The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

Man.... I want one of those (bard

) rock hens you have (with the nice backs that look like standard). Is Jagger a BR also?

 

[Bulldogma]

so did this thread take the place of the 2 that were lockeddown by beekissed?

I don't think anything could take the place of those two threads... but... this thread has been a great place to keep up with many of the folks that frequented those threads. All are welcome - and we hope everyone will share!

 

[aoxa]

Man.... I want one of those (bard

) rock hens you have (with the nice backs that look like standard). Is Jagger a BR also?

Jagger is a production type Barred Rock yes. His sister is one of my best layers, but is also a terrific broody. Raised 21 chicks in one go this summer (shared duties with a silkie).

Let's do a side by side since I have both heritage and production type.

 

[JeffOeuf]

My untrained eye sees less difference in the hens than in the roosters. The more distinctive barring and arced tail feathers on the heritage rooster look impressive.

 

[aoxa]

My untrained eye sees less difference in the hens than in the roosters. The more distinctive barring and arced tail feathers on the heritage rooster look impressive.

Thanks

There are much better strains out there in the US. But here that hen there has taken BB for Plymouth Rock at our provincial show. She beat out the rooster pictured.

Here is one more example.. First production hen's daughter.


Notice how her barring is almost incomplete?



and the other BR heritage hen. This one is not as big as her sister.

But you're right about the type being closer to one-another. Jagger has squirrel tail, so his tail is held very erect. It should not be that way.

 

[delisha]

Very nice pictures. You can really tell production from heritage. How do they compare for mothers and egg laying?

 

[aoxa]

Very nice pictures. You can really tell production from heritage. How do they compare for mothers and egg laying?

Egg laying - so far comparable. Mothering.. Production 1, Heritage 0. Though the heritage girls started laying in September-October, so I would not discount it.

The bigger heritage hen shows broody behaviour. She is very protective of her nest and eggs until she is finished. She's a screecher.

The production hens come in to lay much quicker than the heritage hens. 4-8 weeks sooner so far.

 

[JeffOeuf]

Do you have more pictures of the heritage rooster? He looks like quite a bird.

 

[stonykill]

I find that very interesting

 

[Leahs Mom]

lumber is pressure treated after it is planed. As for sneezing etc..... could be a few things. A high concentration of saw dust in the shavings. That is bad especially for ducks. The lumber yard I speak of only does pine. But in my shop I add shavings from oak and birch often mixed in with the pine without issue.

As the yard what they mill or what they just milled. Whatever they just milled will be at the top of the pile. If they just planed cedar...move on. If they just milled pine buy some up!

Oh...so that means that the chemical treatment shouldn't be an issue in the shavings if I understand you correctly!