Ohiki Chicken Thread

[Treatsrule]

Update picture of one of my young Barred project males.

Just stunning!

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

I’m going to have to create an intermediary area for when they get too big for the nursery coop. The nursery coop has ½” square mesh all around and underground so they aren't getting out of there or many critters getting in, but now you have me thinking what tiny things can get in that would hurt the chicks. They can definitely get out of the larger pen here. We had an Ohiki chick safe pen set up earlier in the year, but it’s been deconstructed. I’m not quite sure where to best locate a new one yet, but it’s a must for sure.

What is the benefit of using wood shavings or hay in the pens? I think I've read its for keeping the tails clean? There are two roosters here whose tails are growing faster than the others and one’s tail is already dragging the ground a few inches, but it looks fine to me. Lots to ponder!

yes when you think you have it all critter proofed something will still find a spot when you least expect it.... Hot wire does the trick for most though..

bedding yes is primarily for cleanliness, and feather protection. It also helps keep chicks out of the nasty stuff, and gives the hens a sort of bedding and insulation for sleeping at night with the chicks. Fully covered (roofed) pens REALLY help and are about a must if you want to keep good leanght and feather condition. This is more important than anything else. We all know what happenes to a pen of birds in the rain. Doesnt take long and a pack of hog could live in there with them. Without a roof, the bedding doesnt do much good.

 

[chucksohiki]

I use sand in my pens for the adults. Its cheap and works very good with keeping the tails in good shape (it just cleaned creek sand). I am lucky that I got a place not even 2 min. from my house that I can get a GOOD load for only $15 and that will fill up about 4 of my big pens and they are 8ft. X 4ft. and I put it in about 4 in. deep.

For my chicks I still like to use pine bedding. Like Aubrey said for long tail breeds you truly need pens with roofs on them to keep the birds looking their best.

Just stunning!

Thanks!

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

been using sand as a base recently too Chuck. I have a large hunting lease just a couple miles down the road, I just go get some from the river there, a lot more work that way, but hey it's free when you have private land to go get it off at least.

 

[CochinBrahmaLover]

How does hay or dirt work?

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

dirt really doesnt unless it's kept bone dry. dirt + water = mud and we all know how nasty chicken make that in no time. Any dragging feathers will quickly be ruined.

I use hay mostly. Mainly cause it's cheap, easy to get, and I have about 2000 feet of chicken pens to cover.

It can tangle in feathers at time though. That's where shaving help.

Sand bases are really good cause sand + water just equals wet sand.

either way you go, if you top it with a thick hay or shaving bed, it keeps diry and mud down, is soft and clean on the draging feathers. Help poop not be a nasty issue by acting sort of like kitty litter.

On top of feather issues, the extra cleanliness of the pen also helps control bacterial growth in pens. a dry clean pen of course will not be as hospitable to growth as a damp bare dirt pen.

None if it is mandatory to keep long tails, but the reason you keep long tails is well for long tails. So it just goes to say, the cleaner and dryer you keep the pen the better the tails will be.

That's why we go with sand and or bedding in the pens

 

[onagadori]

Ok, so this isn't traditional, but I thought maybe someone else would enjoy it. I have been admiring this little boy for a week or so now.. Those of you that know me know I like to play with genetics.. Here is a blue peacombed ohiki hybrid.. LOL..

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[Toni-Marie]

I dont sell eggs that's why I send them to Manderzz, Aubrey,Travis(They have good finished birds for sure) .....They know what they are doing and I trust them... I saw those birds they were calling Ohiki..They were a cross between phoenix and cochin and had heavy featherd very long legs...I ask them about them and they said well mine had another breed in them. I told them they were crossed back may many times back to Pure and there reply was for me to go F*** myself....So that's the type of person your dealing with. Just wanted to give you a heads up...Geee......TM...

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

yep Toni,
That's what I have been seeing too. Working with the breed like you have done, verses making a look a like form totally unrelated breeds is not the same thing. You got to have ohiki to make ohiki in other words. Cant cross this to that and call it another breed when that breed was never introduced to the breeding.
And honestly not even a good looking version either. Some people kill me. This was what I was talking about a few pages back when I was saying to be careful with who you deal with with these. There's still just a few with them, but they seem to be poping up randomly everywhere now. And I have yet to see one that is a true ohiki. Sad to see and hear for sure.
Also hate to heard they acted like that to you, that burns me up for sure!!!

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

go for it Amanda... you know you cant stand it!!! LOL