Show Off Your Games!

[centrarchid]

Centra, I have a large flock of free range game and can relate to your observations. I have 7 roosters that are 3 generations. There are 24 hens and pullet's. I watch them fly down and chase. The cockerels have been scrapping,be way more intense when breeding season comes. I had all greys 16 years ago,now are almost all red. I was just wondering how many free range you had. Thanks Jody

That is very different. Answer I gave above is current which represents current off-season. During production I have three or four discrete flocks each with its own roost and foaging areas. Only one of those is led by a gamerooster and that is based near house. Other flocks are led by American Dominiques or what I am calling Missouri Dominiques. Those flocks seldom exceed more than about 50 birds at any given moment. I also have up to a dozen broody hens / pullets (all games) in area surrounding cockyard that raise young out of breeding pens. Those young games and the incubator hatched Dominiques represent the bulk of what runs about during the production season. As many as 150 young birds are in various subflocks having peak number realized around September with numbers then ratched down by time of first killing frost. All this goes on over between 6 and 8 acres.


Virtually all broodfowl penned even during breeding season. This will change with acquisition of walks.

 

[JShubin]

That is very different. Answer I gave above is current which represents current off-season. During production I have three or four discrete flocks each with its own roost and foaging areas. Only one of those is led by a gamerooster and that is based near house. Other flocks are led by American Dominiques or what I am calling Missouri Dominiques. Those flocks seldom exceed more than about 50 birds at any given moment. I also have up to a dozen broody hens / pullets (all games) in area surrounding cockyard that raise young out of breeding pens. Those young games and the incubator hatched Dominiques represent the bulk of what runs about during the production season. As many as 150 young birds are in various subflocks having peak number realized around September with numbers then ratched down by time of first killing frost. All this goes on over between 6 and 8 acres.


Virtually all broodfowl penned even during breeding season. This will change with acquisition of walks.

Very cool.. I didnt realize you had so many... So each walk has a roost and foraging area, but are they free range? Are the roosters tethered on these walks or are they netted? What keeps them in their walk area?

 

[centrarchid]

Very cool.. I didnt realize you had so many... So each walk has a roost and foraging area, but are they free range?  Are the roosters tethered on these walks or are they netted? What keeps them in their walk area?

Higher number seasonal. Number over winter drops down to 70 to 80 birds. Walks will enable bumping that up considerably.


Walks are usually a barnyard that has other animals and dogs about. A building in most instances serves as the roost and nesting site. No tethering / confinement of any sort employed. Free-range is total where bird restrict their movements by their own volition. Nutrition usually not directly supplemented by complete feeds, rather natural forages and spilt grains / feeds for other animals make up the difference.


Virtually all situations have only a single breeding group of cock and one to a few hens. Exception for multiple breeding groups is where multiple out buildings are present over at least several acres usually with some sort of visual boundary flocks do not like to cross. Owing to changes in farming practices the multiple breeding group option is extremely rare and the single breeding group option is harder to realize.


I am trying to realize a walk type arrangement on my current ground although space tight and outbuildings are lacking. Currently I am having to suck it up and engage in the cockyard approach using breeding pens which is harder.

 

[sdm111]

Just to let y'all know I have a friend with some fine fire red spanish fowl. If interested he ships grown fowl younger ones probably chicks and ships eggs in season. Here's a few pics they speak for themselves. Pm if interested

you won't be disappointed. Ahem shubin.

 

[GhettoRoo]

Hello every gamefowl and chicken knower.
So i made there a pretty nice thread about gamefowls to enlighten me.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/942032/gamefowl-types-give-knowledge-to-me

Would be great if you join, and will answer + give some more info.

Thanks.

Visit.. Thx.

 

[JShubin]

I noticed that Spanish games had 3 different kinds of combs... straight, pea and rose. My Cuban guy had the same thing on his fowl... Very interesting.

Rose comb seems like it would have been bred out, because dubbing would be so difficult... but

My Cuban friend told me they dont dub the comb until 2 year or older because it makes their neck stronger.

 

[JShubin]

Oh I may be wrong about the pea comb.. I may have mistaken a small rose comb for pea... cannot remember now

 

[sdm111]

I know the straight and rose. Not saying peas aren't out there just haven't sen any

 

[sdm111]

Visit.. Thx.

To be honest ghetto there's way too much about games from their origin to today to compress in a thread reply. If I were you I would search the net and read read read for someone to try and explain gamefowl via a forum is virtually impossible. Read through this thread and others I'll send u a pm with other sites with histories. Cause I don't know if it's allowed to link other websites although I'm guilty of doing it in the past

 

[JShubin]

Not normally that low station, just crouched on swing perch.