Landrace/adaptive breeding discussion

[LaurenRitz]

Oh, and Mamatoo is hatching. One hatched so far, 3 more to go. I also have three for her in the house.

 

[Florida Bullfrog]

Free-range mammas #1&#2 (the two that raised the 15 to 4-5 weeks and quit).

Momma #3.

Mamma #4

Mamma #5. I thought this one was kaput some time ago. She's 1/4 aseel, 1/4 Liege, 1/2 Australorp.

Mammas #6 & #7.

I know where #8 is, and I suspect #9 will appear any day now (which I supposed would make her #8 if she appears before the other. There might be a #10 out there. Apparently #5 was only gone for 3 weeks, but in my mind she's been gone longer than that. I got a couple that seem like they've been gone too long, but they may be about to appear with chicks. Usually I can find setting hens when throwing out feed in the mornings. They'll come get some feed and I can follow them back. This Spring the hens have been a lot more secretive.

 

[Florida Bullfrog]

The dogs found a chick thief. I think it got a few the last couple of nights from #6 and #7. They found it behind a cinder block near their roosting spot.

 

[Florida Bullfrog]

I didn't count the 15 this evening, but as of last night they haven't had any losses. Some of the black cockerels in the group are starting to get some red on them.

 

[LaurenRitz]

I found the other hen I thought was sitting. She gave herself a Darwin award. So a total of 5 chicks for this season, and down by one adult hen.

I let one of the JGxRIR boys out of confinement. They are 20 weeks old. No forced matings that I've seen, and he's ignoring the young pullets. At least 2, including one of the adult hens, are letting him mount.

I'll give him a month or 2 to evaluate his behavior and let him establish himself, then let one of the others out. I'm hopeful that all 3 might work out if I can get them over the 30 week hump. They seem to turn aggressive around week 24.

 

[Florida Bullfrog]

I found the other hen I thought was sitting. She gave herself a Darwin award. So a total of 5 chicks for this season, and down by one adult hen.

I let one of the JGxRIR boys out of confinement. They are 20 weeks old. No forced matings that I've seen, and he's ignoring the young pullets. At least 2, including one of the adult hens, are letting him mount.

I'll give him a month or 2 to evaluate his behavior and let him establish himself, then let one of the others out. I'm hopeful that all 3 might work out if I can get them over the 30 week hump. They seem to turn aggressive around week 24.

What did she do to off herself?

 

[LaurenRitz]

Apparently laid an egg in a space she couldn't get out of. Couldn't go forward, couldn't go back, couldn't turn. I don't think she could breathe either, the way she was wedged in.

 

[Florida Bullfrog]

Apparently laid an egg in a space she couldn't get out of. Couldn't go forward, couldn't go back, couldn't turn. I don't think she could breathe either, the way she was wedged in.

Well, that is natural selection in action.

 

[Molpet]

Apparently laid an egg in a space she couldn't get out of. Couldn't go forward, couldn't go back, couldn't turn. I don't think she could breathe either, the way she was wedged in.

They do find novel ways to comit suicide.
I have cattle panel hoop coops covered with several layers of clearish tarps. I do deep liter so there's inches above the bottom. One day I seen something between the tarps moving. I thought it was a mouse and was going to smack it when I realized it was a hens head moving. Not sure how she managed it but I had to take the tarp loose to get her out . She drank and drank and drank so she had been in there for most of the day... she then laid her egg

 

[LaurenRitz]

Officially six weeks. The smallest has the best camouflage, but she's half the size of her siblings so I don't think I'll keep her.

This group really prefers foraging. Whether that's due to Mama's teaching or a natural inclination, they don't even look at the food in the morning but just go out to play. As far as I can tell they're having no problems with the heat.

The week old (single) chick is just the opposite. She prefers the coop, shows no interest in foraging although Mamatoo is still trying to teach her. She came from a blue BYM egg I was given.