The Quack Shack

[Trimurtisan]

Okay... Someone please help enlighten me. Why when looking at pictures of game fowl do a lot of them have leg tethers on them? Is that just a common method of keeping them separated, or is there an underlining reason I'm just not understanding? If you can't walk, you can't fight?

To me, this looks more damaging to the bird than anything. I mean hand tied poly... I can't imagine it being comfortable never the less a proper restraint... I am a big softy though, so what do I know?

 

[rjohns39]

Morning folks

I just looked up blackhead, and it looks terrifying. How would I go about knowing if I have it in my soil?

Chris, you're gonna hate my answer. You can check with the state vet and see if there are reported problems in your area. But the only way I know of to find out for certain is get turkeys.

 

[Trimurtisan]

Morning Bob

Chris, you're gonna hate my answer.

Your right!
I'll make a few calls today and see what I can find out.The more I learn about poultry, the more I realize just how easy my dogs are to care for.

 

[quackiemama]

Thanks Quackiemomma! Everytime I look at Pip, she looks all that more like a proper lady, just with feathers and fuzz.

DO IT! DO IT! DO IT!​

BYC is not the place for people with no willpower. I feel like a perfect example of that statement!

What kind of duck is that in your avatar? They are very pretty.

You know I will, I just have to convince the hubs with my big brown eyes! He says it is really hard to say no to me. Ha! However I do need him to help with shelter, etc....
The ducks in my avatar are my runners. Ginger, Maryann and Lovey (aka Mrs. Howell)

 

[Miss Lydia]

They are precious girls!

 

[Trimurtisan]

You know I will, I just have to convince the hubs with my big brown eyes! He says it is really hard to say no to me. Ha! However I do need him to help with shelter, etc....
The ducks in my avatar are my runners. Ginger, Maryann and Lovey (aka Mrs. Howell)

I absolutely love the names! Although I am now feeling like we've had this chat. So many pretty birds to keep up with around here... Lol, I'm lucky to just be able to tell my own Pekins apart. >.<

 

[quackiemama]

LOL I know what you mean. There are a lot of birds and folks to keep up with. I agree about the pekins. I have to find differences in each one of my young pekin ladies. Mostly I can tell by their personalities.

 

[quackiemama]

They are precious girls!

You know I love them to pieces!

 

[Trimurtisan]

Alright, so I've mentioned wanting larger birds, and also that I like game fowl. I've also recently really wanted turkeys if that was not obvious. Going with Bob's advice, I'd rather hatch the turkeys, but agree I should hatch chicken first... So...

I just pulled the trigger on some O Shamo hatching eggs! I found a breeder in MO that after communicating with I feel comfortable going with. One who would actually talk with me and answer my questions, all of them. His are the traditional wheaten, and very tall with his largest/oldest rooster standing 35 inches tall. He also said he breeds for good temperament, having 3 rooster live together in harmony (siblings). He did say 2 rooster of the same age/size will still likely want to fight if they are not socialized though. I was told other animals like dogs & cats will normally draw more aggression than their flock mates.

He even addressed the foot tethering I asked about here. He summed it up to people basically chaining them up like dogs. A way to not build a coop, and assured me his chickens where not kept that way.

I've wanted game fowl for a while now, more so than most typical domestic chickens, although @ButtonquailGirl14 has a blue laced red wyandotte cockerel that's so cute I've been looking in to them too.

Anywho, here is a bit of info on the breed history, and some explaining between the different Shamo breeds (breeds or lines? not sure of the right term there)
https://livestockconservancy.org/index.php/heritage/internal/shamo

This is one of his breeder roosters. He also claims his line has never been out-crossed and breeds true to standard, which is actually only 3 colors. Most of the O Shamo ads have an awful lot of none standard colors. Beautiful still, but not fitting any standard I can find. Thanks @rjohns39 for pointing out the livestock conservancy to me, I would have never know the standards to begin with.

 

[Trimurtisan]

So I put a standard 3.5 inch nursery pot in the Serama/Silkie pen and Annie has been playing and pecking that thing for a good 30 minutes. They're just like children. Give them expensive toys and all they want to do is play with a paper disposable cup...