Norwegian Jaerhon

[discoveregg]

Wow! Really exciting news Roosterfry, you are doing a GREAT service for us

So our flocks are related! I purchased mine from Alpine Farms as well, mine are almost 12 weeks. Anybody else also have Alpine Farms' line?

Jake - I'm right next door in Idaho, so far the birds are thriving in our snowy weather.

 

[Jake Levi]

Great looking guy, really looks older.

 

[Roosterfry]

Yeah I agree he does look older, their combs developed fast. I have a few roosters that are about 3 weeks older and they are slightly bigger and have more spur development. I haven't heard any of them crow yet?? My mother said she was putting a better latch on Chip's coop with a power drill and when Chip heard the drill he made a sound like the drill did with one syllable EEERRRR!!!! Lol... Do roosters mimic sounds??? I'm interested to see how loud they are when they do start crowing.

Discoveregg- ha yeah I though ours may have come from the same place when I saw pictures of yours. And probably anyone who got them from her or ideal would look similar too. Hopefully when I do get an F2 generation the colors will be more uniform in the offspring. I'm hoping I won't see the hens with the white feathers instead of brown and the roosters with little to no color on them. Those variations in my opinion shouldn't be bred as the "dark variety."


I'm glad this information was helpful for ya'll!!!

I

 

[Jake Levi]

Myself I would like to see as much variation as possible in every hatch, the more the better.

Selecting for any one color means selecting against others, and possibly other traits that 'travel' with that color. With a limited gene pool that could be disastrous.

 

[Roosterfry]

Quote:
I respectfully disagree. That is one of the peculiar traits about this breed is that even though their is a very small gene pool that created this breed they remain to be prolific and healthy even almost 100 years later. That is why they are being studied in genetics research in Norway. I have found this information in Norwegian articles as well from talking to Mr. Netland.

 

[Jake Levi]

Thats okay, we can differ while we sort out what is and what isnt operative, the main thing is we are always looking out for the betterment of the breed. There is such a great deal in these of unknowns that need to be known, I am seeing that many of the Scandinavian breeds of chickens dont always show the same actions/reactions as we seen in other more modern breeds. A great deal to sort out here.

 

[Roosterfry]

And not much is going to have to be culled. For example I started with about 30 Jaer's about half were roo's half were hen's. and only two needed to be removed for feather color. One rooster and one hen. That tells me only a few need to be culled.

 

[Roosterfry]

Quote:
Agreed! X2 I as well am very excited and interested to study these old breeds that have such a rich history!

 

[Jake Levi]

Thats where I am at, I will raise out all cockerals and choose very carefully the keepers, I favor multiple sires. So any that wind up in freezer camp will be there because I didnt need them, had others better etc. I could see rehoming some with 4H'rs. But, the best way to insure that heritage breeds survive is to have them on your own dinner table !

Why remove any for color??? What colors were they??

There are other traits I'd cull for before color.

 

[Amyable]

to Roosterfry for getting so much great info direct from the source. Wow! You know we're going to be stalking you now, right?

Nice looking little roo. Interesting you say that about his temperament, just this week my 12-wk olds have been jumping up on me of their own accord. I don't have much time to handle them individually, so this is pleasantly surprising. Another plus to the breed.

I have to add that I love the sound of their crow. It's in between a standard and a bantam, if that makes sense; a little high pitched and shrill but not at all wimpy-squeaky like true bantam roos. My boy Norrie has a 4-note crow, Rrr-rrr-rrr-eeeeerrrrrrrr!! I would think other Jaers would be similar.