Heritage Large Fowl - Phase II

[3riverschick]

Does anyone with feather footed breeds had problems where the feathers are breaking off on their feet causing them to bleed? I have a BCM/EE mix who has had this problem twice now. I don't if it's because there's a problem with the feathers coming in or because she has gotten them wet and they froze causing them to break?

You can see here where they broke off at the pin part of the feather. I pulled out those broken pins plus some around it. As you can see she has frost bite on her toe. She liked to stand in her fermented feed. Hence the frost bite. That problem has been fixed
ETA I sprayed some blue kote on the area to try and prevent infection in it.

This is why the British don't have feathers on their Marans feet. In France, the folk pasture their Marans so they have feathers on their feet. But in Britain they yard their Marans and the mud and wet ground played havoc with the feathered feet so they don't have them. When I had Marans , in the beginning, didn't have feathers on their feet. I yarded them and they were happily ambling thru the mud, rain and snow. If I had feather footed Marans now, I would do my yard in deep sand so their feathers were protected from muck and gunk.
Best,
Karen

 

[thedragonlady]

This is why te British don't have feathers on their Marans feet. In France, the folk pasture their Marans so they have feathers on their feet. But in Britain they yard their Marans and the mud and wet ground played havoc with the feathered feet so they don't have them. My Marans , in the beginning, didn't have feathers on their feet. I yarded them and they were happily ambling thru the mud, rain and snow. If I had feather footed Marans now, I would do my yard in deep sand so their feathers were protected from muck and gunk.
Best,
Karen

I spent 2 winters in England. It rarely gets below 25 degrees. It mostly sits at 34, and rains, which makes life miserable.The idea of 5 degrees would cause a panic.There would be a lot of butts stuck to their unheated loo seats ! The wet causes all sorts of interesting fungi to grow, but frostbite, and frozen combs are VERY rare.There is caustic mud in places, and footed breeds would not do well there.

 

[3riverschick]

Quote: I have often thought that was a great reason to build one of those big old manor houses.
So one could spend the whole winter inside without getting cabin fever.

 

[armorfirelady]

 
This is why te British don't have feathers on their Marans feet. In France, the folk pasture their Marans so they have feathers on their feet. But in Britain they yard their Marans and the mud and wet ground played havoc with the feathered feet so they don't have them. My Marans    , in the beginning, didn't have feathers on their feet. I yarded them and they were happily ambling thru the mud, rain and snow. If I had feather footed Marans now, I would do my yard in deep sand so their feathers were protected from muck and gunk.
 Best,
 Karen

I spent 2 winters in England. It rarely gets below 25 degrees. It mostly sits at 34, and rains, which makes life miserable.The idea of 5 degrees would cause a panic.There would be a lot of butts stuck to their unheated loo seats ! The wet causes all sorts of interesting fungi to grow, but frostbite, and frozen combs are VERY rare.There is caustic mud in places, and footed breeds would not do well there.

I agree the feathered feet are not good for our area. My springs and falls are usually wet which means lots of mud. I have 2 Marans and their feet are caked with mud. But they do seem to groom them at times. Her feathers around the broken ones were frozen together so I pulled them as well after removing the clumps. I am sure that they get wet from walking they the snow. I don't notice that they have warmer feet because of these feathers. They still stand with one foot or another when standing in snow just like my other hens do.

 

[3riverschick]

I agree the feathered feet are not good for our area. My springs and falls are usually wet which means lots of mud. I have 2 Marans and their feet are caked with mud. But they do seem to groom them at times. Her feathers around the broken ones were frozen together so I pulled them as well after removing the clumps. I am sure that they get wet from walking they the snow. I don't notice that they have warmer feet because of these feathers. They still stand with one foot or another when standing in snow just like my other hens do.

I loved my Kelly Cratty Marans I had back in 2005. Such great birds ( black and cuckoo) . The clean footed English type. Great robust birds and layers. They were generation 9 of his 10 generation formal breeding program. Only reason I got rid of them was because the wind took out the coop and I didn't have funds to repair it before more foul weather. Personally, considering how many Americans yard their Marans instead of pasturing them, I think it was a mistake not to make feathered feet optional in the APA SOP.
Best,
Karen

 

[NanaKat]

Laceyblues, here are the pics I took of the Delaware pullet of Kathy's that I have with the poor feather quality. Pics taken in the dark on the roost last night but hopefully you can see the frayed look to the feathers. This is not rooster damage, her feathers came in like this after her Juvie Molt, she is a year old first week in April. She is with my layer flock and will not be used for breeding.

Zanna - she sort of reminds me of some things I saw in Rex and a couple of the other cockerels - But since she is a layer it might be good to see what results after the next molt

Another possibility to consider: Mice chew feathers like that...cut them off...while they sit on the roost. I've had birds in cages show significant damage overnight. Then it is all out war on the varmints.

 

[Zanna]

Another possibility to consider: Mice chew feathers like that...cut them off...while they sit on the roost. I've had birds in cages show significant damage overnight. Then it is all out war on the varmints.

Great thought but I am sure I would see similar damage on other birds as well. Thanks for your input!

 

[Vamvakas]

Noticed a local ad on CL about someone selling good Orpington chicks. Orpingtons standards is a bit different then Black Australorps but I am interested in the black Orpingtons not the others like like blue or jubilee. For Orpington fans these look good? http://newhaven.craigslist.org/grd/4336531257.html

 

[hellbender]

Noticed a local ad on CL about someone selling good Orpington chicks. Orpingtons standards is a bit different then Black Australorps but I am interested in the black Orpingtons not the others like like blue or jubilee. For Orpington fans these look good? http://newhaven.craigslist.org/grd/4336531257.html

Don't forget those short backs...

Just kidding my friend!

 

[thedragonlady]

Don't forget those short backs...

Just kidding my friend!

Those short backs are not something to forget.The shorter the back, the fewer eggs you will get. Just don't confuse long tailed Orps, with true long backed ones.A good Orp should be as wide at the hips, as it is at the shoulders.Couple that with a good deep front, with an ample bread basket, and you'll get eggs and meat.This is a great back end on a 7 1/2 month old cockerel. Notice the width of tail coverts too. He will throw daughters with great top lines, and good feather quality also.



Greedy....He is 75% English, crossed on a US a heavy laying line.

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