Landrace/adaptive breeding discussion

[LaurenRitz]

The neighbor's dog died, and they got 5 puppies, four of them pitbulls. Right now the puppies are just interested, and stalking rather than chasing. There is a fence between, but the chickens are used to foraging in the garden and the puppies keep coming over (we've spent the last week puppy-proofing their big kennel, so that problem should be solved).

It's interesting to see the differences in behavior. The older chickens ignore the dogs, or even seek them out, and seem highly curious. Most of the young birds are wary and run at the first suggestion of dog in the area. The exception is the Dorking-Sussex mix, which acts just like the more domesticated birds.

 

[LaurenRitz]

I have 34 birds and need to get down to just breeders for winter, so 12 need to go. Three girls have stopped laying or are laying less than once a week. I have them marked. Most of the boys are being perfectly behaved, which makes that choice harder. One is being a teenage jerk, but he's only 15 weeks. He has the peacomb I need and he's the breed I wanted for my next roo, but behavior trumps that. I have two girls of that breed and it can wait.

The two Rangers will go, in theory, but their daughters are 6 months old and not laying yet. The original 2 laid late as well.

The Kraienkoppe and games are so small! They look like toys next to my other birds. I keep forgetting that they're already 15 weeks old. They look like chicks to me. I can't imagine trying to clean one out after harvesting. I'd have to use a teaspoon! But I need the broodiness, foraging and predator evasion, even if it takes a few generations to get up to size. I'm torn on that one, but I have 5 Kraienkoppe boys so at least two of them need to go.

The two Kraienkoppe girls are at the very bottom of the pecking order, and so passive that I worry about them getting enough to eat. They're good foragers but as soon as they find something the other birds mob them (several appear to follow them for this purpose) and take it away. The little girls just abandon it and run.

The young birds are still rafter roosting without a problem. Even the larger are showing no sign of strain or limping. I suspect that part of the "leg weakness" in larger birds is that they never have to use their legs.

 

[NatJ]

The Kraienkoppe and games are so small! They look like toys next to my other birds. I keep forgetting that they're already 15 weeks old. They look like chicks to me. I can't imagine trying to clean one out after harvesting. I'd have to use a teaspoon!

If you are going to cut them up anyway, do some of the cutting before you try to take out the guts. Opening the whole body cavity makes it much easier to see and reach the parts you want to remove! This works for any size chicken (or presumably other birds too), but makes the most difference on the smallest birds.

 

[Molpet]

If you are going to cut them up anyway, do some of the cutting before you try to take out the guts. Opening the whole body cavity makes it much easier to see and reach the parts you want to remove! This works for any size chicken (or presumably other birds too), but makes the most difference on the smallest birds.

This is what I do if I don't use the carcass. Takes less freezer space
I cut along ribs

Spoiler: Removing bone in breast

 

[LaurenRitz]

This is what I do if I don't use the carcass. Takes less freezer space
I cut along ribs

Spoiler: Removing bone in breast

View attachment 4226210
View attachment 4226211

What tool do you use?

 

[Molpet]

What tool do you use?

Oxo Poultry shears
Poultry Shears https://www.oxo.com/poultry-shears....Bv5r5VFSoFcI5WiLFxlm_QfwO1Wjz_692OjJWTOH4DDWt

Most other brands don't work as well

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Every time I think my rooster just can’t get better, he surprises me. Today the chickens decided to come down near the house across a fairly open area to forage along the little creek. The hens went first and the rooster followed. Apparently the hawk followed as well and tried to attack the rooster. Hubs saw the whole thing and said the rooster went after the hawk! I went out to see if the hawk was still around and all the hens were hiding in the vegetation along the creek but the rooster was still out and visible just at the edge of the vegetation-watching the sky

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

It’s also interesting that the hens sleep in the coop and he has chosen a branch above the coop. I keep hoping some of them will join him but it hasn’t happened yet. I wonder how likely that is or if I’m just dreaming.

 

[LaurenRitz]

In my experience they all want to sleep together. Depends on who is willing to change their habits first

If you're comfortable with it, you could grab the girls after dark and put them with him. It may take a week or so for them to get the idea. It also helps if they have an easy way to get up, especially if they're not used to flying.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

If you're comfortable with it, you could grab the girls after dark and put them with him.

That’s not a bad idea. I can’t reach his branch but I could just lock the coop before they go to bed and see where they end up. Fatty will probably have to be put back in the coop because she will be sleeping on the ground somewhere but I could put her old lady buddy in with her and anyone else who is making poor sleeping choices