Game birds are mean? Seriously?

[rancher hicks]

Cool mistake. Games are very different from wild jungle fowl. I have first hand experience to work from. Size, game nearly twice as big. Jungle fowl behave very differently and are not game.

I stand corrected. I've never own Wild Jungle fowl, nor Game birds. Which is why I post to here. Can you enlighten me to the difference?

 

[centrarchid]

I stand corrected. I've never own Wild Jungle fowl, nor Game birds. Which is why I post to here. Can you enlighten me to the difference?

Size - red jungle fowl 3.5 lbs tops; games range 4.5 to 12 for Shamo types that I not little about
American games 4.5 to 6.5 lbs (upper extreme I am not sure still exists) we used to have lot cockout around 6.25 lbs
Bones - red jungle fowl light boned; even Old English game heavier boned, oriental extremely heavy boned, American games intermediate between old English and Oriental
Feathering - red jungle fowl has purely functional feathering; games may or may not
red jungel fowl appear to have fewer flight feathers in tail, definantly fewer ornamental/sicle feathers
Coloration - red jungle fowl black breasted red; games all over the place
Behavior - is different

 

[IttyBiddyRedHen]

DH and myself currently have 7 american game fowl. 6 pullets, 1 cockerel. 4 of the hens just started laying about 1 month ago...the 2 youngest, not yet. They are all under 1 yr old. One hen went broody. We tried to get the eggs she was sitting on, as the 3 others would lay more on top of her. The broody got mad, and destroyed the nest, the 3 eggs we had left marked for her to sit on. I went back later, and 2 eggs were out of he nest box, as well as the golf ball....one eggs was completely gone. Ate. Just some egg white on the floor of the nest box, and some yolk on one of the other eggs.
The roo has not been aggressive, except for the time he saw his reflection in the glass of the front door. He tried to fight it, so I had to lock him back into the coop. Free ranging, they refuse to come back to the coop, so we had to catch them all again and lock them back up.

 

[centrarchid]

DH and myself currently have 7 american game fowl. 6 pullets, 1 cockerel. 4 of the hens just started laying about 1 month ago...the 2 youngest, not yet. They are all under 1 yr old. One hen went broody. We tried to get the eggs she was sitting on, as the 3 others would lay more on top of her. The broody got mad, and destroyed the nest, the 3 eggs we had left marked for her to sit on. I went back later, and 2 eggs were out of he nest box, as well as the golf ball....one eggs was completely gone. Ate. Just some egg white on the floor of the nest box, and some yolk on one of the other eggs.
The roo has not been aggressive, except for the time he saw his reflection in the glass of the front door. He tried to fight it, so I had to lock him back into the coop. Free ranging, they refuse to come back to the coop, so we had to catch them all again and lock them back up.

What do you your roosting facilites look like. Mine used to prefer highest point in barn such as hay rope suspended horizontally under rafters. They also go for trees but once imprinted on a given site they are like production breeds other than usually wanting more height. Pets I have actually roosted on front porch.

 

[IttyBiddyRedHen]

Not these birds. When they were out free ranging, it was all in the brush and undergrowth. I have a chicken tractor for them, and it has 2 roosts in the upstairs part, one down on the bottom that they keep knocking down, and another one in the other chicken tractor that I hook the main one up to.

 

[centrarchid]

Not these birds. When they were out free ranging, it was all in the brush and undergrowth. I have a chicken tractor for them, and it has 2 roosts in the upstairs part, one down on the bottom that they keep knocking down, and another one in the other chicken tractor that I hook the main one up to.

I can get mine to roost in lower locations as shown.

Inside elevated bottomless pin. Needs to have pallet removed so fox has harder time getting up into the 9' high spot. They can jump a good 6 feet.



Front porch location. Now looks much nicer.


Both locations are much safer if dog roams below. Simply having dog about greatly reduces odds fox will even try to get at birds. Owl potentially a problem unless dog present. Had some interesting observations involving red jungle fowl, great-horned owl and dog. Owl will knock birds off roost but will not actually try to catch chickens with dog present.

 

[rancher hicks]

It would seem Mr. Crooked toes is more able than he appears. He got out yesterday and in trying to catch him he climbed straight up a 4' fence. I doubt he'll have problems getting around.

 

[kingsfarm]

Game hens are wonderful....they are not people friendly and tend to take care of themselves in the flock...I am blessed with 4 -- 2 went broody at same time and one stole the hatch from the other - the original hen of this hatch had to start all over again with new batch of eggs...anyway 5 chicks hatched today from the stolen hatch...they are precious...actually 3 hens sat on this nest during the 21 days...last hen became the MAMA....I know that my flock can and will increase naturally and that is what I strive for...she is taking care of them in and with the flock in the hen house and the big girls leave them alone...the rooster checks on them often....nature is wonderful if we just give them a chance. I vote for game hens to be very important to every flock...a great asset. just my opinion

 

[rancher hicks]

Well I've posted these to CL , since I'm over run with breeds and chickens. I'm working at getting things under control. Warm weather is here lots to do.

 

[Tripp16]

I too cannot stand it when people say that Old English Game chickens are mean! Well let me tell you the chick in my avatar is a Old English Bantam and she is broody right now, since she has been broody she has yelled at me but NEVER tried to peck me (When the chicks come that may change). When she isnt broody she rides around on my shoulder and just loves to be given attention.

I also had a BB Red Roo and he was spunky but never ever mean. He was a great roo to his hens and to me. I loved him and hated to rehome him. (Neighbors complained....)