Nankin Bantams

[cobra3073]

So, ol' Captain Cuddles (we thought he was a she at first) had best get busy!

Now that is funny! LOL

I am so sorry to read of the “hard” loss but like you said you still have six and I am thinking one or both of the other girls will be “stepping up” for brooding duties soon.

I am going to try and use this thread to post up weekly (or periodic) pictures of my flock. The two cockerels (Louie and Charles) have both learned they can crow and are already calling the pullets to food, although they have not exhibit any observable rivalries.

Both pictures taken today, June 26, 2018. They are just over 3 Months of age in this pictures. The cockerels are getter “redder” and the pullets appears to be getting a bit lighter, although it might just be the contrast in colors between the two sexes.

BT

 

[MROO]

The two cockerels (Louie and Charles) have both learned they can crow and are already calling the pullets to food, although they have not exhibit any observable rivalries.

As long as they stay together as they grow up, you probably won't ever have rivalry issues between your boys! The only issues I have are between the two boys I had to separate this winter due to frostbite issues. They'll argue with anyone but Herman (the Silkie.) Herman gets along with everyone, mainly because he doesn't even know he's a chicken!

As for color, all of my girls got lighter as they grew up, too, and all of the boys except Butterball got darker. BB is a throwback to what I'm told is their original color. He stayed a light golden yellow ... nanking yellow ... which is why, I'm told, the breed got its' name. He won't be bred, at least not by me, but he's really a beautiful bird. Picture a standard Nankin roo with a pale dilute gene in him ... kinda like a chestnut horse with a dilute becomes a palomino. He's really pretty - and really, really friendly.

And I consider myself duly chastised ...
Here are updated pics of Evie/Adam and little Jacki



And for added good measure ... one of Herman, Honorary Nankin and self-proclaimed Feather-Footed Human ...




And one last addition. You have to check out this YouTube video. Classical Music, Chicken style:
EDIT - (tried to put it here, but it uploaded a mess, instead. Try a YouTube search on violin, chicken. It's hysterical!)

 

[cobra3073]

WOW!!!

They are growing and feathering out very quickly! I take it you are keeping those two together?

I guess I missed it in our previous communications but aren’t your Nankins “rose combs?” I would think they wouldn’t be as susceptible to frost bite on their combs.

I goggled “ violin, chicken” and got several apparent chicken-related violin training videos. Is that what you are referring to in your post?

BT

 

[MROO]

WOW!!!

They are growing and feathering out very quickly! I take it you are keeping those two together?

I guess I missed it in our previous communications but aren’t your Nankins “rose combs?” I would think they wouldn’t be as susceptible to frost bite on their combs.

I goggled “ violin, chicken” and got several apparent chicken-related violin training videos. Is that what you are referring to in your post?

BT

Yup, the two little ones are together, now. Evie can get on top of the brooder, but Jacki hasn't quite figured out how, yet. You should hear Jacki screech when Evie is out of reach! And yes, they are feathering out quickly, especially Evie, which gives me hope that she may, yet, be a pullet, despite her deeper red coloring. One of our hens, Miss Piggy, is a deeper rusty-buff, so I'm hopeful. Fingers crossed, yet again!

We have two single comb boys - Butterball and Feisty. Feisty is one of my daughter's show boys, and we brought him in as soon as we saw the signs. We figured out where the dampness was coming from in time to save BB's comb (the mutant Nankin, figures, right?,) so we just left him out with the others. Captain Cuddles is the other show rooster, so he came in at the first sign of a dark spot. This past winter was record-breakingly cold and icy for us, so we weren't taking any chances with him.

In retrospect, bringing them in was a good idea, but keeping them separate was not. Now they don't get along with anyone but the ladies ... and Herman. Since Feisty is the only single comb we have (a hawk got our only single comb female, last summer,) then he gets to bunk with Herman. Cuddles is now outside with the girls and is a very happy young man ... despite Piggy's repeatedly putting him in his place. SHE's in charge - and doesn't hesitate to let him know it!

And the video I'm referring to is a Blue Danube duet played by a wonderful violinist ... and a young man with two rubber chickens. It's well worth the couple of minutes it takes, especially towards the end when the chicken-player takes the lead!

 

[cobra3073]

Yes, I agree that video is HILARIOUS!

On another note, I ordered a copy of the 1909 “Poultry Keeper” periodical. This is allegedly a reprint of the original and is supposed to have information on the standard for Nankins at that time.

I am looking forward to comparing it with the current standard. It may be that “Butter Ball” is closer to the standard than what is currently being bred by the alleged “purists.”

Quite frankly, as long as the type and dispositions are consistent with historical traits for the Nankins, my personal opinion is that one should breed for the attributes that s/he finds most desirable.

This, of course, should be explained to anyone acquiring eggs or individual Nankins from said breeder.

New subject: I have also been reading up on combs and it appears when breeding a single comb to a rose comb, the offspring(s) will be rose comb. Am I missing something?

