Oriental Gamefowl Thread!

[Blaineiac]

Looks like you're doing everything right, Blaine. Hard to tell about the onset of laying as Asils vary a lot in the amount of eggs they lay. Some will only give you less than a dozen a year and some will lay quite well between broods. Most of mine begin laying by 6 months.........Pop

Thanks Pop for the reassurance. This is first time investing in real birds, not just free ranging eggers and meaties, and I'm a little nervous and want to give them the best start I can. I have some beef and plenty of pork liver, kidneys and heart. I was saving it for the dogs but might let them have a "stab" at it. I've read about elevating it to make them jump to reach it. Conditioning while feeding. Can I dangle it or do I need to secure it to a wall? I think this is Doc's idea from another site. Thanks again for all your helpful advice on this thread. Blaine

 

[gallo4319]

Apparently the light is working.
they are a blend of aseel Melville and shamo
Thank you for your advice

 

[Lollipop]

Thanks Pop for the reassurance. This is first time investing in real birds, not just free ranging eggers and meaties, and I'm a little nervous and want to give them the best start I can. I have some beef and plenty of pork liver, kidneys and heart. I was saving it for the dogs but might let them have a "stab" at it. I've read about elevating it to make them jump to reach it. Conditioning while feeding. Can I dangle it or do I need to secure it to a wall? I think this is Doc's idea from another site. Thanks again for all your helpful advice on this thread. Blaine

You're welcome, Blaine. That idea from Doc was actually used by Madagascar cockers of old. It's a great way to condition them. Another method is a roost about 6 feet up and their water at that level so they fly up to get a drink. that's really all the conditioning an oriental requires as they are naturally fit unless their quarters is very cramped. I've been involed with raising chickens for 54 years and have had many breeds, including many orientals. Asils are by far my favorites. They have something that just makes them stand out, even among such greats as Brazilians and Shamo. Asils are probably the hardest to raise as they contain such fire at an early age. You will learn a lot. Have fun.......Pop

 

[CUDA]

In my opinion about the laying ability of asil is this: The reason that people are told this is the case stems from is the fact that the purists don't incubate, and I'm not talking in the US. It's is a cultural thing where if the hen lays more than one setting, she isn't pure to them, when the fact is they were pure, just didn't brood as long. When you let your hen set, and leave the chicks with her, she will brood them sometimes all season long, thus one setting. It isn't that she can't lay more, it's that she doesn't because of brooding. You really can't beat a well bred asil as a broody, period. If you take eggs from them, they will lay more, but will still set eventually, even on an empty nest, and you won't stop her from doing it. If you take the chicks away after hatched, she will lay again and set after a break. They are not a production breed by any means, but neither are they poor layers, it's all how you manage them. I've had hens where I've taken chicks from them after they hatched, set 4 times in one season. The one thing you will see though, is they don't lay to lay. When they start laying, their plan is to hatch them, that's it.

 

[Blaineiac]

You're welcome, Blaine. That idea from Doc was actually used by Madagascar cockers of old. It's a great way to condition them. Another method is a roost about 6 feet up and their water at that level so they fly up to get a drink. that's really all the conditioning an oriental requires as they are naturally fit unless their quarters is very cramped. I've been involed with raising chickens for 54 years and have had many breeds, including many orientals. Asils are by far my favorites. They have something that just makes them stand out, even among such greats as Brazilians and Shamo. Asils are probably the hardest to raise as they contain such fire at an early age. You will learn a lot. Have fun.......Pop


Thanks again Pop. I have them in my shop now, since they came from TX and I'm in OH. Their pen is 4x8x6ft high. I have them a 40" roost. I plan on getting them outside and in the sunshine in 6 weeks or so. I'm planning on building 2 breeding/hen pens and rotate the cock between them. should I give the hens a variety of pens or will moving the cock be enough? I plan on free ranging once the chicks are a couple weeks old. I like what I've read about a pen that the chicks can get out but not the hens. I'll only let one hen out at a time, so at least one will be safe in case of a hawk attack. My dogs keep everything else at bay. I don't want to baby them too much, but I need to protect my investment. Thanks again. Blaine

 

[Lollipop]

Cudas comments are true, they will lay more if you collect the eggs, but hen hatched and raised chicks fare much better that incubated chicks, so it depends on what you want to do with them, I suppose. One thing is certain, you must have a place to seperate the aggressors, or you will lose chicks.......Pop

 

[Illia]

You're welcome, Blaine. That idea from Doc was actually used by Madagascar cockers of old. It's a great way to condition them. Another method is a roost about 6 feet up and their water at that level so they fly up to get a drink. that's really all the conditioning an oriental requires as they are naturally fit unless their quarters is very cramped. I've been involed with raising chickens for 54 years and have had many breeds, including many orientals. Asils are by far my favorites. They have something that just makes them stand out, even among such greats as Brazilians and Shamo. Asils are probably the hardest to raise as they contain such fire at an early age. You will learn a lot. Have fun.......Pop

There's actually a lot one can learn from them especially in concerns to conditioning. I know these birds are naturally muscled but it helps to keep one fit, and they certainly do a lot that also helps a more trusting bond between handler and cock. From what I've seen though, Madagascars in their origin country often are raised running loose, then are in small confinement when older, which, leads back to that need for some sort of conditioning.

Question though, isn't 6 feet rather high for an Oriental type fowl? Especially when young? Or are Madagascars a much smaller breed? They don't seem it.

 

[CUDA]

Yes, you are correct pop, hen raised chicks are the way to go for sure. I was just trying to explain why the myth of them being poor layers is out there. I have talked to people all over the world, including Pakistan, and India, and it really is part of the culture of the breed. Many people consider an Asil that lays more than a half dozen eggs a year or so not pure. The thing is though, is these same people do everything naturally, and it never gives the hen the chance to lay again due to it, so they don't realize that they will lay more in the right circumstances because it is against their beliefs. JMO

 

[welasharon]

I have four madagascar eggs set to hatch this Saturday. They are under an o shamo. What, if anything do I need to do for them? They are in an 18x24 pen with one shamo cock, three araucana hens and one other shamo hen.
sharon

 

[OkChickens]

Nate, if you read back a few (or more) pages, Old*cowboy has some Ko trios for sale.
Check it out, the price is great, and he is close to you.

Yeah I have talked to Guy and they are a Possibility. I just need to start selling some birds to be able to buy them. My wife and I have an agreement that is what I sell and make from the chickens can be spent for feed, bedding, coops, and new breeds for the chickens. It kinda sucks but it does make since not to spend a lot of $$$ and have it suck into it. Its better to start out some what small and then grow. It might take a month or so before I can get them but it will happen!

Nate