Your birds are all so beautiful!!!
Pheonix Thread
- Thread starter Barnyard Breeder
- Start date
Looks like the gold chick is a golden male. Red chick is definitely pullet, gold. I never really liked white until last year. Now I want to keep every one of them!
Flower fairy Cool I was hoping the one I thought was the Gold one with the larger red comb was a boy, he seemed to me to be more rooster like. He is the largest. There also seems to be a slight size difference between colors. The one with all the Red is a Gold female wow she has always looked so different than the other Gold, I mean completely different chick color. The Gold boy looked like the silver chick when younger and only now can I see the gold in him, whereas the silver one has gotten a more white silver feathering coming in. So interesting watching them mature. I think the whites might be pullets and the one silver a pullet too. About the whites are they recessive or dominate or does it vary between different lines? I am excited about all the colours.
Do you all feed the your birds a home blend of feed? I read corn was bad for them (If they have nm genes, it was something very specific to corn not in all grain) years ago so I have been working on trying to get that specifically out of the whole flocks diet, finding no corn feeds, or individual ingredients... hard to get away from just that one ingredient... now I am reading everyone is freaked over soy... and also wheat, barley and more but I can not find science to back these claims... the corn I did years ago... have no idea where I put my notes so I can remember the thing in corn that was bad for nm birds but it was not gluten... I am asking guys because I want legit info on this not people projecting their human diet fears onto the birds. I found science papers on soy none of it indicated soy harms chickens in general, the papers did confirm my egg nutrition theory for chickens and humans eating chicken eggs... as have several other studies from all over the world on feeding laying hens or breeding hens has confirmed... what you feed the hen changes it’s taste, look, and nutritional components... my mantra to people who think eggs are just bad is junk in, junk out... if hens are fed junk food diets meant to produce eggs the cheapest and just keep them alive don’t be surprised the eggs are not all that healthy... different countries feed their birds different diets and surprise their nutritional analysis are different... resulting in different study results for humans eating said eggs too. Also hens for breeding are fed better diets to increase viability of chicks which tells me that is optimum versus laying hen feed with is minimal for profits. So I am in the middle of really trying to improve feed in general too. Just read how mixed gender and mixed age flocks need to be fed differently or there can be growth retardation in chicks with their parents and roosters with a laying flock eating layer feed sometimes die super young due to an imbalance in their nutrition. Figuring out best feeding practices for my special birds and utility birds. So you all do anything special?
The Longtail Egg is still incubating but Monday night it goes into lockdown, so here is hoping we’ve managed to do things right this time in incubator #3
The eggs you shipped Flowerfairy are in incubator #2 with Black Swedish eggs that arrived the same day. So it is a nicely full incubator. I sprayed all eggs with a 3% solution of H2O2, I need to find a 5 or a tiny bit higher % but 3% was the best I have found without special order... and then invest in a UV light, but I need more info on the exact light I need... been reading those science studies on what kills fungus, mold spores and bacteria on hatching eggs and increases hatch rate... going to science the heck out of this. So doing our best to keep humidity and temp right too... that #2 is harder to adjust than #3 but easier to monitor than #1 which is the one we had the most trouble with. #2 though has the best egg turner for shipped eggs in my opinion design wise.
Both #2 and #3 hatched eggs last time, we also put in the extra humidity monitor and temperature monitors in them, it is interesting how they all read different numbers in the same machines. Trying to keep the measurements in the range.
Trying hard to bump up the hatch rates!
Do you all feed the your birds a home blend of feed? I read corn was bad for them (If they have nm genes, it was something very specific to corn not in all grain) years ago so I have been working on trying to get that specifically out of the whole flocks diet, finding no corn feeds, or individual ingredients... hard to get away from just that one ingredient... now I am reading everyone is freaked over soy... and also wheat, barley and more but I can not find science to back these claims... the corn I did years ago... have no idea where I put my notes so I can remember the thing in corn that was bad for nm birds but it was not gluten... I am asking guys because I want legit info on this not people projecting their human diet fears onto the birds. I found science papers on soy none of it indicated soy harms chickens in general, the papers did confirm my egg nutrition theory for chickens and humans eating chicken eggs... as have several other studies from all over the world on feeding laying hens or breeding hens has confirmed... what you feed the hen changes it’s taste, look, and nutritional components... my mantra to people who think eggs are just bad is junk in, junk out... if hens are fed junk food diets meant to produce eggs the cheapest and just keep them alive don’t be surprised the eggs are not all that healthy... different countries feed their birds different diets and surprise their nutritional analysis are different... resulting in different study results for humans eating said eggs too. Also hens for breeding are fed better diets to increase viability of chicks which tells me that is optimum versus laying hen feed with is minimal for profits. So I am in the middle of really trying to improve feed in general too. Just read how mixed gender and mixed age flocks need to be fed differently or there can be growth retardation in chicks with their parents and roosters with a laying flock eating layer feed sometimes die super young due to an imbalance in their nutrition. Figuring out best feeding practices for my special birds and utility birds. So you all do anything special?
