Texas

[Kilsharion]

All the Dorkings I got (st. run) seemed female...their markings just said, "Female"....except some of them were a bit lighter in their colouration. Those I figured were possibly cockerels. I've been watching them - and, it's up in the air. Some of them hardly have any tail feathers starting at all, others have little tail feathers going crazy. At this point, it's just a game of hide and watch.

Though, given how pig headed the little guy was that I put the wing band on, tonight - I'd place money on that one being a cockerel.

 

[Cockle-Dood]

thats one thing i never got to do with these guys. ive done pretty well at keeping them apart...but the barred rocks, lol. but it is something i really plan on doing when i start breeding! cant wait for that! i think i am gonna work on my BA's and definately wanna play with the Langshans as well!

i think i mentioned before that they both complement each other when crossed for feathering tightness and sheen, Plus i really just like the looks and demeanor of the Langshans...and they are different than the norm. seems like BR's and RIR's are all over the place and i want something outta the norm that will still do well in our texan climate.

I am really excited about following along with your dorking project! who knows that might be another project in a while once yall feel like some new blood needs to be introduced! was actually just reading about them in my illustrated poultry guide! I am so glad i got hooked on this way of life {hobby just seems a little demeaning, lol). my babies are growing so quick that im having to rush to keep up with them! 2 days off a week makes it hard to get everything built and set up, but once it is ill be golden.

Im throwing together a small coup/run that will server as a growout pen/ bantam pen. will be a small 4'x4' coup with an attached 4'x8' enclosed run that these guys will live in for a few weeks until im comfortable putting them out in the big coup! im going to attempt to free range these guys but have heard some bad stories about that from grandpa (dw's grampa that has lived on this property since he was born) saying that YEARS ago all their chickens were taken by hawks...i figure that a 7-8lb hen might be a little much for a hawk, and in my experience i havent seen any around these parts. i have seen some coyotes but that was in a rare instance when one of our cattle died giving birth near-by...so we will see. and i have been told that i only learn things one way, and thats the hard way! cant say i totally disagree though.

the plans are there, and the drive is there....just gotta work on the funding and time, but it is what it is and will all come together soon!

 

[Kilsharion]

thats one thing i never got to do with these guys. ive done pretty well at keeping them apart...but the barred rocks, lol. but it is something i really plan on doing when i start breeding! cant wait for that! i think i am gonna work on my BA's and definately wanna play with the Langshans as well!

i think i mentioned before that they both complement each other when crossed for feathering tightness and sheen, Plus i really just like the looks and demeanor of the Langshans...and they are different than the norm. seems like BR's and RIR's are all over the place and i want something outta the norm that will still do well in our texan climate.

I am really excited about following along with your dorking project! who knows that might be another project in a while once yall feel like some new blood needs to be introduced! was actually just reading about them in my illustrated poultry guide! I am so glad i got hooked on this way of life {hobby just seems a little demeaning, lol). my babies are growing so quick that im having to rush to keep up with them! 2 days off a week makes it hard to get everything built and set up, but once it is ill be golden.

Im throwing together a small coup/run that will server as a growout pen/ bantam pen. will be a small 4'x4' coup with an attached 4'x8' enclosed run that these guys will live in for a few weeks until im comfortable putting them out in the big coup! im going to attempt to free range these guys but have heard some bad stories about that from grandpa (dw's grampa that has lived on this property since he was born) saying that YEARS ago all their chickens were taken by hawks...i figure that a 7-8lb hen might be a little much for a hawk, and in my experience i havent seen any around these parts. i have seen some coyotes but that was in a rare instance when one of our cattle died giving birth near-by...so we will see. and i have been told that i only learn things one way, and thats the hard way! cant say i totally disagree though.

the plans are there, and the drive is there....just gotta work on the funding and time, but it is what it is and will all come together soon!

You would be surprised at what a hawk can take down. Especially the ones we have here in Texas. There are a pair of them around where we live. Sitting on the ground, the bigger one's head is ~24" from the ground. They can't carry off the chicken; but, they can attack it and kill it. When they take out prey that is too big to carry off, they generally try to eat it right on the spot. They have been known to decimate chicken flocks, take out house cats, wipe out rabbits in open runs, etc. The ones here in our area killed our neighbours' little dog

 

[Cockle-Dood]

Thats crazy! We still have a good wild bunny population...lots of house cats too. And not to mention my 6 dogs plus the prolly 15 others owned by gramps and uncle...but yeah. Time will tell!

 

[showbarnmom]

I'm so excited! I picked up a little speckled Sussex this morning to add to my lil flock. So now I have one of each of the following OEGB mix, SS, BR, RIR, and an Amerucauna. Tomorrow I'm schexuled to pick up two more. Can't wait to share new pics!

 

[jockeyeba]

I'm so excited! I picked up a little speckled Sussex this morning to add to my lil flock. So now I have one of each of the following OEGB mix, SS, BR, RIR, and an Amerucauna. Tomorrow I'm schexuled to pick up two more. Can't wait to share new pics!

Congrats..I love my 23 month old SS pullet, I pet her everyday, she's the friendliest of the "Dixie Chicks", her, a Welsummer & a Bk. Orpington.

 

[jockeyeba]

Nite all

 

[TattooedKeeper3]

Proof!! Lol!

Welcome CityCraft, this is my favorite thread so far on the site. But maybe I am bias because I live in Texas. Have fun on your chicken adventures, chickens are addicting. LOL the only reason I don't have more is because I can't at the moment. Eventually I'll have by chicken mafia of various breeds. They will be a chicken mafia because they will have dominion over the pasture, with the ducks of course.

 

[TattooedKeeper3]

Thought I'd share the ruckus that I get to enjoy in the morning and evening when I feed The Menagerie their FF. One of the larger keets you see in the video plays mama to the chicks and baby keets (you can see one of the tiny keets toward the end of the video). What a crazy group of cheap therapy (pun definitely intended).

That is just to darn cute. I love walking up to the coops in the morning and everyone greets me with their chirps and peeps and clucks.

 

[TattooedKeeper3]

It would be interesting to see lacing show up. I think he's going to be a black splash white like this guy:



or this one:



The other yellow I think will be a buff/white combo:



And the black one, I'm not sure about...he may grow out of that silver and be pure black or he may be black and silver.

I want some chickens like those so badly. They look great. I have a soft spot for chickens with hairdos. One day when we can have more chickens, they are definitely on my list.