Starting a new feral flock of jungle fowl hybrids in the distant future.

[Az OEGB]

Chicks are here and more to come. There are some off the rooster in the picture who I call red. So we might get a stag or two to take for this. What I’m thinking so far, which will all depend on production this year but taking a bunch of mixed hens like 50/50 RJF/AGF
50 RJF 25 AGF 25 OEGB and what ever else is available then putting them over some real jungle fowl like roosters, I think between all those genetics combined with the harsh life they are going to live we should have some tough birds.

 

[Cammo77]

View attachment 4065538View attachment 4065539Chicks are here and more to come. There are some off the rooster in the picture who I call red. So we might get a stag or two to take for this. What I’m thinking so far, which will all depend on production this year but taking a bunch of mixed hens like 50/50 RJF/AGF
50 RJF 25 AGF 25 OEGB and what ever else is available then putting them over some real jungle fowl like roosters, I think between all those genetics combined with the harsh life they are going to live we should have some tough birds.

Look forward to seeing the results

 

[Sic]

Why? I had a flock of Kraienkoppe go feral and I saw them only once after that, not sure why anyone would want their chickens to go feral, honestly, if they survive, you're not going to get eggs or offspring unless you hunt/trap them. My fock of 15 disappeared into the forest, and it's easier to hunt the grouse on this island.

 

[Az OEGB]

Why? I had a flock of Kraienkoppe go feral and I saw them only once after that, not sure why anyone would want their chickens to go feral, honestly, if they survive, you're not going to get eggs or offspring unless you hunt/trap them. My fock of 15 disappeared into the forest, and it's easier to hunt the grouse on this island.

Well the reason for one is I want my chickens tough and I know that if they can make it this way I will have a fully adapted bird for my area; and if they make it after they get established they’re purpose down there will be meat that i will harvest with my air gun. if there are any that I take a liking to i will either trap them as you said or get them with a pole when they go to roost. I really don’t think they are going to leave either, due to the lack of abundant water supply, if they do they will probably just come back to the house. So is it a waste of time maybe but I am hoping not.

 

[Lukers]

Is this in Arizona?

There are some environments where feral just can't work. Desert is one of them. When they have no or little cover from plants, no natural water sources, no food sources... then you're just releasing them to be eaten by wildlife.
Junglefowl were meant for the jungle or something a lot like it. Lots of trees, bushes, vines, etc. to seek cover in. Lots of varied plants and bugs and natural water sources.

So, it's interesting, I'm justa few miles away from OEGB, and we aren't like harsh extreme desert, we've got a lot of viable forage opportunities and as long they've got water, and there is some form of predation control, they'll be fine. I know a few ranchers who remember their grandparent's and parents game type fowl (they called them Mexican fighting hens or just fighting hens), that survived on the dogs' water dishes and ate food scraps and spilled feed from the family cow or pigs, plus whatever they found

 

[Klutch]

You might want to do varmint cull once in a while or better yet put up a few trail cameras to see what you have lurking. Then address the situation.

 

[Az OEGB]

So, it's interesting, I'm justa few miles away from OEGB, and we aren't like harsh extreme desert, we've got a lot of viable forage opportunities and as long they've got water, and there is some form of predation control, they'll be fine. I know a few ranchers who remember their grandparent's and parents game type fowl (they called them Mexican fighting hens or just fighting hens), that survived on the dogs' water dishes and ate food scraps and spilled feed from the family cow or pigs, plus whatever they found

So, it's interesting, I'm justa few miles away from OEGB, and we aren't like harsh extreme desert, we've got a lot of viable forage opportunities and as long they've got water, and there is some form of predation control, they'll be fine. I know a few ranchers who remember their grandparent's and parents game type fowl (they called them Mexican fighting hens or just fighting hens), that survived on the dogs' water dishes and ate food scraps and spilled feed from the family cow or pigs, plus whatever they found

Same here when the weather is right, right now the sumac berries are abundant, and in the fall there will be acorns in the fall and I’m sure there’s plenty of other thing throughout the year. but it just depends on the rain we didn’t get much rain last year so there wasn’t much for them to forage but it seems like if the weather keeps up like it is it might be better this year but there’s nothing I can do about it.

that brings me to I’m trying something like that with my spare birds im not breeding (which is all but a few hens with chicks) which comes out to about 7, 2 roosters and 5 hens I'm not feeding them only food they are getting is what ever falls out from the chicks feeders and scraps the rest is up to them to find, I’ve only been doing for about a week so we shall see what happens.