The Longtail Egg is still incubating but Monday night it goes into lockdown, so here is hoping we’ve managed to do things right this time in incubator #3
The eggs you shipped Flowerfairy are in incubator #2 with Black Swedish eggs that arrived the same day. So it is a nicely full incubator. I sprayed all eggs with a 3% solution of H2O2, I need to find a 5 or a tiny bit higher % but 3% was the best I have found without special order... and then invest in a UV light, but I need more info on the exact light I need... been reading those science studies on what kills fungus, mold spores and bacteria on hatching eggs and increases hatch rate... going to science the heck out of this. So doing our best to keep humidity and temp right too... that #2 is harder to adjust than #3 but easier to monitor than #1 which is the one we had the most trouble with. #2 though has the best egg turner for shipped eggs in my opinion design wise.
Both #2 and #3 hatched eggs last time, we also put in the extra humidity monitor and temperature monitors in them, it is interesting how they all read different numbers in the same machines. Trying to keep the measurements in the range.
Trying hard to bump up the hatch rates!
Michael99
Songster
Thank you Flowerfairy for the compliment!
And I don't really give my Phoenix anything special diet wise, they get about 1/3 game bird chow (which is high in protein, I think 30%) depending on the season and how much they are laying (in the winter when they're not laying as much, I may give them more), and the rest is eggmaker. I also give them fresh greens, leftover fruits and veggies, and weeds whenever possible (here in AZ we have common mallow and London rocket in the winter, and amaranth and purslane in the summer; all of which grow wild as weeds and the chickens love them). I'd recommend looking up what weeds are edible in your area, and try giving them to your chickens, it's free greens really!
And I feed my chicks chick starter 20 % protein.
All of the special dietary restrictions I don't think (and this is just my opinion) are really valid or backed up by science, so I wouldn't get too caught up in it. The only longtail birds with actual dietary restrictions, as far as I know, are actual Japanese Onagadori, which we don't have here in the US so there's no need to worry. Just avoid feeding them scratch, give them a bit of extra protein and greens, and make sure they aren't overcrowded and you should be good.
And I don't really give my Phoenix anything special diet wise, they get about 1/3 game bird chow (which is high in protein, I think 30%) depending on the season and how much they are laying (in the winter when they're not laying as much, I may give them more), and the rest is eggmaker. I also give them fresh greens, leftover fruits and veggies, and weeds whenever possible (here in AZ we have common mallow and London rocket in the winter, and amaranth and purslane in the summer; all of which grow wild as weeds and the chickens love them). I'd recommend looking up what weeds are edible in your area, and try giving them to your chickens, it's free greens really!
And I feed my chicks chick starter 20 % protein.
All of the special dietary restrictions I don't think (and this is just my opinion) are really valid or backed up by science, so I wouldn't get too caught up in it. The only longtail birds with actual dietary restrictions, as far as I know, are actual Japanese Onagadori, which we don't have here in the US so there's no need to worry. Just avoid feeding them scratch, give them a bit of extra protein and greens, and make sure they aren't overcrowded and you should be good.
Thanks... yeah the only science I have seen is Longtail corn issue and that is not all breeds. I read several more recent studies on soy, no issue I could find. Then I ran across some sort of gluten no no list, but some of the plants on the no no list don’t have gluten in them... so I am suspecting human diet projection on chickens... I am still going to cut the corn just to better explore other options. We found a no corn localism milled feed... so once it’s delivered we will be trying out the chick starter from that mill. Currently the whole flock is on a mix of layer pellets (once used up will be replaced with a no corn something), paddy rice, wheat grain, alfalfa pellets corn free, a corn free wild bird seed high protein mix, greens and foraged insects, dried and fresh fruit, and what ever I add to their feed... seaweed, hot peppers, flax seed and so on. I offer oyster shell and grit.
Michael99
Songster
You'll definitely be good, your chooks should be thankful for all the special treatment
Just found this tgread. I have the golden duck wing (?) Variety standards. They're a pretty feral flock though on my property. No eggs to be found, not handling either, I just give them food and water and watch them be a family.
This is my boy Wes, short for Westeros. He has 4 ladies so far and hopefully another 3 soon.
This is my boy Wes, short for Westeros. He has 4 ladies so far and hopefully another 3 soon.
