mama?

 

[ClareScifi]

So fun to try these experiments. Or would that be a breed that results? I'm not exactly sure of the distinction between breed and landrace?

 

[chiques chicks]

A landrace has developed over time in a location. SFH breed true, although colors vary. Some people separate their flocks into colors. I leave them all together to breed naturally. I treat them much like a farmer who just "had chickens around". They are distinguished by the white " flowers ". Make great yard candy and decent layers of medium eggs. I was getting about 80% egg production this spring until everyone went broody. I don't provide light or heat, so production falls on all my birds in the winter.

 

[ClareScifi]

Neat-o!

 

[ClareScifi]

No inbreeding problems?

 

[chiques chicks]

Not yet. I got my original eggs a few years ago from for sources to try to get as much variety as possible. Inbreeding and line breeding isn't all bad. I don't "save" weak chicks, I don't help chicks, I don't allow deformities to breed if they live. One of the things to maintaining a healthy flock is to cull, whether that means eat or sell as pets. Those that can't defend from predators get taken. I've watched blue jays fly away with chicks that didn't know enough to run to momma. Hurts, but it's the way I do things.

 

[ClareScifi]

I've never had any problems like that.