Ohiki Chicken Thread

[onagadori]

Well now that sandy has passed everyone is doing well here! I will have to post pics soon! The hens are so small and compact, the rooster is a gorgeous BB red Astin sweeper. He's going to give me all different combs, I can't wait to breed them! The hens are pea combed and one of them is a blue egg layer. We are going to keep them that way. I guess that makes them a different strain of ohiki, same type, just pea combed (which I thought was good for my northern climate). And I think it would be cool to keep them laying blue eggs, why fix what isn't broken?

That sounds great! Can't wait to see them.

 

[HeritageSeekers]

Hi all,

I just wanted to say that I LOVE LOVE this thread. I've spent the entire evening reading all the posts. I've been a big fan of the Ohiki for years now. (I unfortunately do not own any... yet).
Thank you all for such good information and beautiful photos. Keep up the good work! I hope to be able to contribute to the future of the Ohiki in the near future. It surely is one of the most amazing birds out there in longtail land!

Steve

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

good to have you Steve.

Yes they are one of my favorites too hands down. Really enjoy them. Just an all around nice little bird. Let us know if you have any questions about them, always happy to give advise or tips on them.

 

[HeritageSeekers]

Thank you!

I have oggled over these birds for years. I had never known of their existence until I was turned on to them by Marc King when I lived in Italy. I searched in vain for them in Europe but they seemed to be hiding! Even with Marc's help to hunt them down it was a moot point. (Marc.. are you on this forum?)

Anyways.... I'm turning my eye to then in the near future. (yay)

I do have a question about diet. Have the US Ohiki moved on to a more conventional diet or are they still rather particular? What has been the biggest challenge for everyone breeding them to date?

I look forward to learning more from you all.. Again, keep up the good work.

Steve

p.s. What's going on with the MF Ohiki? A dreaaaaaaaaaaaam!

 

[HeritageSeekers]

Oh,.. one more thing. With all of the projects out there with Jap crosses... how has the lethal gene impacted the Ohiki? Silly question, maybe.. I'm a newbie. LOL

Steve

 

[Toni-Marie]

As far as I know there are NO crosses with Japs. Only one that Chris did.(that was only experimental) So that gene is not in the Ohiki. The Ohiki is doing very well here in the states and are doing pretty good on a regular diet. But most diets are corn free. Because of the onagadori ancestors that's still in there in some of the birds. I have over 100 adults and half has the no corn thing but that's no big deal.. So I dont feed corn at all..Why are people so corny!?..LOL...There doing great here with almost 10 breeders now...They will be in the standard in the near future...Where did you read "all the crossing with japs" at??? Just the one time for expermentation as far as I know.. And it's NOT in the regular gene pool...TM

 

[HeritageSeekers]

Thank you, Toni-Marie, for the clarification.

Where I plucked the idea of Jap crosses being prevalent... I couldn't say. It's quite possible that I just misread or completely misinterpreted this. For some reason it stuck in my head the way it do so my concern was problems coming from that. Thank you again for clarification. I just imagined purchasing eggs and seeing nothing but non-viable hatches. Whew.... (still not convinced on starting with eggs just the same!)

I'm super excited on the diet. Again, I was under the mis-informed impression that it was still "delicate" and they were needing a more traditional Japanese style diet. It always put me off a bit.. but surely not completely. I don't feed corn to any of my birds now so I guess that won't be a problem!

As for focus.... Is the current emphasis on standardizing type or is it more on obtaining the tail feathers? Or??

I appreciate it.. Thanks!

Steve

 

[Toni-Marie]

The Ohiki short leg gene is NOT the same gene as in the chabo/Japs...There are no dead in the egg from the short leg genes...Only need a little help from time to time getting out of the eggs from the very short leg ones...That's about it. After 9 years of work the Ohiki is a finish bird. Now these people with the pea comb and rose comb some of those still need a little work. Most of the rose comb ones are also finished. I have gave most of those away to people wanting to breed them as another breed.I'm flattered at the name that was given to them. I only wish that a few people that are still trying to finish the rose and pea combs would call them" Project sweepers"....Because they are still in progress. Not all but some.If there are any questions just ask. Type,feathering and legs, ect are all finished. There are very good breeders with them like Manderz, Aubrey,Chuck, Chris,Travis And several other people that have finished birds and know how to properly breed and choose the correct type...I thank these breeders too for all the help they have given the breed also...God bless....Toni-marie

 

[Toni-Marie]

There not for everyone and do require more shelter ect than the every day chicken. They are not a yard bird but a true treasure and need to be under lock and key. They do need a little more care and need to be keep out of the wind and rain ect...If people cant do that they may not be for them...TM

 

[HeritageSeekers]

Thanks again, Toni-Marie!

I guess I'm a little shocked that in such a short time and so few breeders that the ideal has been reached. Well done everyone!

I had to chuckle when you said they need to be under lock and key... only because I just added locks and deadbolts to my "chicken room". HA

Does anyone offer started pairs by chance? I see I can acquire eggs but to be honest I've always had such a dreadful time when receiving shipped eggs of anything. My last shipment of red shoulder Yoko was 2 dz. eggs (in Italy) and only 6 arrived in form.. and out of those remaining 6 I got one pullet to hatch. Absolutely heart breaking. I've never recovered from that ordeal so I'm always hesitant now.

At this point in time.. what is the hardest trait to achieve for everyone? Or maybe it's better to ask what is the most difficult trait to reproduce consistently?

Thanks again!

Steve