Sumatra Thread!

[Coop Scoop Boogie]

I know how you feel. I have not successfully hatched a Sumatra egg yet this year

. I've pulled vent fluff. They are pest free. They are outside on grass in a tractor. I honestly do not know what to do. I have 1 roo and 2 girls. All are 2 years old. There is only 1 Sumatra breeder I have been able to find within reasonable driving distance. I'd love to be able to bring in a second line, but it looks like they have to wait til I win the lottery

I have gotten some eggs and they have been fertile......just my hatching skills lack
a bit and brooding is a whole different can of worms......but I think we have that figured
out. The hens have not laid a large amount of eggs but I figured by my moving them
a long distance and to a different climate that I would not get lots of eggs this year
from them. They are nice birds and I am sure next breeding season will have me
dancing a jig.

 

[NWSumatras]

Do you give your sumatra's lot of corn? Too much corn and milo will make the feathers have a purple sheen to them. It may help to give your sumatras less corn and more Sunflower seeds. Sunflower seeds are known to help bring out the beetle green sheen on your birds. I know it sound crazy to those who don't show, But diet is important for an exhibiting sumatra.

Ah Champ I do appreciate you trying to help, but I would need to see real hard evidence to support that. Being that I have a biology degree and a couple of classes in animal nutrition, I honestly find it hard to believe. There is a difference between genetics and nutrition. Nutrition does support a whole hosts of things, and can make a difference to a point. I have shown a lot and have done very well when I did. Corn does not make a feather purple if the bird is genetically green sheened. You can however, like you said enhance the already present green sheen that is on the bird with proper nutrition. I also find it extremely hard to believe when I let my birds that are retired and do not wish to butcher or sell go completely free range. They live off of only corn and are as green as they come. They did not turn purple. Let me tell you their feet glow yellow. My birds that in conditioning pens (including that pullet) right now do not get corn everyday. Corn is used sparingly as it does give some positive results to the Sumatra breed. Eggs taste better too!

 

[Chickenwingo]

Them pullets look very nice. here is what mine get for food wheat, barely, sun flower, crack corn, soy bean and 25 percent protein. I add the 25% protein myself a local farmer sells 50lb bags 11.00 loaded with these goodies and its 18% from him I up the protein thats it.

 

[Coop Scoop Boogie]

Has anyone seen NYReds lately? I miss his wealth
of information and "shoot from the hip" straight forward
style of honesty.....and his dry sense of humor.

 

[ramirezframing]

Has anyone seen NYReds lately? I miss his wealth
of information and "shoot from the hip" straight forward
style of honesty.....and his dry sense of humor.

Haven't seen him either, but do miss his post, information, and humor also.

 

[championsumatra]

Quote: yes I am aware of this myself. I was told by a breeder that another way of helping out with the yellow on their feet is alfalfa. When my sumatra's go into a heavy molt or heavy egg production I give them alfalfa, it seems to work just as well as corn dose in bring back the yellow. This bird was in heavy egg production all I had to do was give her alfalfa every other day.

 

[NWSumatras]

yes I am aware of this myself. I was told by a breeder that another way of helping out with the yellow on their feet is alfalfa. When my sumatra's go into a heavy molt or heavy egg production I give them alfalfa, it seems to work well in bring back the yellow.

Yes alfalfa works great! There is a boat load of things that will brighten the yellow pigment, some of those are corn, carrots, and what works best for me and is free, is to use fresh grasses with lots of weeds such as clover in it ( very much like alfalfa but fresh).

 

[championsumatra]

Quote: I have never tried carrots, I will have to try it out.

Quote: I wish we had the grass. Right know the grass is drown. By now the grass should be green but this year has been a below normal dry year for us.

 

[NWSumatras]

Oh no sorry to hear its dry out, in fact its dry up here too. Us Washingtonians are not use to it lol. I guess alfalfa would be your best bet down there right now.

 

[championsumatra]

Quote: This is what our native grass looks like when it is green.



And this is what the grass looks like now.