The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

As an FYI Walt and Fred have been talking about the chicken classes over on the heritage thread.... Like they were discussing before the OT thread shut down

Why thank you. I really enjoy Fred's quizzes! Can you send me the link to the correct thread again? Somehow I've lost that.

 

[Mumsy]

Where does this one come from? (I'm thinking of buying the SOP...) But...I'd love to see photos of REAL chickens that meet SOP...does a book of that exist?

The SOP gives images and descriptions of every detail of every breed that is recognized and that of disqualification details as well. I won't post images from my book because of copyright infringement. If anyone plans on showing their chickens they should buy a copy and study it. I have old copies but they still are valid for my purposes.
The images of general conformation I have been posting are of general interest to the average chicken owner or casual breeder. For showing, that is a whole other thing.

 

[Bulldogma]

I'm on it! Let me get my thoughts, books, and periodicals together. I have a LOT of information from wayyyy back to go through. I have so many piles of stuff it's almost embarrassing. Almost...Hah!

Fantastic!

I'd love to talk about some general disqualifications on every breed like split wing and squirrel tail as well as wry tail.

Oooo even crooked beak. Yeah.. All of those are genetic traits to. Not something you want passed down!

Yes - would absolutely want to hear about all of this. I think the conformation subject could make for quite a few posts for the blog, so feel free to talk about just one or two things at a time. It will be less confusing for readers that way too.

Ok then! I don't want to step on copy right toes so I won't say where I got a lot of my stuff. Let's just say I've been collecting it for many years from many places, countries, and such.
Here is a little taste. Let me know if this is what you have in mind.

I love the diversity!

Wonderful - the one thing will be that I can't post any photos or illustrations on the blog by other people or organizations unless we have permission to do so. That said, given a few hours with my art tablet, I can make these illustrations "our own" so to speak - as in change them enough so as not to cross copyright boundaries. I'm just cool like that... (*pauses to listen to the sound of crickets*)

But joking aside, this is exactly the stuff I'd love to see, and I will be happy to rework some illustrations.

 

[mrsamplias]

I wanted to let everyone know we have 8 roosters processed this morning. Total time is around 3 hours. First two weren't as quick as I would have liked, but by #3 I had it down perfect. I am very proud of myself. I bet my girls are happy as well. That's 8 less roosters to jump them. 8 less roosters crowing and fighting. Not that they were doing that yet, but it was a matter of time.

proud of you too!!

 

[aoxa]

Fantastic!

Yes - would absolutely want to hear about all of this. I think the conformation subject could make for quite a few posts for the blog, so feel free to talk about just one or two things at a time. It will be less confusing for readers that way too.

Wonderful - the one thing will be that I can't post any photos or illustrations on the blog by other people or organizations unless we have permission to do so. That said, given a few hours with my art tablet, I can make these illustrations "our own" so to speak - as in change them enough so as not to cross copyright boundaries. I'm just cool like that... (*pauses to listen to the sound of crickets*)

But joking aside, this is exactly the stuff I'd love to see, and I will be happy to rework some illustrations.

I'd love to see you make some original sketches!! That would be so neat!

I have some real life models for ya


Pea




Walnut (it should be this small - but I have a rooster with a big walnut comb and it's obvious why they call it a wallnut comb)


Defects.. Folded combs are defects in certain breeds. Marge here is a good example. I find it gives her character.

Squirrel tail next to rooster without the defect.

 

[Mumsy]

Fantastic!

Yes - would absolutely want to hear about all of this. I think the conformation subject could make for quite a few posts for the blog, so feel free to talk about just one or two things at a time. It will be less confusing for readers that way too.

Wonderful - the one thing will be that I can't post any photos or illustrations on the blog by other people or organizations unless we have permission to do so. That said, given a few hours with my art tablet, I can make these illustrations "our own" so to speak - as in change them enough so as not to cross copyright boundaries. I'm just cool like that... (*pauses to listen to the sound of crickets*)

But joking aside, this is exactly the stuff I'd love to see, and I will be happy to rework some illustrations.

Great to hear! If you need any help with that let me know. I have the time and like to doodle as well.

 

[Mumsy]

Here are some more images we can work with.







Plymouth Rock male and Rhode Island Red female. Next: Maran male North Holland Blue female. I have a lot of these if you want to see more.

 

[mbmess2003]

Why thank you.  I really enjoy Fred's quizzes!  Can you send me the link to the correct thread again?  Somehow I've lost that.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/400344/heritage-large-fowl-thread/9550#post_10169345

 

[Bulldogma]

Aoxa - great photos as usual! These kinds of photos would make wonderful examples!

Great to hear! If you need any help with that let me know. I have the time and like to doodle as well.

Oh yes! Please do doodle!

Here are some more images we can work with.







Plymouth Rock male and Rhode Island Red female. Next: Maran male North Holland Blue female. I have a lot of these if you want to see more.

I'm looking forward to learning more about all these conformation traits! I know horses pretty darn well, but poultry... not so much... yet - LOL!

 

[SandBsmom]

Hey natural chicken keepers. Here's a question for you.
What do you all do about rats? My coop and coop yard are pretty secure as far as bigger predators but these darn rats keep digging cavernous tunnels under my fence line. I keep feed locked up inside the coop at night and picked up on the ground though I'm sure there's always some scratch left in the dirt for them to find. Whenever I see a hole I fill it with 1 1/2 inch minus rock but they even dig that out if the way. I'm a little freaked out after reading everyone's stories about possums and weasels etc. sneaking in through tiny holes. I keep bait boxes outside the coop and have tried spreading red pepper flakes around but I feel like I'm in constant battle. Does anyone have any great solutions?

Also I'm so excited you are all talking confirmation. I would like to start showing and am curious if any of my girls could even compete.