Langshan Thread!!!

[Elmer Fudd]

Here is a pick of my shipper. This makes another breed they did not get right. I didn't get my Columbian Wyandotte. They sent SP Wyandotte with red and green color bleeds. No WFB Spanish. Ended up with RC Anconas. Now White Cochins instead of Langshans. I did get the partridge Cochins but two ended up being bantams. And my Lackenvelders came as ordered but of questionable quality.

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

Did they come from Strombergs or Urch? Either way they're not Langshans but I would contact them ASAP to tell them their error. They may be able to get you a credit.

 

[Elmer Fudd]

Urch through Stromberg's. Stromberg's customer service stinks. Lesson learned, breeder direct from now on.

 

[GrammiChelle]

Well, least you've helped some of us know where not to get ours from. Your birds are beautiful though. Just not Langshans.

 

[Dontlickthechicks]

I wasn't expecting to find this baby the other day when I opened the coop! My Roxy girl has been sitting on eggs on and off since last summer, but she has never had much luck. I was thinking about tossing that egg out soon that she had been sitting on for over for over 3 weeks.... But that egg (that had cracked a couple weeks ago, and I fixed it up with a melted crayon) that I never thought would hatch was to be this new mama's pride and joy. Not sure who she took the egg from (this time), but I suspect that it might be Lilly, my black Langshan and of course the baby daddy (Godzilla) who is also a BL and the only Roo we have.

Think it looks like a baby Langshan?

 

[JensChickies]

I think it does.

 

[smazourek]

Hello Langshan lovers! I ended up with a few hatchery langshans (4 months old now) and like the look of them so much that I'm thinking of getting more next year (from a breeder, TBD)- but I have some questions that I hope you won't mind answering.

How well do they fare in the cold? I live in central NY and winter can get rather brisk. I'm assuming they're fine since they are big birds but has anyone had any issues with that?

How well do they free range? Does their size get in the way if they need to avoid a predator? So far I haven't had much of an issue with predators at my house but that could change (I hope not).

Thanks!

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

Hello and welcome to the Langshan thread!

As for wintering abilities, I had my birds up in PA (after travelling to OK). They did great up there! I hated every minute of the snow after the second year. The cold was different than that of Oklahoma's winters and I never seemed to have an issue of frostbite up there.

So, I will go with what I know more of. In OK, the weather can change drastically. It would be 58* one day and the next -10*. The birds do amazing in weather changes but be prepared for sniffling in those extremes. A shift like that can cause some reactions.

I prefer to breed for smaller combs thanks to the cold. It cuts down on frostbite and thereby makes me have to be out in the barn less to prevent it. Some birds have larger combs and can get frostbite however I have not had a single bird lose more than the tip of the points, whereas my bantam Speckled Sussex lost the end of the blade and the points to the comb.

I have never had a Langshan lose toes or wattles either. They are not big fighters so keeping them with birds that are more aggressive is not the best idea. They will put birds in their place but are not ones to pick fights normally.

As for free-ranging:
I always keep my birds in outdoor pens. I don't like to chance a predator taking a bird and then deciding to come back for more free food. I have hawks routinely pass over the cages and apparently think better of taking one. Is it their size? I can't be sure. They are just as susceptible to predation in the coops (raccoons, possums, etc.) as the other breeds so having a secure coop is needed. I have not lost a Langshan to a snake so that's a plus side.)

 

[smazourek]

Thank you rodriguezpoultry, that's great news!

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

Feel free to call me Ropo! It's a bit easier than trying to spell the whole thing.

Honestly, out of all of my birds, the Langshans are the only ones that seem suited for any weather. I worry about my Cornish bantams in the winter but not a thing about my Langshans in the winter or the heat. They are by far the best birds I've had for the summer as well. It gets to 110* and 80% humidity regularly here. It's flat out gross. The Langshans will be panting but don't have near the issues of any of my other breeds.