BT

 

[MROO]

Nope - you'll get a rose comb, but it likely won't have the typey "ski-slope" back point that is so desirable. Our Simpleton has a comb like that. He's perfect in nearly all but two areas - his tail is dark, slate blue, rather than green and his gorgeous rose comb ends in a flat vertical point, not a horizontal one.

This is our Flutterbug's mixed comb. His back point is vertical, not horizontal. I don't believe it is a disqualification, but it's definitely not the preferred type. His points are also very upright, which is why you can see evidence of our battle with frostbite. That should heal, with time.


This is Yosemite Sam - my baby! He is small, with a much tighter rose comb and a back horizontal back point - called a ski slope. His dark spots come from a minor confrontation with Capt C, who sports a similar set. They're separated again, so they should both heal by Fair in July! I LOVE Sammy's iridescent green squirrel tail!


And this is the notorious Captain Cuddles. He also has a nice ski slope and less prominent points in his topknot. This is not a very flattering shot of him, but it does show off the pretty comb! He took Best Nankin Roo last year at the Maryland State Fair. It was a really small class, but hey, he has a blue ribbon! He's a very handsome boy!


So, yes, if you breed a those to a single comb, you'll get some variant of the rose comb. If you want a true single comb, be sure to breed only single-to-single. Then you'll get one of these:

Our Feisty, Single and PROUD of it!


And yes, he is indoors in this picture. He's helping with the laundry (and chasing a fly in the window) while waiting to get his comb oiled. That's part of our playhouse coop he's watching through the window - with Miss Piggy staring out the barn doors. He'd MUCH rather be out there with her!

 

[BlackHackle]

Nope - you'll get a rose comb, but it likely won't have the typey "ski-slope" back point that is so desirable. Our Simpleton has a comb like that. He's perfect in nearly all but two areas - his tail is dark, slate blue, rather than green and his gorgeous rose comb ends in a flat vertical point, not a horizontal one.

This is our Flutterbug's mixed comb. His back point is vertical, not horizontal. I don't believe it is a disqualification, but it's definitely not the preferred type. His points are also very upright, which is why you can see evidence of our battle with frostbite. That should heal, with time.

View attachment 1447898 View attachment 1447899 View attachment 1447900
This is Yosemite Sam - my baby! He is small, with a much tighter rose comb and a back horizontal back point - called a ski slope. His dark spots come from a minor confrontation with Capt C, who sports a similar set. They're separated again, so they should both heal by Fair in July! I LOVE Sammy's iridescent green squirrel tail!

View attachment 1447939 View attachment 1447941
And this is the notorious Captain Cuddles. He also has a nice ski slope and less prominent points in his topknot. This is not a very flattering shot of him, but it does show off the pretty comb! He took Best Nankin Roo last year at the Maryland State Fair. It was a really small class, but hey, he has a blue ribbon! He's a very handsome boy!
View attachment 1447935

So, yes, if you breed a those to a single comb, you'll get some variant of the rose comb. If you want a true single comb, be sure to breed only single-to-single. Then you'll get one of these:

Our Feisty, Single and PROUD of it!

View attachment 1447961 View attachment 1447962
And yes, he is indoors in this picture. He's helping with the laundry (and chasing a fly in the window) while waiting to get his comb oiled. That's part of our playhouse coop he's watching through the window - with Miss Piggy staring out the barn doors. He'd MUCH rather be out there with her!

Looks like I found the Nankin thread! I love the single combed ones, but the rose combs will probably be better for my climate

 

[BlackHackle]

I found this list of breeders, but I would have to import them into my country...which I have never done before
https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Nankin_Bantams.html

 

[artsyrobin]

babies have been here a week, and keeping mama busy -

 

[MROO]

Disaster struck, yesterday! Everyone is recovering, so far, but it was really scary. Pepper's peeps have been exploring the main coop by slipping throug hthe wires of the big kennel. The older hens and Cuddles (the roo) have been great with them, down to sharing little tidbits of food and allowing them access to the food and water dishes. They've been very timid, so we talked about pulling them inside to get them more used to people. We should have done more than just talk, as the older girls turned on the little ones, yesterday. Luckily, my daughter was right there and rescued the lot, but not before two of them suffered pretty major pecking wounds. They both have big gashes in the skin of their necks and one has a limp (nothing broken, it seems, thank heavens!) All are now in with Evie and Jacki and seem to be settling in. They sure look funny with all that Blu-Kote, though!

Last night, it didn't look very good for the two worst off (tentatively named "Gimpy" and Bluebell/Bluebeard) but this morning was much better. I gave them some grape quarters, to try and lure them out from under Mama Brooder ... The results were far beyond my hopes! I got a grainy video with my antique phone but can't upload it. Bummer! We'll just have to settle for a couple of pics, instead ...

The first pic is a decent shot of the Boo-Boo Twins - and shows the nasty gash on the back of one's head. The other chick has a similar, but smaller wound one lower on its neck. Poor Babies!

The second shows all six of them as they race around picking out the best grape quarters ... and running away with them while the others give chase. The bigger mass of rusty-gold feathers is "little" Evie ... She seemed so small until I put the babies in with her. When did she become a chick, not a peep?

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