I'm going to get a few chicks tonight and just wanted to know how high they fly? Will I need to clip their wings?
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Golden Laced Sebright
- Thread starter lauranickerson
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My sebrights fly very high. Bantams can generally fly a lot higher than standard fowl and I noticed that my sebrights tend to want to fly around the most, out of my bantams.
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- #3
Well, we don't have a top on our run yet, but I plan to let them free range anyways. My leghorn climbs right up the fence in the run and jumps out. It's about 8-10ft high.
But then I think maybe I shouldn't clip their wings because they will be able to escape predators in the pine trees a big better if it ever came to that.
I have a while to think about it since they are only chicks, but I'm just curious.
Another question. The chicks are straight run, so if I get a rooster, will it be okay with my other rooster(s) that I have? My oldest roosters are only about 3 months, but I'd like to keep a standard size rooster to fertilize some eggs to hatch from the big girls. I've seen and read that they get along fine, but I'm also just curious on that, too.
But then I think maybe I shouldn't clip their wings because they will be able to escape predators in the pine trees a big better if it ever came to that.
I have a while to think about it since they are only chicks, but I'm just curious.
Another question. The chicks are straight run, so if I get a rooster, will it be okay with my other rooster(s) that I have? My oldest roosters are only about 3 months, but I'd like to keep a standard size rooster to fertilize some eggs to hatch from the big girls. I've seen and read that they get along fine, but I'm also just curious on that, too.
It just kinda depends. I have 2 large fowl roosters, an Easter egger and a barred rock and I have 4 Sebright roosters and 1 silver duckwing OEGB rooster. The BR and EE rooster are kept in the same pen as 3 of the Sebright roosters, they all get along fine. The two other roosters are kept with other bantams in a pen as part of my breeding program I'm starting. Both of my larger roosters just completely ignore my Sebright roosters but it took a bit to time because none of them grew up together. Sometimes you won't have a problem, sometimes you will. You just have to make sure you introduce them slowly.
But if you're going to free range them, I would advise against clipping their wings. I would get a top on the run so you don't have to worry about any predators climbing in either.
But if you're going to free range them, I would advise against clipping their wings. I would get a top on the run so you don't have to worry about any predators climbing in either.
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- #5
Definitely working on getting a top on it. Just ended up using the wood we bought for it for the greenhouse instead, so have to get more.It just kinda depends. I have 2 large fowl roosters, an Easter egger and a barred rock and I have 4 Sebright roosters and 1 silver duckwing OEGB rooster. The BR and EE rooster are kept in the same pen as 3 of the Sebright roosters, they all get along fine. The two other roosters are kept with other bantams in a pen as part of my breeding program I'm starting. Both of my larger roosters just completely ignore my Sebright roosters but it took a bit to time because none of them grew up together. Sometimes you won't have a problem, sometimes you will. You just have to make sure you introduce them slowly.
But if you're going to free range them, I would advise against clipping their wings. I would get a top on the run so you don't have to worry about any predators climbing in either.
I hope there won't be an issue, because it looks like I might have gotten a cockerel. I'm fine with that, because I can hatch my own Sebrights then.
I wish they were a little older because I don't think I can put them with my 8-ish week old standard fowl chicks. They only about 1/3 the size. It's about 70 degrees according to my car about 10 minutes ago, so I hope they won't need a heat lamp either (all my bulbs broke). I kept them in the cat carrier for now with food and water.
Okay one last question (for now) if you don't mind. Do you think the bantams and standard fowl with breed with each other? I don't think the bantam rooster would be able to mate with a SF hen, but would a SF rooster try on a bantam hen? Sorry, this is my first time with bantams!
Oh it's fine, feel free to ask as many questions as you need. I personally haven't had an issue with my large fowl rooster trying to mate with my bantam hens, but I have heard of it happening. One of my Sebright roosters however, has recently taking quite a liking to one of my black sex link hens. She's been ignoring his wing dances, but he's pretty persistent. Even though he's about a third her size... It's definitely possible for either to happen. I heard that when/if it does, the babies they produce are usually slightly larger than bantams but slightly smaller than the large fowl, kind of an inbetween. I'm not sure how to prevent a large fowl rooster from trying to mate with a bantam hen, but I would imagine if he had plenty of regular sized hens to himself, he may not be as interested.
We also used wood for the top of our run. I ended up just laying the planks and tying them down. I originally put chicken wire as the roof with the wood planks but a lot of people told me that chicken wire wasn't a good idea. Before I could get it replaced, a tree fell on the coop/run but it being chain link, it surprisingly held. All the vines on the tree grew onto the run and now I have a layer of thick vines over the top so I didn't bother replacing the wire.
