Landrace/adaptive breeding discussion

[Ridgerunner]

Do you believe the decisions as to when to wean are random? Or do you think the hens are instinctively doing it for the right time for that particular brood?

Probably both nature (instinct) and nurture (depending on circumstances). I think it is too complex for simplistic solutions. For example, the few I've seen wean them at three weeks was in the heat of summer when food was really plentiful. I don't think they would be so quick to wean them in cooler weather.

Interestingly one of the three week ones was back to laying when she weaned them. The ones that take months to wean the chicks are not back to laying for a much longer time.

 

[Appalachian homestead]

Interesting thread with a lot of good info. I acquired some Icelandics last year and have been very pleased with them so far.

 

[LaurenRitz]

Interestingly one of the three week ones was back to laying when she weaned them. The ones that take months to wean the chicks are not back to laying for a much longer time.

All of mine have been laying by the time they weaned their chicks. Which is part of why I was so surprised when I thought she'd abandoned this chick. She wasn't (and isn't) laying yet.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I can't say that all of mine are laying by the time they wean their chicks, but most are right there. I had one that raised her chicks in the late summer/early and molted while raising them. She was back to laying by the time the rest of the flock molted and stopped laying. She continued to lay throughout the winter, all the way until the next fall molt. It was nice to get a large hen egg throughout the winter instead of the normal pullet eggs.

 

[Florida Bullfrog]

I found two mommas bringing their broods high up into the trees this evening. Yesterday evening they were on the ground under one of the barns. It feels like rain may be coming tonight.

 

[LaurenRitz]

I suspect that tree roosting is another instinct that has been lost through breeding. None of my hatchery birds have even considered it, but over time those born here are starting to climb and fly into the trees.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Going outside today (into the growout tractor, NOT into the great big bad world. Part of see and be seen integration)

 

[NatJ]

I suspect that tree roosting is another instinct that has been lost through breeding. None of my hatchery birds have even considered it, but over time those born here are starting to climb and fly into the trees.

I've had hatchery birds that wanted to roost in trees. Since I wanted them to sleep in a coop, it was a nuisance for me.

I don't remember exactly which breeds it was, but I do remember I was trying out a bunch of different rare breeds at the time. They chose at least two very different kinds of "tree" to sleep in: one tree had widely spaced branches where the birds were easy to see but too high to easily reach, and one shrub was low and easy to reach but so dense I almost couldn't see in. I think it was often the same birds either place-- maybe they were changing around in hopes that I would stop finding them and putting them back in the coop?

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Initial assessments -

 

[Florida Bullfrog]

Momma #1 has appeared with a brood of 6. So both #1 and #2, the two mommas that kicked their biddies away at 4 and 5 weeks respectively, have each made a second brood this season.

I have not seen #6 or #7 in a few days. Because their group was combined, I would figure that if a predator got one of the mothers, the other one is still probably out there. It's not unsual to go a few days without seeing a particular momma while they're delving deep into the blueberries. Still, this concerns me a bit for these two. Later today I may go for a hen hunt out in the blueberries. There's about 12 acres of blueberries they could be in.