LGBTQ+ Poultry Keepers

[fluffycrow]

It helps to keep good records, write things down like the pros and cons of each bird. As the generations accumulate, you can really mix and match. It's fun to do!

For now I can keep notes in my head, but soon enough I'll start writing them down

 

[fluffycrow]

@fluffycrow

I've dug up a few.
Mini Minx. She started the mixed breed tribes by mating with a Marans.
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Harold. One of the original bantam roosters.
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Random. The other original bantam rooster.
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Punch. Harolds son.
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Mag. Harolds grandson.
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A few of the offspring.
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This is so interesting to me! Other than the comb, they look identical! Even some of the colors on some of the birds look really similar

 

[Shadrach]

Beautiful birds! ❤ Love the crown and comb on the bird in photo #6!!

She never laid an egg in her life, herded the other females and usually got a slap for her troubles and crowed. She stood back with the junior males at feeding time and none of the males tried to mate with her.

 

[fluffycrow]

She never laid an egg in her life, herded the other females and usually got a slap for her troubles and crowed. She stood back with the junior males at feeding time and none of the males tried to mate with her.

Did she ever integrate fully into any tribe?

 

[TwoCrows]

She never laid an egg in her life, herded the other females and usually got a slap for her troubles and crowed. She stood back with the junior males at feeding time and none of the males tried to mate with her.

Wow, very interesting! Gender nuetral or gynandromorph type birds are rare, but it does happen in nature! As Fluffy just asked, is she still in your flock and did she find a spot somewhere in the order?

 

[Shadrach]

Did she ever integrate fully into any tribe?

Oh yes, she was a member of Tribe 2 until she died. Very popular hen with the rest. They all accepted her as being a bit odd and let her get on with it.
I've had a few non layers and oddballs. Never had any problems with them getting on with the rest. Geddit, a Marrans/bantam cross was lead hen in Tribe 3 most of her life. She never laid an egg but she didn't crow. She even sat on a clutch for a while laid by other hens.
Mini Minx was the most troublesome of the bantam hens. She liked her men and tried out most of them in her life, Marans and bantams.

 

[Shadrach]

I've had one odd male at my Uncles farm called Tank who used to crouch for males and females alike and would try to sit on clutches of eggs until the hens threw him off. Most of the second generation males on my uncles farm got eaten. The senior male would drive them out of the tribe usually. Tank was still in the tribe when I left for uni.

 

[TwoCrows]

I've had one odd male at my Uncles farm called Tank who used to crouch for males and females alike and would try to sit on clutches of eggs until the hens threw him off. Most of the second generation males on my uncles farm got eaten. The senior male would drive them out of the tribe usually. Tank was still in the tribe when I left for uni.

Interesting! Hormones and genetics can cause these behaviors, just as old hens start crowing or growing spurs. But I do think they are more prone to being bullied or taken by predators being that they may not be on top of their game.

 

[TropicalChickies]

This is an interesting thread. All my chickens are already farmyard mixes, so I don't think I can breed for physical traits with much success in this hodgepodge. But I was thinking of breeding for other characteristics. In particular, I want good mamas. And a nice balance of aloof/self sufficient birds and a few warm cuddlers.

Right now, I have two broodies sitting on eggs. One is a proven excellent mama, but with a flighty personality and very self-sufficient. The other is younger, it's her first sit, but she's very devoted to it so far, and is more of a chatty/cuddly type. I'm hoping to get more like them. Think that's possible?

Of course, if a gang of cockerels comes out like the last 2 hatches here, I'll have to try again... (Please some pullets this time would be nice for a change)

Dusty. A real sweetheart.

Tina is All about Tina. But a great mom.

 

[fluffycrow]

Oh yes, she was a member of Tribe 2 until she died. Very popular hen with the rest. They all accepted her as being a bit odd and let her get on with it.
I've had a few non layers and oddballs. Never had any problems with them getting on with the rest. Geddit, a Marrans/bantam cross was lead hen in Tribe 3 most of her life. She never laid an egg but she didn't crow. She even sat on a clutch for a while laid by other hens.
Mini Minx was the most troublesome of the bantam hens. She liked her men and tried out most of them in her life, Marans and bantams.

I've had one odd male at my Uncles farm called Tank who used to crouch for males and females alike and would try to sit on clutches of eggs until the hens threw him off. Most of the second generation males on my uncles farm got eaten. The senior male would drive them out of the tribe usually. Tank was still in the tribe when I left for uni.

That's so interesting! I've never had any birds that exhibited behaviors like the ones you said, but from the many different other examples I've read, they seem to be tolerated by their flocks, at least to an extent