Show Off Your Games!

[prariechiken]

Quote:
Look to be very nice representatives of the breed.

 

[welasharon]

Quote:
Yes.

And boy is it interesting to see the outcome. When I free-ranged my Shamos I had an Araucana hen running around loose, and one day she decided to brood some eggs of her own, I ended up with several Araucana x Shamos, one of them was tufted. None were rumpless though. Sadly a cat ate the tufted one, but two clean-faced pullets got sold to a neighbor. Sadly the neighbor was irresponsible and lost most of what I sold her.

I imagine that would be an interesting looking bird!

 

[TomNY]

A friend of mine lost a very nice 12 lb. Saipan cock in a fight with a half grown silkie cockerel. The silkie teased the Saipan through the wire. The silkie never got touched but the Saipan broke his beak and completely wrecked both feet. Until you see it you can't believe the damage. Just two or three serious hits on wire can blemish a cock for life. Sometimes it takes less time than it takes to catch a bird that gets out while feeding. I've seen hens tease enough to cause damage. It's never too early to pen birds unless you're willing to accept some collateral damage. Tom

 

[Illia]

Quote:

I know exactly how you feel and just what damage you're talking about. My Shamo fought my Buff Ameraucana cockerel through the fence, the Shamo didn't get hurt at all but for a couple cuts on his feet that healed pretty fast - But the Buff Ameraucana's top beak broke, his face was a bloody fleshy mess, and his feet were pretty bad too. The top beak eventually fell off (the outer layer of it) and it took a long time for a new one to grow back in. In the time that happened, his bottom beak grew out of proportion due to lack of use.

After that, I stopped free ranging my Shamo. As much as he hates being penned, and as much as I'd prefer him running loose - I'm tired of him challenging every single other rooster across a fence. Most after a while learned to ignore him, but some just loved a good fight.

 

[welasharon]

Yes, these are the things I worry about and really would like to prevent! I better go ahead and be proactive.
sharon

 

[josh44]

Yeah miss free ranging the Asil, cant do that anymore

Their very mischievous

 

[gallo4319]

I'd like to see some pictures of large shamos
Any body with pictures ?

 

[josh44]

Someone made up a shamo thread a while back

It had pics nice ones too, but the thread died

 

[saladin]

On the whole free-ranging deal:

I have found that if the typical Oriental stag is not free-ranged at least until near maturity then there are nothing but health issues facing you. That is why I prefer late maturing strains of Asil.

I don't free range the pullet because they mature much earlier and will kill the stags.

Typically, I turn every stag out at 12 weeks of age. It is ROOT, DIG OR DIE from that point until the begin fighting too bad (around 10-14 months).

I do lose some but not many. Great thing is if the heavy breeds such as the Kulangs and Shamo start roosting in trees early that they are continue it through out their lives. Mine will roost in trees 20 to 25 feet from the ground.

 

[josh44]

Quote:
Like the way you think

But until we build up a little more not taking chances just yet.

Yes survival of the fittest