Landrace/adaptive breeding discussion

[U_Stormcrow]

I’m going to see if these chicks get eliminated or thrive. My instinct is to pull them off of free range and coop them
with a heat plate. But I’m going to let nature take its course. The older 5 are feathered out and roosting off the ground. I’m pretty sure they’ll be fine. The younger 10 still have some fuzz. I once had a fuzzy chick survive nights in the 20sF on the ground by herself after a hawk killed her mother. I called that chick Survivorlady and she lived and brooded many chicks until Marek’s got her last year. We’ll see what these do.

At least its relatvely warm - they have a chance. We've been low 90s most of this week. You've got to be mids or higher, right?

 

[Florida Bullfrog]

At least its relatvely warm - they have a chance. We've been low 90s most of this week. You've got to be mids or higher, right?

I think I’m about in line with you in terms of longitude. Its been low 90s in the day and 60s at night.

The 5 older chicks are fine this morning and are intermingling with the main free range flock. The 10 younger chicks are hiding in deep cover and I can’t see how many survived the night. Besides coolness, my biggest concern are snakes (although the cooler temperatures at night seem to suppress snake activity after dark). At least 7 or so are slinking around the cover. They would not come out for their mother who seemed to be half-heartily looking for them this morning. They’re under a thick fig tree. I threw them some feed on the edge of the cover. I’m hoping to get a view of the whole group before I leave for the day.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I think I’m about in line with you in terms of longitude. Its been low 90s in the day and 60s at night.

The 5 older chicks are fine this morning and are intermingling with the main free range flock. The 10 younger chicks are hiding in deep cover and I can’t see how many survived the night. Besides coolness, my biggest concern are snakes (although the cooler temperatures at night seem to suppress snake activity after dark). At least 7 or so are slinking around the cover. They would not come out for their mother who seemed to be half-heartily looking for them this morning. They’re under a thick fig tree. I threw them some feed on the edge of the cover. I’m hoping to get a view of the whole group before I leave for the day.

Here's hoping you can get eyes on them. I'm debating pulling more soda apple this AM, still undecided about what to do with "my" fox. It hasn't taken any more birds, and I've not found scat inside the electric fence this week. That's good for the fox, good for me.

 

[Florida Bullfrog]

Here's hoping you can get eyes on them. I'm debating pulling more soda apple this AM, still undecided about what to do with "my" fox. It hasn't taken any more birds, and I've not found scat inside the electric fence this week. That's good for the fox, good for me.

If you find yourself in need of eliminating the fox, the FWC offers permits on demand from their website. When you click “submit” the permit will be approved and emailed to you automatically.

 

[No Coop No Problem]

For those of you with free-range hens with chicks, at what ages or stages of development are you noticing that hens are leaving chicks to fend for themselves, whether it be for a little while or a long time/permanently, if at all prior to adulthood? Do you notice differences between genetic backgrounds?

Out of all the mothers here, American Game wean their babies the earliest of all breeds. Yet at the same time they show better discernment than the true wild/feral breeds

Red Junglefowl and Fayoumi will take their young far out into dangerous areas where they've already been attacked by predators. The American Game hang out closer to home and seem to have motherhood down to a science

Asil are on the other end of the spectrum and show the longest term dedication. I've never kept specific track but I believe my Asil hen keeps her young at least twice as long as the American Game

All AGF cross keep their young longer than pure AGF, yet they universally have higher mortality rates if mixed with anything other than another game breed. The AGF/RJF are the most voracious breeders here but they have the wild wandering gene that loses more young

 

[tinychicky]

My Asil/Phoenix/Fayoumi/etc.hens tend to stay with thier brood 3+ months as well, allowing the chicks to fully integrate into the flock and learn the ropes. Except this year the hen raising my 8 new liege fighters was done with them at 4 weeks. Too big, I guess. They have survived and thrived however. I'm noticing also just how much grass they eat when free ranging- much more than the other birds who seem inclined to go mainly for live prey. I'll be curious to see how your chicks do, Bullfrog.

 

[Florida Bullfrog]

I made it home briefly early afternoon and the chicks were still hiding under the big fig tree. I was able to count 9 head at that point. When I got home mid evening they were feeding outside of a large azalea bush. When I tried to count them they ducked in the bush. Before sunset I saw them in some tall grass on the edge of a marshy area and I was able to flush them out into the lawn. All 10 were present. All 10 were also back in the coop after dark.

So I have some hope they’ll make it. My biggest concern for them is a heavy downpour. I do not know if they will adequately shelter or not. Some rain may be coming later next week. I will considering cooping all the chicks during the rains.

 

[User635240]

@EddieSalita
@Perris
@U_Stormcrow

I'd like to start a discussion about adaptive breeding for chickens.

Basically, a landrace is a locally adapted variety which has enough genetic diversity to adapt to changing conditions. Landraces are often different even just a few miles apart, and the inbred "varieties" that we have become used to were once landraces.

My goal is to create a dual purpose landrace bird that thrives on forage, can out-compete predator pressure, makes excellent parents and is non-aggressive to humans and flock mates. I eventually want a bird that can thrive without human help if necessary.

Color and pattern doesn't matter to me, but since white seems to be a predator magnet I made the decision not to include white birds. All my birds are mottled or dark.

Please add people who might be interested in the discussion.

This is what chick camoflage should be!

View attachment 3834832

The Swedish and Icelandic chickens are landraces that meet the criteria you mentioned..

 

[LaurenRitz]

I was asked to do a presentation on adaptive breeding in a few weeks. Could any of you help me by providing a good picture of one of your birds, what stage you're at (grex, proto-landrace, etc.), your general location, and which breeds are included in your population? Only if you feel comfortable with it.

 

[MysteryChicken]

I'm working on one Landrace Breed. I dubbed them the Chameleons due to a unique trait/mutation.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/black-to-white-experiment.1545531/