Genetic Hackle Fowl Chat

[JacinLarkwell]

I got chicken stickers today. One was supposed to be a pheonix, but it reminds me of a duckwing hacklefowl instead with how long the saddles are.

 

[Dovemaiden]

So, @SourRoses and @miss heny , you're saying that just introducing a few production layers with fancy feathers is unlikely to provide any feathers that would be of commercial interest to fly tying? Bummer.
Is there a list of suppliers of GH eggs or chicks?

I have a couple of young Grizz and Silver Barred, possibly a Splash trio. I could send photographs, if you are interested. Let me know.

 

[Dovemaiden]

A gentleman who purchased some birds from me was selling chicks and eggs a few weeks ago, I could get you a copy of his ad. I don't ship hatching eggs.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I have a couple of young Grizz and Silver Barred, possibly a Splash trio. I could send photographs, if you are interested. Let me know.

Pictures of the splash?!?!

 

[dheltzel]

So, @SourRoses and @miss heny , you're saying that just introducing a few production layers with fancy feathers is unlikely to provide any feathers that would be of commercial interest to fly tying? Bummer.
Is there a list of suppliers of GH eggs or chicks?

I will have some later in the spring. http://welbars.com/index.php/other-chickens/genetic-hackle

 

[SourRoses]

Love this little one! I haven't seen this color before in the chicks.
Dad was darker as a chick.

Dad:

 

[SourRoses]

Welbars' site says their roosters don't fight much and can be kept together. Is that for real?

Yes, I got mine from Dennis and had 10 cockerels together for 10 months and they were really peaceful together, also easy to walk through. I had to take out the pullets pretty early. The boys free ranged up the front and did really well keeping an eye out for predators and their feathers stayed nice. I eventually chose my favorite roo for breeding and found pet homes for the boys in groups of 2-3. The coolest thing was when the wind was blowing and those long feathers were flowing every which way in a big group.
* In my setup they had plenty of space, but they shared one feeder.
** Also, no ladies to fight over, but the fenceline with the gals should have been a spot for arguments and wasn't.
*** Also, they totally freaked me out when they were about 4-6 weeks old and the boys started fighting all of a sudden by wrapping their necks around each other and pushing while pecking each others backs. It looked really serious, but no one was hurt, and they figured out the pecking order within a week and all were calm after.

 

[dheltzel]

Yes, I got mine from Dennis and had 10 cockerels together for 10 months and they were really peaceful together, also easy to walk through. I had to take out the pullets pretty early. The boys free ranged up the front and did really well keeping an eye out for predators and their feathers stayed nice. I eventually chose my favorite roo for breeding and found pet homes for the boys in groups of 2-3. The coolest thing was when the wind was blowing and those long feathers were flowing every which way in a big group.
* In my setup they had plenty of space, but they shared one feeder.
** Also, no ladies to fight over, but the fenceline with the gals should have been a spot for arguments and wasn't.
*** Also, they totally freaked me out when they were about 4-6 weeks old and the boys started fighting all of a sudden by wrapping their necks around each other and pushing while pecking each others backs. It looked really serious, but no one was hurt, and they figured out the pecking order within a week and all were calm after.

View attachment 3480897View attachment 3480900View attachment 3480901

Those are pretty birds. I think people don't believe me when I say they are the prettiest roosters on the farm, but I stand by that. You'll never find that interplay of colors combined with graceful feathers in any other breed.

The first eggs from my flock went into the incubator 2 days ago. Unless I get an unexpectedly high hatch rate, these chicks are already reserved for a customer, but I plan to keep setting eggs as space allows. Some days I am getting 8 eggs from my flock. Already have a broody hen who does guard duty for the eggs. She is not mean like the Ameraucana broodies, but clearly a bit indignant.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Those are pretty birds. I think people don't believe me when I say they are the prettiest roosters on the farm, but I stand by that. You'll never find that interplay of colors combined with graceful feathers in any other breed.

The first eggs from my flock went into the incubator 2 days ago. Unless I get an unexpectedly high hatch rate, these chicks are already reserved for a customer, but I plan to keep setting eggs as space allows. Some days I am getting 8 eggs from my flock. Already have a broody hen who does guard duty for the eggs. She is not mean like the Ameraucana broodies, but clearly a bit indignant.

Phoenix are the only ones I've seen that come close in terms of beauty and male tolerance, but they don't have nearly as many colors.

 

[dheltzel]

Phoenix are the only ones I've seen that come close in terms of beauty and male tolerance, but they don't have nearly as many colors.

Very possible that Phoenix were used by early breeders of hackle fowl to get longer feathers. Some breeders shared some of their breeding notes, but most kept them secret, so no real "recipe" exists for making them. Chance mutations caught be careful breeders probably had a lot to do with it also.