Landrace/adaptive breeding discussion

[Hablo]

Oh, wow. How big is he?

29.5 inches when he makes himself tall.

 

[Wild Iris]

I think it's time to reduce the flock size in preparation for this spring's babies. I have never ventured into the buying and selling of chickens, so any advice is appreciated.

I have 3 males that are American Game (dad is Hatch, mom's line is unknown). They are unvaccinated and have been raised free-range in a multigenerational flock. They are 5 months old: they shuffle-dance, call the ladies for tidbits, and are working on their crows. They have some experience watching for predators and taking cover. They are familiar with the presence of a German Shepherd and a barn cat. They are at ease around humans, but have not been extensively handled or petted. None has ever raised hackles at me, my family or the family pets. Both parents are (as far as I can tell) healthy and good-tempered.

I'm in Alabama--what is a fair price for them? How can I find appropriate buyers who won't fight them? Should I expect that most buyers are looking for supper, or for an addition to their flock? Any other insight or tips?

 

[Backroadlogic]

I charge 25 in Missouri for my game mix stags. At that price I figure they are too expensive for lunch and not going to be seen as anything special by serious fighters.

 

[Wild Iris]

I charge 25 in Missouri for my game mix stags. At that price I figure they are too expensive for lunch and not going to be seen as anything special by serious fighters.

That makes sense--thank you!

 

[Appalachickens]

Getting closer to getting my forest chickens. I'm putting a broody pen in, father back in the woods from the little shelter I built. This one has a metal dog kennel as it's base.

It came with 5/8 inch HC, so I'm covering that on the parts that will be open. This thing is quite a ways from the house AND uphill, so every single thing that is going into the project has to be hand carried by me.

I'm leaving the south wall open, so I covered that in a second layer of 1/2 inch HC, then a layer of welded wire fencing. Everything is attached with the zip ties that came with it, but I'll be adding hog clips to the exposed parts. The HC/fencing is secured with a few boards which are screwed into boards in the inside. Tomorrow, weather-permitting, I'm going to work on the north wall.

 

[Appalachickens]

I got a little break in the rain this afternoon and got the north wall of the broody pen up.

The pen is next to a ravine so in rainy weather, the chickens will get the sound of the water draining down to the creek.

 

[Backroadlogic]

For the first time in 5 years I have built a little pen so I can keep a trio separated and I'm going to try and breed up numbers of those birds, back cross, abd get some barred hens hopefully. These ones are my most mixed game birds at About 80% American gamefowl , 10% Dominique, and 10% saipan jungle fowl.

 

[Appalachickens]

I am so eager to start my landrace project I spent the entire weekend, today in the freezing cold, working on the broody pen. I got the walls all done and have only the door left to do. Then roost bars and nesting boxes. I realized a security flaw around where the poles are. I don't know if a weasel could squeeze in, but I took all the boards back off, put in folded strips of HC, and reattached the boards. And added corner brackets just in case some jacked up little raccoon tries to pry one off. Yes, I am paranoid, thanks for asking.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

some jacked up little raccoon

thanks for the nightmares

 

[Appalachickens]

thanks for the nightmares

I like to share my dystopian visions.