Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

Houdans and Dorkings are 5 toed and clean legged. Silkies, faverolles, and sultans are 5 toed and feather footed. Houdans, silkies and sultans are crested. Houdans, faverolles, and SOME silkies are bearded. Dorkings have been in existence as a breed in England since the time of the Romans....and have short legs as do Scot's Dumpies, which are almost as old.

And I have read that there were crested breeds in Roman times - they have skeletal evidence of chickens with domed skulls.

 

[Sylvester017]

No, a mottled houdan mix, taking the crest down to a partial crest size so trimming is less needed. Thing was so interesting that I would consider these.

It probably is a Silkie Houdan mix cuz only the Silkie would give it the feathered legs since Houdan are clean-legged. But smart to use two breeds like Silkies & Houdan w/5 toes to ensure all chicks hatch w/feathered legs & 5 toes.

 

[TX Chick Noob]

My silkies like to get up high with the rest if they can. But I rejigged the roosts to ledges at about 24” and 29” so the don’t have far to fly down, they use steps to hop flap up, but fly down.

If they can get up high they will the brats!

I think our roosts are closer to 2” and 4-5” tall. The “silkie shelf” is at the 2’ level.

Of course there are. Here you go.

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Little Eve has gotten so big! How old is she now?

Good luck! My silkies would raise kittens if I let them

lol. Well my silkies aren’t old enough to be broody yet. I told Coco she has high standards to live up to, Indigo turned out to be a great mother. She has finally “weaned” the chicks at about 7 weeks old.

Oh good news. As I plan to do this for Tassels later in the summer I do want to hear all the details and tips on what to do.
We can take it to a DM if others aren’t interested, but I think they might be interested so maybe share here?

This has really been trial and error with a learning curve on my part since this year was my first time to try a broody hen. I know there are others here with a ton more experience than I have who could give some tips. But I’d be happy to post more details if they would be helpful. Any questions in particular that you have?

 

[Ponypoor]

Awwww!

I am wanting to do library of poultry sounds.

Esp Jolly who sounds like Dalek Prime

 

[TX Chick Noob]

Good morning everyone.

I have been silent and I am sorry. I have been mourning the loss of dear Owly since Friday morning. My brother hit her while leaving to go to work. I do not blame him, he was in as big of a wreck as I was. I also do not blame George anymore. Owly was a few days into being broody for the first time and had come off her nest. George was doing what roosters do and Owly was just running from him. I finally forgave George yesterday evening while sitting out back and he came and hopped up on my lap for his cuddles. It has been hard to even look at him since Friday. I guess in that moment it dawned on me that I came very close to loosing him as well. It was not malicious in his part of chasing her. I have saw it happen 1000 times when a broody hen comes off the nest that first week or so. Every one of my boys have done it in the past. They chase the girl for a few seconds and then stop when they realize she wants nothing to do with them.

Fly high my friend. You are with Grandma again and I'm sure she was thrilled to have you back.
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Oh Rebecca, I am soooo sorry for your loss. I know what a special girl she was to you. I still remember when you first posted about her as a tiny chick. I’m glad you were able to forgive George and your brother. And I know Grandma is happy to have her for company again.

 

[knoturavggrl]

I suspect they used a mottled cochin or a light Brahma with them.

Mottled Cochin is my guess, I have seen them irl their size seems to avg between bantam and a typical chicken.

 

[Sylvester017]

I suspect they used a mottled cochin or a light Brahma with them.

That's another possibility... except Brahma or Cochin might be too large.

 

[rural mouse]

& doesn't it make one wonder where the Houdans & Sultans came from to begin with? 5 toes, crested, feathered feet, bearded... just sayin'... those Silkies & Polish got around...

Houdan don't have feathered feet like Cookies & Cream at Meyer.

That's why I think they're using a mottled cochin and/or a light Brahma in the making of them. Pics show weird combs (the V-comb of the houdan will do strange things).

Brahmas have pea combs and one of the pics shows a comb that doesn't look like a weird rose comb, but could easily be a weird pea comb.

Silkies have black skin which is difficult to breed out of a line. There's no sign of the skin tone.

They claim a hybrid, which implies a straight cross between 2 pure breeds, but also state its proprietary info on which breeds used.

When hatching Thing's eggs, I learned that mottling (includes exchequer) is a hidden trait. Her offspring by Cheetah would produce black split to mottled (black, with the white patches hidden under the black). We got 2, black. With 1st adult moult, one popped 2 white feathers on one side. She then popped lots more white with her next moult.

Based upon that info, it would take a minimum of 2 crosses to get the mottling. 1st Gen cross (no idea which would be roo vs hen): houdan x cochin AND houdan x brahma. The mottled cochin would keep the mottling, add light feathered feet, shrink crest and beard. The brahma cross would pop the odd comb and feathered feet but hide the mottling. Going with light Brahma, would keep the black and white...I think...hmmm...lemme go run that through genetics calculator....no, would be black, split to mottled.

2 gen cross: take cochin and brahma offspring, cross those. Keep the mottled offspring, breed back to houdan for body shape and to the other mottled to keep that going.

Build on those cookies and cream is pretty similar to Houdan which rather distinctive.

this is with a trimmed crest. With it NOT trimmed, it was full enough that it bled into the muffs and she couldn't see (like blind)

 

[rural mouse]

And I have read that there were crested breeds in Roman times - they have skeletal evidence of chickens with domed skulls.

Not in the Dorkings, but, yes. Crested breeds have existed for a long time.

 

[Sylvester017]

Mottled Cochin is my guess, I have seen them irl their size seems to avg between bantam and a typical chicken.

Any way we guess at it doesn't matter since the hatchery won't divulge what crosses were used. Azure breeders have their own secrets & a variety of priority crosses they don't want to divulge either.