Flower fairy Cool I was hoping the one I thought was the Gold one with the larger red comb was a boy, he seemed to me to be more rooster like. He is the largest. There also seems to be a slight size difference between colors. The one with all the Red is a Gold female wow she has always looked so different than the other Gold, I mean completely different chick color. The Gold boy looked like the silver chick when younger and only now can I see the gold in him, whereas the silver one has gotten a more white silver feathering coming in. So interesting watching them mature. I think the whites might be pullets and the one silver a pullet too. About the whites are they recessive or dominate or does it vary between different lines? I am excited about all the colours.
Do you all feed the your birds a home blend of feed? I read corn was bad for them (If they have nm genes, it was something very specific to corn not in all grain) years ago so I have been working on trying to get that specifically out of the whole flocks diet, finding no corn feeds, or individual ingredients... hard to get away from just that one ingredient... now I am reading everyone is freaked over soy... and also wheat, barley and more but I can not find science to back these claims... the corn I did years ago... have no idea where I put my notes so I can remember the thing in corn that was bad for nm birds but it was not gluten... I am asking guys because I want legit info on this not people projecting their human diet fears onto the birds. I found science papers on soy none of it indicated soy harms chickens in general, the papers did confirm my egg nutrition theory for chickens and humans eating chicken eggs... as have several other studies from all over the world on feeding laying hens or breeding hens has confirmed... what you feed the hen changes it’s taste, look, and nutritional components... my mantra to people who think eggs are just bad is junk in, junk out... if hens are fed junk food diets meant to produce eggs the cheapest and just keep them alive don’t be surprised the eggs are not all that healthy... different countries feed their birds different diets and surprise their nutritional analysis are different... resulting in different study results for humans eating said eggs too. Also hens for breeding are fed better diets to increase viability of chicks which tells me that is optimum versus laying hen feed with is minimal for profits. So I am in the middle of really trying to improve feed in general too. Just read how mixed gender and mixed age flocks need to be fed differently or there can be growth retardation in chicks with their parents and roosters with a laying flock eating layer feed sometimes die super young due to an imbalance in their nutrition. Figuring out best feeding practices for my special birds and utility birds. So you all do anything special?
The Longtail Egg is still incubating but Monday night it goes into lockdown, so here is hoping we’ve managed to do things right this time in incubator #3
The eggs you shipped Flowerfairy are in incubator #2 with Black Swedish eggs that arrived the same day. So it is a nicely full incubator. I sprayed all eggs with a 3% solution of H2O2, I need to find a 5 or a tiny bit higher % but 3% was the best I have found without special order... and then invest in a UV light, but I need more info on the exact light I need... been reading those science studies on what kills fungus, mold spores and bacteria on hatching eggs and increases hatch rate... going to science the heck out of this. So doing our best to keep humidity and temp right too... that #2 is harder to adjust than #3 but easier to monitor than #1 which is the one we had the most trouble with. #2 though has the best egg turner for shipped eggs in my opinion design wise.
Both #2 and #3 hatched eggs last time, we also put in the extra humidity monitor and temperature monitors in them, it is interesting how they all read different numbers in the same machines. Trying to keep the measurements in the range.
Trying hard to bump up the hatch rates!
I feed a low corn diet. 1- it has little nutrition, 2- it creates more body heat, I live in a brutally hot area, 3- it can turn silver feathers yellow. I raise mostly silver and but I have some golden that are difficult to distinguish from a sun/corn yellowed silver. I feed 18-20% protein feed with High Octane high protein and/or high fat supplements. Fresh greens, veggies, are always good, but my number one rule is fresh water daily, every day! A burden for me with 12 coops but I finally started the auto water system.
I do nothing to hatching eggs except set them. I don’t touch or candle until day 18. I wipe out the inside of the incubator after each hatch, and I shut it down once every few months and give it a thorough cleaning. And I only use distilled water in it. Calibrate your thermometers and hygrometers often, it makes a world of difference! Don’t expect a great hatch from shipped eggs, especially with the volume of packages the USPS is moving now, that’s why I send so many extras, 50% hatch would be great! Fingers crossed!
Yes, @Lauravonsmurf, there can be size differences between varieties and lines, as some are bred to German standard and some to Modern standard. You will see a big difference in hatchery birds and privately bred birds, and in my gold and silver lines. As varied as LF can be, most bantams are worse, it’s become a huge project for me to get them less than 36oz.
I get recessive whites in my golds. They need a bit of work but so elegant in white. A friend recently crossed white Onagadori over red Jungle Fowl, proving the Onagadori as silver based recessive white. As far as Phoenix, they could have been bred either way, future breedings will show which.
Thanks
What a pretty boy
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