Landrace/adaptive breeding discussion

[BlindLemonChicken]

After losing my good rooster and two game hens to a bobcat I finally got a backup rooster today…getting another from the same place I got my original guy soon. Here is the new guy being told off by my cockerel. Has to be through hwc for now:

My plan is to keep him with the two hens in the run for now and I will put the next one in the barn with six other girls and hope the NN cockerel Muraco doesn’t sneak in there. He is small and flighty so it’s possible but I am hoping he will be preoccupied elsewhere with his dozen or so other hens. New girls (I didn’t find out their breeds until after I picked them up but they were free and beautiful and all laying so I wasn’t going to be picky) but two are EEs which fit nicely with my goals

The Brahmas were a pleasant surprise and though I’m not a big fan of Orpingtons they will do for now until spring brings more chicks.

 

[LaurenRitz]

Not sure if these two have gone feral, or have just picked another place to roost.

This morning they came from the direction of the neighbor's barn, well after everyone else had finished their snack. They're out there foraging with everyone else now.

At first I assumed he was roosting away from the flock because no one likes him (which they don't) but now one of the girls has apparently joined him.

Both are Kraienkoppe.

 

[Hablo]

Not sure if these two have gone feral, or have just picked another place to roost.

This morning they came from the direction of the neighbor's barn, well after everyone else had finished their snack. They're out there foraging with everyone else now.

At first I assumed he was roosting away from the flock because no one likes him (which they don't) but now one of the girls has apparently joined him.

Both are Kraienkoppe.
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What are your experiences with Kraienköppes? I could get hatching eggs and birds from this breed here in my region

 

[LaurenRitz]

What are your experiences with Kraienköppes? I could get hatching eggs and birds from this breed here in my region

Personality wise, they're great. Low on the pecking order, don't push their way in or fight the other birds. Far more likely to run than fight, but curious enough that their brothers were the first killed by the neighbor's dogs. The others learned from that, though.

Excellent foragers, and as adults fully able to fly the 12 feet up to the rafters. I've seen these guys up in the trees eating the winter seeds, which the other birds ignore.

As chicks they were prone to panic if I moved wrong, and still don't like being close to me. The closest I get is maybe 6 feet, and that's if they don't realize I'm there.

Your mileage may differ.

They're smaller than I would like, the pullets about 1/3 the size of my other hens, but lay medium sized eggs. They tend to run when the roosters get amorous, but their eggs are getting fertilized. I suspect the smaller boys are taking care of that.