Show Off Your American Gamefowl and Chat Thread!!!

[roosterhavoc]

Do you guys know anyone who would be able to ship hatching eggs or chicks? Any hatcheries that have some or anyone on here? I really want a breed that free ranges well but also goes broody.

None free range well with these running around.

Had to take care of this guy before work this am.
If you truly want to just let birds run loose be prepared to trap and kill a lot of animals constantly or you will lose every last bird.

 

[sdm111]

Well I promised an update on that hen. She is looking way better.... thanks again guys.

Also I noticed no eggs all of a sudden after they both started laying.... so I found the nest.

Sneaky girls and as soon as the one who really wants babies realized she came running and complaining... if I could I would let her be a mamma. Poor girl, I will dispose of the eggs tonight.

she does look a whole lot better glad to see

 

[Lauravonsmurf]

Breeds that fly well... but even then, based on my backyard predator issues I have lost animals in the past to.I found the Vietnamese jungle fowl I had was the most alert, smart and could fly well bird with a bigger call vocabulary, I miss that hen. But based on her behaviors you will not be catching them once released... she was the flock look out, but not a bird easily wrangled by humans and only hung around because her laying hen flock mates could not fly like her. She liked to roost in a big old Redwood on the top watching the whole area.

She was so different that folks did not even think she was a chicken, most called her a pheasant when they saw her.

Predators are always an issue so even free ranged birds need a secure sleeping spot... things in my suburban area: snakes, hawks, owls, coyotes, foxes, raccoons, skunks, dogs, cats, opossums and once in a while a mountain lion moves into random neighborhoods (about every 5 years in this urban area). So if you are in the country figure same critters plus a few more.

You will need good secure runs for the night and be prepared to hunt a critter every now and then like has been pointed out.

My yard the hens I have are free to run about during the day but at night they go in a totally enclosed mini coop covered run, and it is in solid brick to prevent digging critters from burrowing under, very small wire spacing so bird heads can not be pulled through at night. Nothing sucks more than waking up to beheaded dead birds or coming home from work to a slaughtered flock. I wish I could run hot wire around the coop too... overkill I know for hatchery birds, but hey there my birds, not mister raccoons. There are some new cool products on the market now for free ranging you should check into, like electric mesh fencing...

 

[Lauravonsmurf]

she does look a whole lot better glad to see

Yes big improvement from

To

But I think her feathers are still not as good as they could be, I noticed more than average brittleness to them today, lots of broken feathers...but the other hens feathers look great... I am wonder if there is a genetic difference in these ladies that is making a big difference in feather quality. I will catch the light hen again for close inspection but so far no sign of parasites like lice or mites on either bird.

 

[sdm111]

Brinsea has a new incubator, I ordered me one. Ovation 28 and 56. This will replace the Genesis

u gonna have to give a "what's in the box" report.

 

[sdm111]

None free range well with these running around.

Had to take care of this guy before work this am.
If you truly want to just let birds run loose be prepared to trap and kill a lot of animals constantly or you will lose every last bird.

on his way to shubins? He'd love it there

 

[Lauravonsmurf]

 

[JShubin]

on his way to shubins? He'd love it there

We'd cuddle after I fed it a few pullets

 

[flypen]

u gonna have to give a "what's in the box" report.

will do

 

[Lauravonsmurf]

We'd cuddle after I fed it a few pullets