Does anyone raise Silver Spangled Hamburgs?

[TipsyDog]

I have 1 SSH. She is 7 months old and is loud but pretty. She lays an egg everyday and it's a small egg but I really like them. As a chick she was always a pain but now she's become one of my favorites. Because I have 7 hens and the others all have a partner my SSH gets picked on and is the lowest in the pecking order so I feel sorry for her. It's been difficult for her now because of the snow and they are all in the coop/run and she can't get away from the larger girls. When they free range she is at her best and mine doesn't fly or take off but she is very fast and I wouldn't attempt to catch her. Overall I like the bird but I could imagine that having several of these could be difficult since they are not as docile as the larger breeds. I don't think I'll get anymore SSH but I'm glad I have this one for now

 

[possumqueen]

What I'm hearing on this thread is "they're pretty -- and pretty stupid. . . "

Does anyone keep them because they like them the way they are? besides Jim from Cincinnati who seems to be the only one here?

I had one years ago that I got as a packing peanut. He grew up wild as a buck, but MAN it was fun to watch him fly! I just gotta say, though, that after having him around the gentler, quieter birds weren't boring, they were a relief!

 

[Sunny Side Up]

I don't see where anyone said they were stupid. They're saying they're flighty, not very friendly or willing to be held, but not stupid. The ones I had/have are clever about taking care of themselves, finding themselves safe places to roost & nest. They're also good layers, especially if you can get them to lay where you can find their eggs. Their eggs are bigger than most bantams'. I have some Silver Phoenix pullets who share the same characteristics.

Since I prefer big fluffy hens that lay great big eggs and who also endure handling & petting, I probably won't get any more Hamburgs or Phoenixes. But if you needed a flock of hens who could keep themselves out of trouble with little assistence from you, and who would reliably lay small, but not bantam-sized, eggs, then I'd say these 2 breeds would suit you.

 

[JKCASWELL]

Oh the SSH...years ago, when I didn't know any better, bought 8 of these beautiful creations 4 bantams and 4 Standard. They were to be added to my show string. I should have known when the breeder told me there were 2 stipulations. Cash paid up front, before they were caught and I had to catch them. No big deal.....so I thought. Took me an hour to catch them, and the noises that came out of them was something from a Sci-Fi movie! That man laughed at me the entire time, but did offer me a refund if I wanted after they were crated up and in the car! They cackled and shrieked for the 3 hours it took me to get home, and I was ready to stop at the first bar I came to. Show season started and needless to say, not a one of those SSH ever made it to one. I wasn't going to put myself through that trauma again. They were wild as march hares, couldn't even bribe them with food. I would never use "Stupid" as a description for them, they are probably way to smart! Gorgeous Gorgeous Gorgeous....but not for a person who wants a more personal relationship with a chicken!

 

[taylorgirl6]

After reading everyone's input and spending a little time with my flock over the weekend, I've decided that Hamburgs do have their place.


1. They are some of the most visually stunning birds you're likely to have in a backyard flock.

2. You wouldn't have much competition in shows, especially since they are rarely shown due to their flighty nature.

3. They are fairly cold hearty, self caring, and generally a no-fuss bird.

-The best idea, however, is this one-

4. If you want chickens but they are not allowed in your area, you could easily convince a neighbor that they are "endangered fowl," not your standard chicken breed. Okay, so they're noisy and may not blend in terribly well with nosy neighbors, but these girls look NOTHING like any other chicken the average person has seen at a fair or petting zoo.


I appreciate our girls for what they contribute to the uniqueness of our flock, and I'm happy to have them for as long as they live. But the next time I begin the search for a different breed, I'm going to find something more suited to my own personality. As for their intelligence, I've got to agree with JKCASWELL, Hamburgs are probably a little too smart for their own good. They love to stretch their wings, and one of them ended up on the roof of our garden shed yesterday afternoon. She then looked around herself, as if to say, "Hmm, nice view. Maybe I'll hang out up here more often." It was the best entertainment of the evening.

 

[Aleeby528]

I have a Silver Spangled Hamburg and she is the sweetest chicken I own. As soon as I walk out of my house she comes running to me lets me pick her up. If I walk into the coop she will fly to my shoulder and insist I walk around the yard with her. I also don't recall her ever making a sound... Maybe I just got lucky? Either way I adore her!

 

[miss silky]

I have only one, moe, who turned out to be a hen, she was a late hatcher, so i had to peel her out of her shell, she almost died, what a trooper! She has a special place in my heart, i won,t let her out of cage cause her wings are twice the size og my rhode island reds, can you clip them?

 

[Wyo chickens]

I love my Hamburgs. We order them as day old chicks. My five year old has been catching them and showing them at the county fair since he was 3. The only chickens we have that are tamer are the polish and wyandottes.

 

[bluegrasslady]

I had some last year. My husband called them "spaceshot" and flaky lol. They were flighty, beautiful little things but didnt really fit with the plan for the flock as I decided more dual purpose would fit our needs better. I sold my lovely little quad to a breeder who has enjoyed them considerably more than I probably would have.

 

[Wyo chickens]

They are definitely a smaller bird but probably more work than any meat you would get off of them. My 5 year old still calls them hamburger, a habit from when he was 3.