Show Off Your American Gamefowl and Chat Thread!!!

[centrarchid]

Work or home?

Work. I had six people busting tails to get ready to impress. They are state level ag with department head and upper level folks.

 

[Lauravonsmurf]

State asshat bs then... we guess when suits show up, state or fed, and then based on civi clothes and body language law agency or other agency.

 

[roosterhavoc]

State asshat bs then... we guess when suits show up, state or fed, and then based on civi clothes and body language law agency or other agency.

Tea and icecream sandwiches.

 

[YdogsflY]

Smores...

 

[SOHC-FTW]

What are you guys looking for in your stags (or hens) that says that bird is sharp or thats a broodcock etc i know some look for different things than others obviously were not all the same neither are our birds, figured we'd get back on the game chicken wagon for a bit.

 

[centrarchid]

First things I look for are soundness, good weight distribution (mine are low stationed), symmetry and good feathering. Birds not passing on those git culled before any other considerations made. That is done the first time they are handled. More particular points addressed later and require repeated assessments. Color generally not an issue.

 

[SOHC-FTW]

At what time do you yourself make said choice before first molt or say after the second adult molt?

Lets just say you have one that doesnt quite meet "your standards centra" maybe a bit higher station or feathering in a bit odd or what have you but the bird is a real toe to toe contender compared to those you have always had set your standards. Do you cull or keep watching said stag for his good traits?

As we know sometimes not all birds are as good as their fathers etc but some come out and put em to shame.

 

[centrarchid]

You try to have enough so that an animal is removed on the spot. Ideally he has siblings that also up to snuff. If I have really good looking specimen but his siblings are crap, then he gets culled too. It cost too much to hang on to stock waiting for them to improve. In an ideal world they have very similar hatch dates and environments during upbringing. When I was younger birds had to be hatched between March 1 and June 1, then at selection time in late fall when all bullstags, you are closer to comparing apples to apples rather that bullstags to just stags. I am OK with comparing a 2 to a 3 year old but not 2 to 5 year old as age can make changes that obscure the comparisons you want to make.

 

[SOHC-FTW]

How bout your hens? Same deal or looking for more of a type then anything else?

 

[centrarchid]

After looking at the individual female, you look at her brothers that are mature. Once you start looking at her as an actual brood hen with a good change of producing brood fowl out her own daughters, then you need to know how here sons are doing and they need to be mature.

This not something you can do based on the looks of one individual.