The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I always like hatchery stock. I bought from a breeder before. The birds are pretty, but we're always broody and don't lay much. They are also like zombies and don't forage well, and just stand in the shed, but now that I think about it zombies are probably better foragers than these show bred birds. But this was only from one guy. From now on hatchery stock for me unless they are bantam, which are broody no matter the source.

 

[Leahs Mom]

How 'bout heritage vs. general breeder?

 

[curious chickee]

How 'bout heritage vs. general breeder?

Depends on what you want. General breeders are not much different from hatchery regarding type of stock, many started with hatchery birds. I consider myself a general breeder for my layers, I have mixed breeds from hatchery (few heritage thrown in for looks), mutts make great layers. I also breed heritage have my brahmas which are bred to the SOP and shown. I have another friend who started with hatchery stock 4 breeds and had breeding pens for each, she hatches out all the chicks she can and sells, tries to use it as her money maker for college. Some heritage breeders just buy heritage stock and breed as many as possible not focusing on the SOP.

Best answer would be know the breeder and know what your goal is.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Yes definitely ask what traits they are breeding for. My guy was a breeder for 4h show chickens, so production wasn't a consideration.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Good points all.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Having a better afternoon around here with cockerels.

I have penned the SFH guy I thought I was going to keep indoors. He's just too aggressive and the Buckeye kids are in danger around him.

I kept the #2 SFH choice penned outside during the day on Monday, Tuesday and today. I didn't want any cockerels chasing females in the heat and causing heat stroke.

In the afternoon I was letting the Buckeye kids out to run while I was home. I haven't let either of the sfh cockerels out as I was concerned for the safety of the Buckeye kids.

Today, I decided to open the the gate on sfh #2 - We shall call him Mr. Green. All his sfh pullet hatch-mates immediately went into the pen with him and they hung out in there with the gate completely open. So....I decided to let out the Buckeyes.

So far it's been going pretty well. Only issue with Mr. Green Band toward the Buckeye kids was normal "stay-out-of-my-space" stuff. No overt "I'm-going-to-kill-you" aggression.

He's a lucky man...I had decided to process both those cockerels and get an shf boy next spring. He will remain a lucky man if he keeps behaving as he is right now. We shall see. He's 1 week younger than the other guy I was going to keep and isn't "randy" yet. His outlook may change after he kicks into gear depending on his demeanor toward the Buckeyes.



Here's a photo. He's not my favorite color of sfh...the other guy is much more to my liking. But "looks aren't everything" and the other guy is "too sexy for his comb"

Wings look funny because he's holding them away from body in the heat.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

To me he is gorgeous. Hopefully he behaves. The girls liking him is a good sign.

 

[Leahs Mom]

And the Buckeyes not living in terror is another

 

[Leahs Mom]

I will have 2 Buckeye cockerels available for someone that might want a flock roo.

These are from a breeder in the Indy area. I have 3 boys and will only be keeping one. I'm only interested in re-homing to someone that wants to keep them for a flock roo. Otherwise we will process them for ourselves.

These kids are 14 weeks on Friday.

I've never had Buckeyes before so I don't have any experience with demeanor as they become adults. However, these kids are the friendliest, most gentle kiddos I've had around. I'm hoping that demeanor sticks.


I don't ship but if anyone is anywhere near and interested you can let me know. Buckeyes are reputed for being cold-hardy and even good mousers!

Here are a couple photos from this afternoon.

 

[galefrances]

Anyone have SLW?

If so, what is their demeanor?  Ability to forage?  Ability to get along well with other birds?

Did you get them via hatchery or breeder?

I'm not sure how helpful my observations can be due to my inexperience, but I had two SLW a few years ago with my first flock. I got them from My Pet Chicken. I've always had good experiences with them. Anyway, they were good size birds, beautiful too. At that time I didn't free range so they were confined so I can't speak to their foraging ability. But they got along well with the flock. I'd say they were middle of the road. The RIR were at the top and my BR at the bottom of the pecking order. The SLW were calm around humans and tolerated being picked up but weren't happy about it either. I liked the breed and I have a pullet now that's about 8 wks. I've just started integrating this group with my adult hens and so far they haven't ventured out of the run so her foraging ability is still to know. They sure are pretty birds. She's getting along well with this new group.

BTW: thanks to Leahsmom and oldhenslikedogs for advice previously. I used Leah's idea for fencing to separate my run to integrate the two groups and oldhenslikedogs for her input on integrating age and roo behavior. The fencing is a breeze to open and roll away and the integration is going well. The roo pretty much ignores them as you said and everyone gives everybody their space. My BR tends to put the pullets in their place, but it's more like a mother, not mean. I think I'm pretty fortunate as I've never had a problem integrating as I've heard others have. Thanks to all the good advice on BYC and especially this thread.