Nankin Discussion Thread

[RioLindoAz]

Quote:
I love the dust bathing pic! looks like they are having a ball! and good looking birds to, I have never seen so many nankins!

Thanks.

I let them free-range today. Thats when the real ball began.
They followed me all across the yard (yes, all 23 of them) as if I owe them something.

 

[sunket77]

my chickens wouldn't even come out of their coop today since we got snow. They where like "what the heck it that!?" we hardly get rain much less snow! they just didn't know what to do!

 

[RioLindoAz]

Quote:
I've never seen snow in my life. Well, in pictures only, of course.
We actually just got our first frost yesterday...It'll probably be the last, too.

 

[sunket77]

IMO be thankful! this has been the hardest week we have ever had with raising chickens, the frozen waterers was definitely no fun!! I am so ready for this to be over with, I know Texas weather can be crazy but it went from 70 to 19 overnight!

 

[haweshome]

I've kept Nankins since the early 1980s. When hatched chicks should all show a small dark head spot. It has no relation to their sex. They should not show any mottling or specklng on their first feathers. The first feathers look somewhat like those of a New Hampshire or a commercial Rhode Island Red. Any mottling of speckling indicates that they have been crossed with some other breed. Hope this helps.
Bob Hawes

 

[RioLindoAz]

Quote:
I made up my own theory that Nankins were originally Rosecomb, and any single comb Nankin is genetically impure. I've observed that single combed birds are very flighty compared to their rosecomb brothers and sisters. Nankins were crossed with Old English, then distributed as true Nankins. Because of this, most Nankins have OE characteristics (such as flightiness). In addition, many single combs have very light coloring, hackle ticking, and green-white feet. Most breeders have yet to accomplish the phenotype of a pure Nankin.

 

[prairiehen74369]

I'm so happy to find a Nankin discussion group. My little ol Nankins are the best,hardy with lots of personality. Nankins and Silkies are my birds of chose. My first ones came from the farm and ranch supply store that the Hatchery in Texas sells their left overs to.I used my granddaughter as an excuse and bought her some easter chicks we had to keep them at grandmas house because her
daddy doesn't understand our addiction to chickens. Just picked out the 5 cute ones with the spot on their heads.....when they were grown I had a rooster and two pullets.and two others I don't remember what they were. it was two years before I found out what they were called. Someone on e-bay was selling eggs calling them black tailed banties last week.My first rooster had to go because he was a little to fiesty with the little neighbor boy.I saved one of his sons that my granddaughter called Tuff Jr. An owl killed him a few weeks ago of course I had sold all my young Roosters knowing Tuff was getting some age on him( three years) Oh well, I need to bring some new blood into the flock any way anyone got eggs for sale?? I'm looking forward to many more visits with my Nankin friends.

 

[franciscreek]

We have 16 single comb Nankins, all but one of them have great personalities, not flighty at all. The one with an average personality has been loaned out and moved several times in the last two years. He is settling in and seems to becoming more affectionate. All of them will walk up to you and wait to be picked up. The pullets will jump up to your arm if they think you are not responding to them soon enough. The birds are from three different sources and the color does vary between the three groups. One group will fade as they age. The second group has very good color and has held it for two years. The third group seems to have very light lacing. My guess is they were crossed with Sebrights in the past.
I have given several birds to young 4-H members to start their projects. All of them still have them and have nothing but positive comments about them
I have only seem a dozen or so rosecomb Nankins. They had very good color, all of them had comb issues and were on the bigger side. Does any one have a picture of of a good rosecomb? There are not very many here on the west coast. Most of the Nankins out here are single comb.

 

[chikincrazee]

Hi we have nankins here wont say how many in case DH reads this...but they are just the gentlest birds and we raise only single combs...i have one baby pullet and she peeps non stop till i open her cage then she comes out flying and sits on me while i pet her...they are so tame...i have 7 roosters from my last fall hatch so i need to rehome is anyone interested in single comb roosters....they are out of show stock birds but range in shade from the deepest red to more the color of the hens...but all are nice little guys we just have so many...i also test bred our Mary Ann Harley trio and have 3 cute chicks from them and they are also super tame.....i live in IL...Chris

 

[franciscreek]

Chris,

Where did you get the group the cockerels are out of? I am looking for a couple nice cockerels to add to a couple of my breeding pens.

Richard