I love sebrights when they're chicks, they're probably my favorite kind as chicks, color wise. I think they will be okay for now as long as they aren't huddling or anything. I've seen chicks in the winter with mama out and about and they aren't under her the whole time, they'll go under her for a quick warmup and go back out again.
I personally haven't had an issue with my large fowl rooster trying to mate with my bantam hens, but I have heard of it happening. One of my Sebright roosters however, has recently taking quite a liking to one of my black sex link hens. She's been ignoring his wing dances, but he's pretty persistent. Even though he's about a third her size... It's definitely possible for either to happen. I heard that when/if it does, the babies they produce are usually slightly larger than bantams but slightly smaller than the large fowl, kind of an inbetween. I'm not sure how to prevent a large fowl rooster from trying to mate with a bantam hen, but I would imagine if he had plenty of regular sized hens to himself, he may not be as interested. We also used wood for the top of our run. I ended up just laying the planks and tying them down. I originally put chicken wire as the roof with the wood planks but a lot of people told me that chicken wire wasn't a good idea. Before I could get it replaced, a tree fell on the coop/run but it being chain link, it surprisingly held. All the vines on the tree grew onto the run and now I have a layer of thick vines over the top so I didn't bother replacing the wire.
I love sebrights when they're chicks, they're probably my favorite kind as chicks, color wise. I think they will be okay for now as long as they aren't huddling or anything. I've seen chicks in the winter with mama out and about and they aren't under her the whole time, they'll go under her for a quick warmup and go back out again.
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- #7
I mean, I guess I wouldn't mind a few SF-bantam mixes, but I think I'd also want the bantam rooster to do his thing with the other bantams, because then I can sell the pure breed chicks (or keep more
).
Our coop is wood frame with steel siding and roof, basically like a pole barn. Here, it's easier to show a picture rather then explain. Haha. This coop is about 10 years old, so we are updating it a bit since we didn't have chickens in it for about 8 years until this spring.
Don't mind the mess.
We are going to saw off the high poles to be level with the slanted boards, then continue the metal roof all the way to the end of the run so the rain and snow will run/slide right off. Michigan winters are brutal (I see you might know a thing or two about that. hehe).
The chicken hex wire only goes to about the top of the door, so we will have to put some more on it. The door needs fixed, too, because the bottom hinge came off and the frame around the door warped a little bit. My leghorn knows how to climb the fence and jump out. Good thing the others haven't caught on yet!
Made barn doors with the sawmill because the store bought cheap doors we put on first just fell apart. The metal corners still need to go on, too. (And I need to clean and mow the yard sooooo bad!
Our coop is wood frame with steel siding and roof, basically like a pole barn. Here, it's easier to show a picture rather then explain. Haha. This coop is about 10 years old, so we are updating it a bit since we didn't have chickens in it for about 8 years until this spring.
Don't mind the mess.
The chicken hex wire only goes to about the top of the door, so we will have to put some more on it. The door needs fixed, too, because the bottom hinge came off and the frame around the door warped a little bit. My leghorn knows how to climb the fence and jump out. Good thing the others haven't caught on yet!
Made barn doors with the sawmill because the store bought cheap doors we put on first just fell apart. The metal corners still need to go on, too. (And I need to clean and mow the yard sooooo bad!
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- #8
I put lots of straw in the cat carrier, they were laying next to each other, but they were even doing that on the way home yesterday and it was about 85 degrees out. I think they're just a little scared from being separated from the rest of the other baby chicks. I don't think the lady handled them much because they go bananas when we tried to grab them. I managed to pick one up this morning, but it wasn't until after if flew out of my hands and wedged itself in the corner of my coop. Hopefully I can break them out of it.
I think they are soooo pretty...as chicks and adults. I'm glad I finally have them again. I had one this spring but it got killed by a dog.
So excited for them to free range as adults and eat some bugs!
I think they are soooo pretty...as chicks and adults. I'm glad I finally have them again. I had one this spring but it got killed by a dog.
So excited for them to free range as adults and eat some bugs!
Your coop looks nice! Mine is completely recycled and repurposed, mainly because I can't afford a lot of expensive supplies. That's a good idea to continue the roof too, it'll create shade in the summer as well. my leghorn is also an escape artist. I have a small fenced off area in the run as an introduction pen/breeding pen for my bantams and I reinforced it, I thought pretty well. But every morning my leghorn would be in there and I couldn't figure out how she kept getting in there. I ended up catching her in the act one day. She walked across the middle horizontal pole on the fence and squeezed through a small hole into the bantam cage. I still don't know how she figured that out.. I think chickens are a lot smarter than most people give them credit for.. Lol
This is probably the best picture of my coop. It's hard to even see the coop in the summer because its so overgrown. We originally cut all the vines, but the grew back. It's only about 5 and 1/2 feet high and all my chickens, even the rooster can fly up on top of it.
