Let's see your PHOENIX CHICKENS! :D

[onagadori]

Phoenix originated from a breed that is called "onagadori". Onagadori do not molt and thus their tails keep growing. Phoenix (most) do molt and will get a tail a few feet long before they through their annual molt. Then they start over and grow their tails back each year. Quality determines price on birds and eggs. Aubrey will know more about pricing on eggs, etc.

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

yep I agree.


With phoenix, tail depends largely on your line. Hatcxery stock will seldome even touch the ground, good breeder stock can reach 3-4 feet in bantams.
They stay in what is called blood feather. That is basically what most are familiar with calling pin feathers. These are on the tails and saddle feathers.
Next time you have a roo in your hand, look at the base of the quils on the tail, they should be blood filled and bluish looking.
Good lines will stay like this for 8-15 months. Average ones 6-8. After this they turn to normal hard feathers for a short period then are molted off and it starts over again.

Some non molting lines in the US , which are partial onagadori mixes can stay growing for up to 6 years, though 2-4 is average, however VERY few people have these.

As far as prices, , yes it all varies due to lines , quality and color rarity.
Hatchery stock is only worth $10- $20 a dozen and that's being generous in my opinion. Thier chicks $3- $6 is their average prices.

Good breeder/ show lines can go as high as $100 a dozen with chicks in the $15- $20 range. Only those with well known lines are going to get this though.

What most average back yard keepers have will only be in the $20 a dozen range for decent ones, and maybe $6 per chick.

 

[onagadori]

Well said.

The white birds will have pink bases on thier blood feathers. There are a few lines of onagadori mix out there, and even they will molt if not properly handled. Non molting is controlled by environmental conditions and stress levels of the bird. This is why it is important to have a nice calm line. More "onagadori" type birds will be gentle and tame. I have had roosters that would grow 6ft+ tails in a year which is not very common, but it does happen. Most are 3-4 ft. So to get a really good bird you have to find a breeder who has been doing it for a while and knows what they are selecting for, whether it be color, type, feathering, nonmolting, etc. When I first got started I got birds from Hyde, Barger, Astin, Hotta (had private imported onags), and others. Then Toni found a japanese lady who had imported some onagadori. I also now have that line hanging around.

Aubrey, Do you only deal in bantams? just wondering.

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

Quote:
upps, yeah I forgot about the pink on white, that's right too.

Yes Hyde, Astin and Rogers all have great birds. I believe Toni is supposed to come see me in the spring too. Will be nice to finally met her in person.
That's spot on about the NM and stress effecting their tails too. Even seeing hens or hearing other rooster can trigger the chemical hormones in them for breeding which will result in molting. If you are going with the non molting lines and want to see just how good of a tail you can get. Read up on David Rogers and Toni's book. It outlines the Tomebaku pens and how to best keep them in optimal condition. It is best to "test" your males for this anyway if you want to truely call them NM phoenix. Basically they are isolated from all other birds, and you tend to their every need, walk them, oil their feathers and keep them out of sight or sounds from other chickens.

Also diet can play a role in these birds molting periods. Fish products, lettuce, and various other food stuffs are great, then again, some are to be avoided too, as they have chemicals in them that can cause them to go into molt. Their book covers a lot of this as does info on David's forum.

Yes all mine so far are bantam size. Kinda like the smaller ones, as everything I keep is bantam, but I'm not against large fowl in rare colors either.

I have them in about 10-11 colors now and working on more. All of mine are from Toni, Cy, And Catherine (Faile ,off onagadori site)
Got some of Cy's mixed nm whites, and a pair of his lavenders now. Also have a couple pair of all his other bantam colors on order for this spring, cant wait to get them in. Hope to get some more from Toni too this year in the odder colors she has.

 

[onagadori]

Do you have red ginger (shojo)?

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

Quote:
Nope not yet, been looking for some leads on them though. Most who have them or are developing them wont come off any just yet. Tonis sure look nice she has them in phoenix and ohiki.

 

[onagadori]

Yeah, I love my baby boy! Wouldn't part with him. In case you are wondering, took years to breed this fellow up. But i am really enjoying him. The gingers are beautiful! Especially the reds.

 

[elizabethbinary]

OMG where's Cloud? Did Sephiroth kill him? Did you forget to get the Ultima?

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

Quote:
yep I have always enjpyed the ginger red color. I have them in some excellent d'anvers and they are some of my favorites color wise. Yep, that's the bad thing with that color, it's a pain in the rear to breed for, but worth it in the end, never seen an ugly ginger

 

[LeaderStorm]

I posted a picture of my rooster earlier. Here are some updated pictures. He's about 6-7 months(pictures are from when he was 5-6months). He's a bantam phoenix by the way not standard. He's our only bantam right now, aha. Though my younger sister is planning on getting some silkies and I want some more phoenixes. I don't know if I'll be getting Standard or Bantam though.

No white earlobes though.

Also, these pictures are older. His tail is longer now. Also, can someone tell me whether he is Golden or Silver? I'm not exactly sure. I think he's a light golden(he has the brownish spot on his wing) But I've been told he's a silver/golden mix as well.