Landrace/adaptive breeding discussion

[LaurenRitz]

I put all the female chicks on their new roost last night. This morning they went right back to their old area. We'll see what happens tonight.

Although the fact that they did find their way back might be a good sign.

 

[LaurenRitz]

The Sussex-Dorking mix can't get up to the roost without assistance yet. I have left the ladder up, but yesterday they were roosting on the top rung again. I put them up. The boy ran from me and was trying to get up by himself. Right now he can fly about 2/3 of the way up, so about 8 feet. Rafters start at 12 feet.

I am wondering if he is going to be too heavy for rafter roosting. They are currently 10 weeks old. Should they be able to fly that high, if they're going to as adults?

 

[Perris]

A chicken - especially a heavy breed - can do damage to their legs and feet landing from a height especially repeatedly. I've never had Sussex or Dorking so I don't know about them, but I cringe every time I see one of the tree huggers land, even on a soft lawn.

 

[kattabelly]

A chicken - especially a heavy breed - can do damage to their legs and feet landing from a height especially repeatedly. I've never had Sussex or Dorking so I don't know about them, but I cringe every time I see one of the tree huggers land, even on a soft lawn.

Sussex can get to be pretty hefty. Even if they could manage that height in an emergency I'd be surprised at one choosing to roost at that height every night unless they had a much easier way up, and I'd want them to have a good landing pad - something like a big heap of leaves or loose straw, a couple of feet deep at the very least.

 

[LaurenRitz]

I had a Jersey Giant hen who preferred to roost on those rafters, so I figured it should work, but watching him struggle just to get up makes me wonder.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Well my cockerel became dinner. I felt bad but better that than an injured human. And now the hens and pullets are all foraging happily together instead of hiding out in the underbrush all day. My first thought is they are happy he’s gone. My next thought is they’re too out in the open. *sigh* Hopefully my next rooster works out!!