Heritage Large Fowl - Phase II

[ChickenCanoe]

Unless it's a broody, those can be lil' stinkers!

Oh yeah, I forgot. They can be scary.

Aren't buff Orpingtons known to be broody?

About half of the BOs I had went broody.

I guess none of the 30 were Old English Game large fowl.

You're right about that. Mostly LF Mediterranean, Continental, American, English and Asiatic DP and egg breeds. Plus a few Other class and unrecognized breeds but no Game fowl.

Last year I ordered Delawares from Sandhill. I have talked to others who have ordered from Sandhill. I think my hen to rooster ratio was about 1/5. Out of 28 birds (they sent 3 extra) I had nine pullets. I think the ratio was roughly the same for one lady who ordered a mix of the egg laying breeds. Can you imagine 20 large fowl Mediterranean and/or Continental breeds all crowing at the same time?

My Delawares were bad enough and they're nowhere near as loud but there was one that would crow endlessly for about an hour every day and it drove my neighbor and myself nuts. Guess which one went in the pot first?

I got a big order from Sandhill a few years ago. With some exceptions, I was happy with the birds. The ratio wasn't bad either.

 

[Amandas4hens]

Thanks for all the great advice!!! We most certainly won't rely solely on roosters to protect from predators! Do people really do that?? No, our chickens will have a big coop in our barn with access to a fully fenced, roofed run about 25 feet by 40 feet. There's a partially submerged boulder and a hill. They'll be living the life!!

 

[bnjrob]

Thanks for all the great advice!!! We most certainly won't rely solely on roosters to protect from predators! Do people really do that?? No, our chickens will have a big coop in our barn with access to a fully fenced, roofed run about 25 feet by 40 feet. There's a partially submerged boulder and a hill. They'll be living the life!!

LOL - you would be surprised at how many people think that all they need is a rooster to protect their chickens. And then they can't figure out why their chickens are disappearing or getting killed left and right.

 

[hellbender]

LOL - you would be surprised at how many people think that all they need is a rooster to protect their chickens. And then they can't figure out why their chickens are disappearing or getting killed left and right.

Frequently...a 'good' rooster is the first casualty.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Thanks for all the great advice!!! We most certainly won't rely solely on roosters to protect from predators! Do people really do that?? ...

Actually I do.
I make sure I go into winter with about 8 good roosters but I rarely lose any. By late winter I have a lot of young ones coming up and can process extras.
I haven't lost a bird to hawks when there's been a Penedesenca rooster with the flock.

Neighbors dogs have been an issue but that's the only time the birds use their wings.

Frequently...a 'good' rooster is the first casualty.

I left for the day with a flock free ranging. When I returned, all the hens were safe and sound but the rooster was nowhere to be found.

 

[LindaB220]

Oh yeah, I forgot. They can be scary.

About half of the BOs I had went broody.


You're right about that. Mostly LF Mediterranean, Continental, American, English and Asiatic DP and egg breeds. Plus a few Other class and unrecognized breeds but no Game fowl.
I got a big order from Sandhill a few years ago. With some exceptions, I was happy with the birds. The ratio wasn't bad either.

Good, relieves my mind.

 

[bnjrob]

Actually I do.
I make sure I go into winter with about 8 good roosters but I rarely lose any. By late winter I have a lot of young ones coming up and can process extras.
I haven't lost a bird to hawks when there's been a Penedesenca rooster with the flock.

Neighbors dogs have been an issue but that's the only time the birds use their wings.


I left for the day with a flock free ranging. When I returned, all the hens were safe and sound but the rooster was nowhere to be found.

You must not have many coyotes. If I were to just let the cocks protect things, we would have no males, and then no females. These coyotes here come within 20 feet of the house and are not afraid of a snarling dog that is larger than they are. The only thing the coyotes fear is a gunshot. Here in TX, coyotes and bobcats are even in the suburbs due to urban sprawl - they have lost so much of their fear and even smaller dogs and cats are their prey now.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I know I've been fortunate but I do have a lot of coyotes but luckily haven't lost any to them yet.
I've seen them walk through the chicken pasture midday. There were 2 at 8 AM walk through the front yard a few weeks ago just a couple feet from the front porch.
Perhaps we have enough other prey animals. Some of the flocks are in secure pens but there is always one free ranging.
I've had fox on two occasions grab a BO in the afternoon right in front of me and I was able to chase them away.

We have every predator except bears, mountain lions and bobcats.

 

[bnjrob]

I know I've been fortunate but I do have a lot of coyotes but luckily haven't lost any to them yet.
I've seen them walk through the chicken pasture midday. There were 2 at 8 AM walk through the front yard a few weeks ago just a couple feet from the front porch.
Perhaps we have enough other prey animals. Some of the flocks are in secure pens but there is always one free ranging.
I've had fox on two occasions grab a BO in the afternoon right in front of me and I was able to chase them away.

We have every predator except bears, mountain lions and bobcats.

TX is like a whole other country. We have forests, prairies, desert, ocean - along with all the animals that go with those environments including bears, mountain lions, and bobcats. And at times, the animals, plants, and weather overlap the different environments in the state so we have to be ready for just about anything. We even have Caracaras ranging up here in North TX when they used to only be near the Mexican border. And the Caracaras will actually do some hunting of live prey and not just carrion.

 

[neopolitancrazy]

You must not have many coyotes. If I were to just let the cocks protect things, we would have no males, and then no females. These coyotes here come within 20 feet of the house and are not afraid of a snarling dog that is larger than they are. The only thing the coyotes fear is a gunshot. Here in TX, coyotes and bobcats are even in the suburbs due to urban sprawl - they have lost so much of their fear and even smaller dogs and cats are their prey now.

Here outside Bastrop, I saw a pair of coyotes less than 50 yards from my front door. This is WITH the 2 adult Great Pyrenees in the front yard, on full alert. The cats are now nervous about walking down to the creek.