Sumatra Thread!

[applebutter14]

i have a cock and a hen.. i got them from murray mcmurray hatchery, and they dont say they are rare... you can pick male and female breeeds, too. unlike most hatcheries they sell them in st.run

 

[ramirezframing]

...............That's the issue with a lot of these breeds, and why I don't really consider them endangered. It's all in the description of how they classify them. It's been awhile since I looked, but when I did they were labeled as such because they go by breeders who stand up and say I have these and these breeders have to have so many breeding birds of the same breed to count. Instead I go by how hard is it to find good breeding quality birds of that breed and or how many do you tend to see at shows. Lots of hatcheries will sell sexed or unsexed sumatras and other hard to find breeds, so in that sense those breeds are not all that rare, but try to find some of those same breeds in breeding quality or the show room and you won't find them.

Take my lakenvelders, lots of hatcheries, if not all, sell the silvers. Some years ago only 1 or 2 sold the goldens, now a lot sell the goldens. So I can't say they are endangered, but besides for mine, I've never seen LF lakenvelders at a show in person. I have seen where there were a few at Ohio Nats. last year through pictures and even got lucky enough to see a few bantams at another show in person. But to find breeding stock of lakenvelders is like pulling hens teeth. The sumatras are better off than a lot of other breeds in that respect, as it is easier to find some breeding stock in them.

Just to be clear, there is nothing wrong with hatchery birds or show birds, but there is a difference in size alone much less elsewhere. It still gets me how much of a size difference there is between hatchery birds and breeder birds.

 

[plmcmillan]

Do Sumatra cockerels feather out faster than pullets? I have 9 chicks that are 4 weeks old. 3 still don't have feathered shoulders or tails. The other six have long tails and all but chest and head feathers. Did I pick out mostly roos? :-(

 

[Emmadouglas]

Hi there. We recently added two Sumatrans to our coop but find they end up on these. House roof every night and aren't keen to go in the hen house with the others. We don't want to upset them by moving them but worry that they will be cold outside all night. They are in a completely enclosed enclosure so are safe and I have tried to put a plastic cover over the part they perch on. Do you have any idea about how I should proceed. I can't think of how to make a higher he. House for them. Thanks in advance. Emma

 

[ramirezframing]

If they are cold, they will go in. I wouldn't worry about them since they are in an enclosed pen.

 

[chicken farmer]

Any tips on raising sumatra chicks? I've never had sumatras before and got 2 with my order from Murray Mcmurray Hatchery and they seem to always be the most fragile and one laready died and I got one left. I really want to raise them but this keeps happening with them. Any tips?

 

[ramirezframing]

I always lose a few chicks each year, and not just sumatra chicks. After all these years I now look at it as if they make it great, if not oh well I obviously didn't need that chick. I give them clean feed and water, keep the brooder/ area clean and when it's time (weather wise) for them to go outside, I watch for signs of cocci. But if the weather is good enough, the chicks go right out side on the ground and I don't seem to have a cocci problem. Hope your chick makes it, good luck.

 

[applebutter14]

i love this thread!!!

 

[Chrysolinsbirds]

Can't wait, I'm getting eggs in May =)

 

[Chrysolinsbirds]

Hi there. We recently added two Sumatrans to our coop but find they end up on these. House roof every night and aren't keen to go in the hen house with the others. We don't want to upset them by moving them but worry that they will be cold outside all night. They are in a completely enclosed enclosure so are safe and I have tried to put a plastic cover over the part they perch on. Do you have any idea about how I should proceed. I can't think of how to make a higher he. House for them. Thanks in advance. Emma

Scoop them up after dark and place in the hen house for several nights in a row =) good luck