Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[notabitail]

If you have never had leghorns, I would suggest that you may not understand what genetics have done to these wonderful chickens. They deserve better than what we have done to them. If an implant would help them, and it can be obtained, they deserve it. They are special chickens that usually die young from reproductive issues.

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An interesting thing I noticed with my Excheqer is that she isn't laying, and hasn't done so for a few months at this point. She shows a lot of the Leghorn traits you've mentioned, but she's very loud at times and has more frills. I wonder if the "exchequer" part of her is what causes it. She also isn't what Meyer Hatchery said she would be, that being an egg machine.

 

[notabitail]

I don't disagree about implant issues... only that it seems to be a rare practice in the USA.

I've had 3 Leghorns ~ 2 from Dan Honour's developing Buff line & 1 White ~ & absolutely loved them. They could be aloof as chicks & adults but do interact a bit w/ humans in spite of their mostly independent nature. As a kid my folks raised large flocks of White Leghorns so I have history w/ them.

The two only negatives for DH & me were the overly floppy combs always covering one eye or the other & frostbite worry, & of course, worry about future laying issues. As our Legs got older, they became increasingly aggressive to the gentler breeds in the flock. We gave them to the neighbor who had originally gifted our White Leghorn to us & our 3 Leg hens were doing much better in the neighbor's layer flock which included Marans, Orps, Sussex, OEs, EEs, & other Legs. We visited often & got to see the 3 hens. At 5-yrs old the hens were still alive & the neighbor had no health issues to share which made us happy. They moved away to a big out-of-state farm so no idea how they ended their lifespans but a 5-yr age record so far was a plus.

Our Legs
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18F over here once upon a time and a bit of vaseline and bye bye frostbite.

Josephine can be mean at times, but usually not as bad as the other ones. Dominica (the Dominique) only bullies Josephine. She lets herself get run over too much.

 

[rural mouse]

none of us evolved to live in the cold and snow like Ptarmigan

Rabbit hole thought:

1. Can Ptarmigan be domesticated?
2. Can they cross-breed with chickens?

 

[kattabelly]

Rabbit hole thought:

1. Can Ptarmigan be domesticated?
2. Can they cross-breed with chickens?

They might be clean shanked but after plucking a cockerel and having to give a pullet a bath this week I'd be ready to believe some of my lot are either crosses or spontaneously started evolving in that direction. They're SO densely feathered, with really long and fluffy aftershafts on all their contour feathers

 

[bgmathteach]

Rabbit hole thought:

1. Can Ptarmigan be domesticated?
2. Can they cross-breed with chickens?

They are in the same order (Galliformes), but different genus. Supposedly they are different enough in breeding habits and genetics that, from what i can determine, it is 'unlikely' that they could successfully interbreed. That said - if you could do that - what a wonderful cross!!!! I bet you could make a fortune with that if you were able to successfully cross them.

 

[featherhead007]

I love that you are sharing more pictures. You have wonderful chickens.

I think I’m hogging your room
Or maybe frogging up your room

 

[Sylvester017]

18F over here once upon a time and a bit of vaseline and bye bye frostbite.

Josephine can be mean at times, but usually not as bad as the other ones. Dominica (the Dominique) only bullies Josephine. She lets herself get run over too much.

We used vaseline once on our White Leghorn & no denying it was effective; however, it greased up some of her white feathers that stained her feathers when she took a dustbath & she looked sadly dingy till her next moult. The vet recommended Vit E which is absorbed into the skin & doesn't leave a greasy mess if it gets on feathers plus has health benefits. I believe pure organic castor oil would also work as it absorbs into the skin like E does.

Our Leghorns didn't get aggressive until they realized they could get away w/ it on the gentler birds... so we had to make a decision at that point whether to keep more assertive layer breeds for eggs or keep gentler birds as pets & less eggs ~ we chose to keep a gentler pet flock since our Leghorns/Marans had a better replacement factor w/ a friend's flock. Our gentler birds were too timid & shy to upset by rehoming ~ the Marans & Legs did fine rehomed together w/ our friend.

After having assertive layer breeds we continued to add only gentle reputation birds to our future flocks (Blue Wheaton Ameraucanas, Blue Bredas, Dominiques, Silkies). For only 2 of us we get more than enough eggs from the gentler birds for our breakfasts. Our skelter is full w/ Silkie eggs now & DH has to make quiche today

Spinach-Mushroom Quiche DH makes

 

[Sylvester017]

The reasoning with the implants has everything to do with the restrictions on the use of hormones in laying hens in commercial factory farms - they just have a blanket statement which also covers BY flocks. Same thing as here in Canada and the UK (and likely other countries ie: Australia, France, and so on).

The issue is that BY flocks and their health needs are a rather new thing, Veterinary health is trying to catch up here with this now thing, put there is real push back with commercial farms feeling that there might be some new diseases introduced to their commercial enterprise.

The talk I had with the Poutry Vet out west here was very interesting on this topic. She is extremely passionate about BY flocks and she stated she was 'easing into retirement and wants to move into BY flocks when she does'.

I am just really sad that she cannot do more here in Ontario - she is only licensed for BC and AB. But! She did say that there is forward movement on BY flocks here in the east also - I think that Quebec will be the first to start real action - they have a huge well established BY and small flock industry - they are asking for vaccines for their birds and better access to vet treatments.

It will happen - better care will happen, it just takes time and Hooman will power to get things moving. Maybe when I retire I'll be able to somehow get things moving here.

Meanwhile hormone implants are available for BY poultry if a person just looks around for them, and I know a couple of people here on BYC who have their hens on them.

Too little too late for some of us BY keepers who have already lost sweeties to layer issues.

Our sweet Mini who suffered laying issues from her 1st egg as a pullet to her very last egg w/ bleeding ovarian tumor at 6-1/2 yrs
If it was ever a possibility we would've gladly opted a chicken hysterectomy for her!

2012

 

[Sylvester017]

These are gifts from God:
-a warm fuzzy kitten
-a purring contented chicken
- 20 extra miles on an empty tank of gas.
- a short line at the DMV, with hardly anyone else there.
- That parachute that actually opened when needed.
- friends on BYC

Had to laugh... been there for all except the parachute jump

 

[Marie2020]

I’m not sure what to think? Llamas taking over my law enforcement career?

Well they detained the tobacco their, no problem.