Our first eggs! New questions...

[Ridgerunner]

Yes, those teeth are for ripping and tearing, caninelike teeth. To grind grain you need molars. Those teeth are totally unsuitable for grinding.

 

[lazy gardener]

Quote:

What kind of hybrids are you growing??????? I'm worried about the other .56% Those birds should have been left off the ark for sure.

 

[mobius]

Looks to me like a very rare hybrid known as "Gallus gallus piranha ferox", last seen in the Amazonian forest in 1871 and until recently considered extinct. Most closely related to the Rhode Island Red we are all familiar with, in fact the RIRs are considered direct descendants, having been imported to North America from Guatemala in the 1860s.

Some well-known avian zoologists have speculated that this bird is an example of a "reverse mutation", commonly known as a "throwback", to the Jurassic era when the teeth were used as a form of defense as well as a form of predation, generally of small lizards frequenting the Amazon basin.

However, the teeth fall out at about the age of two years in most of this breed, leading to our colloquialism still in use today: "scarce as hen's teeth".

Petrified chicken teeth have been located in archaeological digs in the Amazonian rainforest, and occasionally in streams and riverbeds. Indigenous tribal members often collected these same teeth, highly prized due to their rarity, and would craft jewelry and other ornamentation used in spiritual tribal rituals and traditionally donning the ornaments during hunting parties as well.


Others here may have additional information.

 

[lazy gardener]

Mobius, Thank you for the most informative post. Your research has been the most exhaustive writing regarding this species to date. It was assumed that they became extinct during the days of the great flood. Because of their teeth, and their penchant for chewing everything in sight, they could not be contained.

Caveman, I'm surprised that you are successful with this breed. How often do you need to replace the perches?

 

[mobius]

I may be in error on this, but I believe it is a little known fact that hardware cloth was originally invented as part of an effort to contain this same breed. Sadly, it failed to contain them in pens, leading to difficulty in domesticating the breed, which contributed to their eventual decline and near-extinction. Despite the efforts of early wildlife biologists everywhere, the breed was placed on an endangered list, along with the dodo of Mauritius; the first two birds to have that historical distinction.

Sorry to hijack this thread, I just consider it so important that this information is provided on a public forum.

 

[cavemanrich]

For the perches I use STEEL PIPES. There are a few things that do wear out.
Each week I start out with a new pair.

One week later I need to replace..

And here is a pix of my COOP. No hardware cloth here.

 

[lazy gardener]

I have heard that if you are actually able to get them to join your flock, they are a great asset. They will willingly perch along side your more docile Gallus Gallus at night, and have been known to offer protection. Many flock keepers have gone to tend their flocks in the morning, and found the remains of common chicken predators laying under the perches. Coons, weasels and owls seem to be a favored treat for the GGPF. I personally would love to try hatching some of these birds. If any readers know where I can find some fertile eggs, please PM. However, I want to be sure that I get eggs of pure bred GGPF, and not hybrids.

 

[cavemanrich]

I have been trying to get these roosters to lay without success. Maybe someone here can help me out and advise me what I.m doing WRONG?

 

[mobius]

@cavemanrich , I think in order for roosters to lay, they need a hen.

 

[cavemanrich]

Well, that might explain that. I just don't have one of those. These 2 are sooooo chummmi chummmi all the time that you cant even get a piece of paper in between them.