So, as some of you know, I don't have gamefowl but have always wanted some. Well, I've known that a neighbor of mine just so happens to have some Orientals that they don't know much about, and neither do my relatives who spend time at their house all the time. (I'm the chicken one of the family)
Well, finally I get to go meet them and their chickens today.
The guy who takes care of them wanted his eggs that a couple broodies are sitting on to be candled, and I'm the only one around who knows how to do it, and can spot a quitter from a fertile or bloodring on even the first several days. So, off I go!! I was very excited, and brought only two things - A high powered flashlight and my trusty good camera.
When I came there, I finally got to see the chickens. . . They were Thais!!
There was the main roo, who was quite nice looking except for the excessive white in his tail, a second younger crossbred stag, his black girls, and a couple crossbred hens who were a sort of mock-wheaten color. The owner said they were RIR crosses. I fell in love.
Then, the real fun began. . . I'm gonna fess up and admit here, I've never handled a broody hen, but I've known from plenty of stories and videos how they are. Except Oriental Gamefowl.
I came into the coop, and there were three different nesting boxes of broodies. The first had two girls on it. The guy said to just scare them off, but honestly I didn't want to do that, as I have no clue how soon they'll come back. So, I did the brave and maybe stupid deed of candling eggs while a ferocious Thai hen was over them. One thing is certain - They're GOOD moms!! This girl was nasty - She first gave me warnings, and started to puff up and nip at me. I still grabbed eggs, candled them, then put them back, so she took it further - She began to grab my skin, then tear, rip, and twist at it! My have I never heard of such a defensive broody! She was scary! The second one next to her just hunkered down though. Finally, after much breaking of my skin, tearing of my hands and arms, she gave up and flew out. Now it was the second hen's turn. . . Turns out ALL of the girls put up a REALLY good fight except for one, who just plain flew out and started screaming up a song.
In the end it was great fun. A couple of my fingers were bleeding, and I found that hardly any of their eggs were infertile or bad, and I also found that eggs under broody hens seem to develop a little more differently than in the incubator. I certainly can't wait to have my own broodies!!
Before I left, I had a nice chat with the guy about his chickens, what to look for in breeding them if he wants to go for the standard, and also about the history of where he got them from and how their breedings have gone from there. Despite the definite crossbreeding of the new stag with his evident huge cushion comb and large waddles, the older rooster was gorgeous, and so were the black hens.
Just had to share my story. . . Now some pics.
Well, finally I get to go meet them and their chickens today.
When I came there, I finally got to see the chickens. . . They were Thais!!
I came into the coop, and there were three different nesting boxes of broodies. The first had two girls on it. The guy said to just scare them off, but honestly I didn't want to do that, as I have no clue how soon they'll come back. So, I did the brave and maybe stupid deed of candling eggs while a ferocious Thai hen was over them. One thing is certain - They're GOOD moms!! This girl was nasty - She first gave me warnings, and started to puff up and nip at me. I still grabbed eggs, candled them, then put them back, so she took it further - She began to grab my skin, then tear, rip, and twist at it! My have I never heard of such a defensive broody! She was scary! The second one next to her just hunkered down though. Finally, after much breaking of my skin, tearing of my hands and arms, she gave up and flew out. Now it was the second hen's turn. . . Turns out ALL of the girls put up a REALLY good fight except for one, who just plain flew out and started screaming up a song.
In the end it was great fun. A couple of my fingers were bleeding, and I found that hardly any of their eggs were infertile or bad, and I also found that eggs under broody hens seem to develop a little more differently than in the incubator. I certainly can't wait to have my own broodies!!
Before I left, I had a nice chat with the guy about his chickens, what to look for in breeding them if he wants to go for the standard, and also about the history of where he got them from and how their breedings have gone from there. Despite the definite crossbreeding of the new stag with his evident huge cushion comb and large waddles, the older rooster was gorgeous, and so were the black hens.
Just had to share my story. . . Now some pics.
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