Sumatra Thread!

[ramirezframing]

Raph, hows the chicks doing? Have you seen this "dewlap" skin on any sumatras over where you are, if so is it on a lot or a few birds? Hope you're having a great summer.

 

[Puddin Fluff]

Hi all. I have a maturity question: my other breeds from the same hatch are beginning to turn red in the comb/face.! They are on 4 months old. How will I know if my Sumatra girl is getting clse to POL? I will be looking for squat behavior but curious about physical changes. Thanks.

 

[ramirezframing]

Most of my hens do not end up with red in the face and their combs stay small. I guess if you handle your birds, they might squat for you. Mine don't squat, they run from me, which is fine by me. I either notice a new egg, or I get too many in a day so I know someone new is laying. Good luck.

 

[Coop Scoop Boogie]

My pols are like ramirezframing in that they aren't that red in the
face or comb. I also find the Sumatra is not as submissive in
behavior as other breeds so no squatting and they are a fairly
active breed. If I see one starting to spend more time around
the nest boxes or staying closer and longer time next to the roosters,
then I figure they are close to laying. Good luck.

 

[raph]

Raph, hows the chicks doing? Have you seen this "dewlap" skin on any sumatras over where you are, if so is it on a lot or a few birds? Hope you're having a great summer.

The chicks are doing very well! Do you guys remember the chicks I hatched in April? They were Sussex, they are quite big now, I'm pleased with their progress. The chicks a hen hatched on the 9th of July are growing well but not as good as my most recent hatch.
I've noticed that two of my Sumatra chicks have brown feathers appearing, I am having no luck with the Sumatra's, I haven't kept anything I've bred because they've all been single combed or have brown feathers.

I haven't seen a Sumatra with dewlap skin before, So far I haven't even seen another large Sumatra cockerel in Ireland. I've only seen one other Large Sumatra hen so far.

I haven't had too bad a summer, on Monday I'm going to get wood and finish my big coop.

How are all your fowls?
and how are all of you?

These are the Sussex chicks which are coming along nicely.



The Sumatra chicks with their mum



The picture below shows the slight brown coming through, you might have to squint to see it!

 

[ramirezframing]

Glad to hear that your sussex are doing good. Do you plan on showing any of your sussex? Sorry to hear about the sumatra chicks, maybe the eggs were are a mix from before you got them? I'd try again once you know that the sumatra hens have only been with the sumatra rooster for at least a month and see what happens then.

Good luck on finishing up your coop, you'll have to post pictures if you don't mind.

 

[troyer]

This is the way I like them, friendly and curious, but not deadbeats either. 1/2 Sumatra, 3/8 Cubalaya, 1/16 dark Cornish and 1/16 Sebright.

 

[Coop Scoop Boogie]

This is the way I like them, friendly and curious, but not deadbeats either. 1/2 Sumatra, 3/8 Cubalaya, 1/16 dark Cornish and 1/16 Sebright.

Yes.......that is what I think active is....not a deadbeat but not running in fear either.
DH loves the blue Sumatra rooster I got as the rooster has a very nice personality and
does not challenge anyone when we collect eggs. DH is always telling to give a good
compliment to the breeder......very nice bird.

Your pullet is looking good.....is she getting close to the color of blue you are looking
for in the Cubalayas? Is her tail down so she can balance or is she close to that tail set
she needs Cubalaya? Either way she is a good looking bird.

 

[troyer]

Yes.......that is what I think active is....not a deadbeat but not running in fear either.
DH loves the blue Sumatra rooster I got as the rooster has a very nice personality and
does not challenge anyone when we collect eggs. DH is always telling to give a good
compliment to the breeder......very nice bird.

Your pullet is looking good.....is she getting close to the color of blue you are looking
for in the Cubalayas? Is her tail down so she can balance or is she close to that tail set
she needs Cubalaya? Either way she is a good looking bird.

She is the color that I am looking for. Her tail is that low for balance, she normally holds it a bit above horizontal. Her beak is way too long for a Cubalaya, but she is worth holding on to for further evaluation as she matures. Her legs are not yellow, but rather a blu-ish/slate color.

 

[Coop Scoop Boogie]

She is the color that I am looking for. Her tail is that low for balance, she normally holds it a bit above horizontal. Her beak is way too long for a Cubalaya, but she is worth holding on to for further evaluation as she matures. Her legs are not yellow, but rather a blu-ish/slate color.

Would she be good for furthering the program into the next generation?
Maybe if you have a rooster with a tad low tail, she would be a good cross
back to him? It's worth a try to keep the color genetics.