The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Miss Lydia]

I know I know!! I said I was not going to post any more pictures. I am such a liar!

 

[Sally8]

delisha, as far as I'm concerned you can post as many pic of your chicks as you would like to. I never get tired of looking at them.

I have a silly question, we all have chickens that are Orps or Silkies or Cochins or whatever. But there is no paperwork stating that 6 generations ago there wasn't a Marans in with the Orps or whatever. Do you all go by the look? Dogs, horses, even cats have a paper trail with their bloodline. Do you just follow the SOP for that breed without ever knowing the history? Forgive me for asking such a stupid question but I've almost asked this several times but was afraid that it was as silly as it sounds.

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

I would like this thread to stay open, so much good info on it. So please, let's just keep BYC stuff on topic. Thanks

delisha, as far as I'm concerned you can post as many pic of your chicks as you would like to. I never get tired of looking at them.

I have a silly question, we all have chickens that are Orps or Silkies or Cochins or whatever. But there is no paperwork stating that 6 generations ago there wasn't a Marans in with the Orps or whatever. Do you all go by the look? Dogs, horses, even cats have a paper trail with their bloodline. Do you just follow the SOP for that breed without ever knowing the history? Forgive me for asking such a stupid question but I've almost asked this several times but was afraid that it was as silly as it sounds.

Not a stupid question Sally8, I think some very well known breeders may keep records. I assume most simply go by SOP.

 

[delisha]

delisha, as far as I'm concerned you can post as many pic of your chicks as you would like to. I never get tired of looking at them.

I have a silly question, we all have chickens that are Orps or Silkies or Cochins or whatever. But there is no paperwork stating that 6 generations ago there wasn't a Marans in with the Orps or whatever. Do you all go by the look? Dogs, horses, even cats have a paper trail with their bloodline. Do you just follow the SOP for that breed without ever knowing the history? Forgive me for asking such a stupid question but I've almost asked this several times but was afraid that it was as silly as it sounds.

Not silly at all
The SOP is what is used to judge how close the bird is to what it is supost to be.

The chances of some other breed being in the background of a Heritage breed is quite real. Many breeds have several other breeds in them. Go to a reputable breeder.

New development of color variations are used with different breeds.

Keeping and breeding back to and with your birds that are close to the SOP is what the objective should be.
The hard part is getting consistency.

 

[Ashdoes]

delisha, as far as I'm concerned you can post as many pic of your chicks as you would like to. I never get tired of looking at them.

I have a silly question, we all have chickens that are Orps or Silkies or Cochins or whatever. But there is no paperwork stating that 6 generations ago there wasn't a Marans in with the Orps or whatever. Do you all go by the look? Dogs, horses, even cats have a paper trail with their bloodline. Do you just follow the SOP for that breed without ever knowing the history? Forgive me for asking such a stupid question but I've almost asked this several times but was afraid that it was as silly as it sounds.

I think most of us go by what the person selling the chickens is saying. I bought Cochins when I knew nothing but what they looked like on the Internet. I kind of just had to trust the lady I got them from.
There are some breeds that, because of the money involved, I wouldn't buy without solid paperwork. Like Delisha with her imports...I'm sure she didn't just take whatever they threw at her. She researched to make sure she was getting SOP and buying from an honest, solid source. Right?

 

[delisha]

You are correct

I did my homework. It took me months to find these birds.

I purchased from a Marc Sare. He is a well known, well established import specialist in fowl and horses. He came highly recommended. He purchased from well known, well established lines that are both wanted and needed in the US. My birds are exceptional quality. The color alone is hard to get. My black Orpingtons color is pitch black all the way down to the base. Her under coat and fluff is so nice and dark right to her skin. She does not have that traditional washed out look on her skirt. It is black, black.
My blues have such beautiful patterns. It is so nice and wide and even. I am amazed at the quality of these birds. They are not perfect. The cockerel has an extra point. His tail is too high. I just simply love theses birds, every time I pick them up and show condition them I like them more.

 

[jlynnet]

Found the Thermo Cube we were talking about a couple days ago. At Home Depot. It took the asking of four clerks including the lady at the information desk. I couldn't remember what these were called and the first three employees had no idea what they were or if they carried them. So then had to wait around another 1/2 hour while the guy that knew what it was tried to find it. In the plumbing department of all places. But... I bought one. $13. We stopped at Ace Hardware two blocks away from Home Depot on the way home and they were selling them for $19 !!!

I've had a Thermo Cube hooked up to my heated dog bowl. The bowl only froze when the cube was bad. My bowls are inside and this works great. The bowl holds a gallon of water. The cube can be tough to plug in, not sure why it's such a tight fit. I o recommend using it, just kep the package in case it fails. I also raise the bowl to level they can just reach to keep it clean. I have one under the nest boxes, which keeps the girls from climbing on the edge.

 

[stonykill]

I would like this thread to stay open, so much good info on it. So please, let's just keep BYC stuff on topic. Thanks

yup... well said. Thank you all for your cooperation.

 

[Fred's Hens]

I think most of us go by what the person selling the chickens is saying. I bought Cochins when I knew nothing but what they looked like on the Internet. I kind of just had to trust the lady I got them from.
There are some breeds that, because of the money involved, I wouldn't buy without solid paperwork. Like Delisha with her imports...I'm sure she didn't just take whatever they threw at her. She researched to make sure she was getting SOP and buying from an honest, solid source. Right?

Reputation of the breeder is paramount. The birds bred by a breeder will be shown, where they will be judged. Most good breeders never out breed. It can take 8-10 years to get rid of a mistake, and sometimes, the mistake is never un-done. The famous names of many breed strains date back 40-100 years. No outbreeding, ever.

Birds don't have paperwork. This is the purpose of the top notch shows. Again, a good reputation is hard to earn, but easy to lose.

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

I don't recall anything saying what we could or could not talk about in PRIVATE messages.

The Mod's didn't say anything, but they can access them and remove just like on the threads, and since this is such a hot topic they may be watching PM's too? I just don't want this thread closed, too much good stuff for us "new to peeps".

Quote: