Giving up on crested breeds..

[tadkerson]

I have had he same problems with sultans, polish and mottled houdans. They are the weakest birds i have ever seen. If I was going to raise them I would do some out crossing to other breeds to increase thier viability.

Tim

 

[iajewel]

My Polish came from McMurray, they live with my mean and evil barred rocks and do just fine..
genetics do play a part.

 

[silkiechicken]

I don't have any luck with large crested breeds who can't see the sky or things going after them. If they can't see, they can't free range, and if they can't free range, I don't want them. My silkies do fine, but they are pet quality and have small crests so they can see and run when they need to.

 

[iajewel]

My birds run on 30 acers of cattle pasture all year untill late fall when I do pen them for the sake of me not having to wade through snow drifts to feed and check on them. rRight now I have 26 hens and poults in a 25x30 pen and they are all happy. Well.. all except the Barred rock queenie meanie.
I think it may be like fishing.. some people have better luck with some bait then others, and with breeds of livestock and chickens.. some people have thier neich and breeds that fit our habbits do best with us.

 

[chicken_boy_Kurt]

Quote:
Not true, mine lives outside most of the time (not my fault, he's scared of the other roosters) and hardly gets any grain (again not my fault, I try to get it to him but he's scared of the evil roosters). But he has survived a lot, he even survived one of the other roosters pecking him on the head (dunno how he survived that).

Badhbh I'm sorry that happened.