My first Thai fowl.

[kangaroo]

Hello! Just wanted to share my excitement.

I finally got my hands on a trio of thai game fowls. I've always wanted to raise some for long time ever since i've seen a picture of a pumpkin colored thai rooster, but never did get the chance to.

I finally got this guy little guy. I didn't get to pick him out since he was just given to me, but he so happened to be a pumpkin colored as well!! Yay! They all free range all day long. I don't like keeping them caged up.

 

[kangaroo]

^^ That was him at 3 months old.

And this is him now at 5 months old.

 

[Cheep N Peep]

He is beautiful! Is he separated from your other chickens?

 

[kangaroo]

Thanks!!! and they all live together! Including 2 turkeys as well.

 

[Cheep N Peep]

Really? I've read that they can't live with other breeds or they will fight... to the death, with other cocks, but in the picture there are several other boys and he is just grazing... that's so neat! I like the look of these breeds but always thought it was a 'someday' thing, when I could build them a separate area if I got any.

 

[Hholly]

He looks cool! Congrats!

 

[kangaroo]

Thanks!

He is not full grown yet, maybe things will still change once he's mature. But right now he's at the bottom of the pecking order and only above the two pullets thai that came with him. He just started to crow yesterday. He has the deepest crow ive ever owned. But it's still a beginner crow.

 

[Cheep N Peep]

I love beginner crows....

They try so hard!

 

[LavrisChica]

Really? I've read that they can't live with other breeds or they will fight... to the death, with other cocks, but in the picture there are several other boys and he is just grazing... that's so neat! I like the look of these breeds but always thought it was a 'someday' thing, when I could build them a separate area if I got any.

and @kangaroo

We were given two Thai game chicks as well, from a local feed & seed store, as they were supposedly ordered wrong and no one wanted them. Gift with purchase (lol).
Raptor (he lived up to his name) and Gracie. Raptor was GORGEOUS- was he ever! But, when he matured, caused nothing but hate and discontent among the rest of the flock, including Gracie. I didn't have to worry too much, and as a fearless protector, he became coyote brunch. BUT, not before he sired one: a hen we named Delilah. She has also lived up to her name. Delilah is a true blood, a Raptor/Gracie baby. Gracie also delivered two hatchlings: Georgia (crossed with a bantam golden sebright) and Waylon (crossed with a bantam D'Uccle). Georgia is calm and submissive. Delilah, not so much, but doesn't intentionally cause chaos. Waylon, on the other hand, grew up to be huge and even more gorgeous than Raptor. At first, he seemed fine, but as he matured, he followed in Raptor's footsteps. He then began fussing with the elder Roos (two bantam, tucker and Marshal, and one good-sized Ameraucana, Perri). He never got real serious with the bantam Roos, but he sure taunted Perri a lot, causing the normally docile Perri to become combative even with people. One day, coming home from shopping, Waylon and Perri were sparring. At first, i thought, no biggie, they're at it again. Wrong. They fought until blood was drawn and Waylon cornered Perri, brutally beating him. My husband stepped in and rescued Perri. Waylon then left the coop and immediately went after Tucker and Marshal. He wouldn't stop and I had to hold him at bay with a push broom. Unfortunately, he had to be put down on the spot. Took 4 shots. SMH.

Since then, we tried to keep the Thai blood from multiplying - yet its awfully difficult to tell Gracie's eggs from the rest. Delilah and Georgia weren't laying yet, and as a result, we ended up with four Thai cross pullets and two Thai cross Roos. One is a Perri/Gracie mix, Goliath, and he's handsome - so I hope he's not mean. The other, well, definitely Thai, and I believe a Waylon/Gracie mix, Samson, one ugly son of a gun, too. Sigh. I won't be surprised if we have to let Samson go.

The hens lay well, and that's the only reason they're still around. Gracie went broody, and well, I let her hatch out a batch of eggs (no Thais) and she tried to kill them as they were a few hours old. SMH. Not sure that's indicative of Thai hens, or just her own personal issues.

Either way, I sure hope your experience differs from mine!!

 

[kangaroo]

^^ Wow. That's a sad story. I love the looks of game chickens. The slender look with the aggressive stance. I did forget to mention that i did have 2 young thai stags at first. I came home the other week, and i couldn't find both my young stags. Well, they ended up sparing each other when i was at work and I had to cull my other young stag because he was in bad shape. These birds are pretty, but you definitely will need to keep an eye on the full grown roosters.

My guy hasn't bother my other roosters yet though.