Sumatra Chickens?

[ShadowRooster]

I orderd some of these pretty birds. What are they like? Nice? Mean? Cold hardy? I need to know what im getting into hear..

Do any of you raise them?

 

[shay20]

I do. I love the sumatra's they have such beautiful green sheen to them.
They can be very nice, We had one a little while back that was the meanest roo ever, but they can very docile when getting attention from day 1.

I have a really nice roo now he is sweet,
here he is with his ladys.

 

[TheRanch]

Like any animal Sumatras respond to the way they are treated. Do lots of research on them - they are fasinating birds!! They have black skin, bones and dark meat.

They are SMART birds and are one of the few birds that can actually FLY for considerable distances. They have proven that the Sumatra used to fly from island to island - that's a LOT of flying!! You should look for dark faces - red is incorrect coloring on the face. The roo needs to have multiple spurs and they are a sllllooowww maturing bird (like most Asiatic). The hens lay med size white or slightly tinted eggs and are NOT very prolific, a couple eggs a week is typical. They also have shorter laying seasons than most birds. But nothing quite compares to the irridecent colors in the feathers, on a bright day I've seen sheens of blue and purples bouncing off the beetle green that coats their black feathers!! Just beautiful!!!

Good luck with your new babies - where are you getting them from?

 

[Sooner]

My roo is very nice. He has never been aggressive. My hens are flighty but they were never messed with like he was.

 

[shay20]

Quote:
So true, Sumatra's are know for there multiple spurs.
One of my past Sumatra roo had 3 spurs on each leg, that was a plus plus, and yes there face should be a mulberry color not red. unlike mine sometimes my roo now his face turns red but other days his face looks darker, not sure why he does that though.

Also the Sumatra used be used in the cockfighting sport way way way back in the day, until they made them into an ornamental fowl, because of there posture and long tails.

 

[countrymom1212]

Quote:
I love the breed and research is the key to knowing about the background of the breed. They are very cold and heat tolerant. This past winter was a real bad one and don't laugh us Floridians hate the cold and this past winter was just unbearable.(20 degrees with snow) I have several colors of sumatras. My birds a real sweethearts but they are handled everyday by a 7 year old. I say mine but they are his show birds he shows for 4-H right now. We are trying to branch out into APA shows.