I don't have any pictures before hand, but this is after the tree fell on the run. I had those small beams going across, most of them snapped and I've since removed them but they held up really nicely, I mean the main 2x4(not pictured) didn't even flinch under the tree and I'm sure the chain link fence helped too. We just ended up cutting the tree off and a raccoon couldn't get to the actual fencing now if he tried. I also like the idea of solid roofs on the run because it keeps rain out and hawks don't get any bright ideas... I plan on replacing the beams this summer sometime and adding a second coop on the outside of the run.
My first bantam was a Sebright rooster, and he was the meanest little son of a gun I have ever met. After he started flying up and going after my face, he was gone. I ended up getting my other sebrights as an accident, as I didn't want more after him. They were just mixed bantams and after how sweet all the ones I have now, even the cockerels, I determined that rooster was just mean and it's probably not the breed. They are so beautiful when they feather out. Where did you get yours exactly? I got all of mine from TSC and none of my males have been hen feathered except one. And he doesn't have the Sebright rose comb.
He is silver laced, and even though he doesn't have the classic Sebright rosecomb, I really like how he is staying hen feathered. Hopefully yours look like that too! I think it's a really pretty trait in males.
my leghorn is also an escape artist. I have a small fenced off area in the run as an introduction pen/breeding pen for my bantams and I reinforced it, I thought pretty well. But every morning my leghorn would be in there and I couldn't figure out how she kept getting in there. I ended up catching her in the act one day. She walked across the middle horizontal pole on the fence and squeezed through a small hole into the bantam cage. I still don't know how she figured that out.. I think chickens are a lot smarter than most people give them credit for.. Lol This is probably the best picture of my coop. It's hard to even see the coop in the summer because its so overgrown. We originally cut all the vines, but the grew back. It's only about 5 and 1/2 feet high and all my chickens, even the rooster can fly up on top of it.
I don't have any pictures before hand, but this is after the tree fell on the run. I had those small beams going across, most of them snapped and I've since removed them but they held up really nicely, I mean the main 2x4(not pictured) didn't even flinch under the tree and I'm sure the chain link fence helped too. We just ended up cutting the tree off and a raccoon couldn't get to the actual fencing now if he tried. I also like the idea of solid roofs on the run because it keeps rain out and hawks don't get any bright ideas... I plan on replacing the beams this summer sometime and adding a second coop on the outside of the run.
My first bantam was a Sebright rooster, and he was the meanest little son of a gun I have ever met. After he started flying up and going after my face, he was gone. I ended up getting my other sebrights as an accident, as I didn't want more after him. They were just mixed bantams and after how sweet all the ones I have now, even the cockerels, I determined that rooster was just mean and it's probably not the breed. They are so beautiful when they feather out. Where did you get yours exactly? I got all of mine from TSC and none of my males have been hen feathered except one. And he doesn't have the Sebright rose comb.
He is silver laced, and even though he doesn't have the classic Sebright rosecomb, I really like how he is staying hen feathered. Hopefully yours look like that too! I think it's a really pretty trait in males.
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- #10
I hope mine stay hen feathered, too! I got mine from a lady on Craigslist who was selling them for $4 each. She showed me all her birds, including her Sebrights. I can't remember if the rooster was head feathered, but it seems like he was, with a rose comb I believe.
Like I said before, I got one this spring, also from Tractor Supply! They, too had a trough of straight run mixed bantams. I had no idea what I was getting, but I got two. One was a silkie, the other a Golden Sebright. The silkie died within a week or two. I'm not sure why. From the time I got it, it was always sleeping. Then a friend's dog got into the brooder in the coop and killed my first Sebright and Rouen duckling. The only one left was the Leghorn. She was afraid of me when all the chicks were there, but once she was alone, she ended getting so attached to me, and now she's my favorite chicken. She's constantly at my feet.
Here's my little babies I got yesterday.
I think the one on the far left is a cockerel.
The two 'ladies' look like they will be rose comb, but not sure about that one I think is a 'cockerel.' Looks like a straight comb at the moment...
Like I said before, I got one this spring, also from Tractor Supply! They, too had a trough of straight run mixed bantams. I had no idea what I was getting, but I got two. One was a silkie, the other a Golden Sebright. The silkie died within a week or two. I'm not sure why. From the time I got it, it was always sleeping. Then a friend's dog got into the brooder in the coop and killed my first Sebright and Rouen duckling. The only one left was the Leghorn. She was afraid of me when all the chicks were there, but once she was alone, she ended getting so attached to me, and now she's my favorite chicken. She's constantly at my feet.
Here's my little babies I got yesterday.
I think the one on the far left is a cockerel.
The two 'ladies' look like they will be rose comb, but not sure about that one I think is a 'cockerel.' Looks like a straight comb at the moment...
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