the sultan thread

[cluck-cluck]

Yah, hopefully the others won't be affected? Did you get the meds? I hope the roo will be ok!

 

[cluck-cluck]

Ugh, except for the two cockerels that crow every morning, I can't tell who is a boy or a girl? I haven't heard "Charlie" crow, and the one I have with the other two roos hasn't crowed. I just assume they're cockerels because they have red in their beaks and combs. This is so frustrating!

I also wish there was more information on these birds. I read that they had to be recreated in the US on this thread because they had gone extinct, but I don't think that's right? Natural Eye said they went extinct in Australia, so maybe the information is just getting mixed up?

Is it desirable to have as much feathering around the legs and feet as possible, or?

Finally, LOL, I gotta say that my sultans don't seem much different from any other chicken, LOL. Actually, my Crevecoeurs are a bit more friendly. And my Sultans won't try anything new. They will only eat their chick mash, that's it! No yogurt (I've tried 6 times), bread, turkey, grass, nada! The few times they accidentally escaped the cage, they just sat there, didn't try to run away at all, I kinda thought that was funny! No curiosity, and I don't think that's due to sight, LOL.

Anybody else have some observations of their Sultans? My two fer sure cockerels first crowed at 5 to 5.5 weeks of age. Think I have other cockerels, but haven't caught them crowing yet.

Oh, one more thing. Is it of any help to be propagating bantam sultans or do they not count as helping save the breed? Stupid question but since I found out they were so endangered, I kinda got to thinking it'd be nice to keep a viable healthy flock going.........? But I think that only the standard size counts, no?

Oh, finally,I read somewhere that some people use electrical tape to tie up their crests so they can see without cutting the feathers?? Have any of you ever done that?

 

[hokankai]

Ugh, except for the two cockerels that crow every morning, I can't tell who is a boy or a girl? I haven't heard "Charlie" crow, and the one I have with the other two roos hasn't crowed. I just assume they're cockerels because they have red in their beaks and combs. This is so frustrating!

As you should. Females don't start to show red until they are near laying. Mine is just finally getting red and she's about 6 months old. Not all will crow, because the more dominant roos tend to be the crowers and the rest will keep quiet. It really depends on the personality of the bird.

I also wish there was more information on these birds. I read that they had to be recreated in the US on this thread because they had gone extinct, but I don't think that's right? Natural Eye said they went extinct in Australia, so maybe the information is just getting mixed up?

I have no idea about this. I don't show, and won't, so I never really cared about finding in depth information...

Is it desirable to have as much feathering around the legs and feet as possible, or?

I believe they are a moderately feather legged breed, not like cochins and silkies. For me I like it when they are evenly covered with good looking vulture hocks.

Finally, LOL, I gotta say that my sultans don't seem much different from any other chicken, LOL. Actually, my Crevecoeurs are a bit more friendly. And my Sultans won't try anything new. They will only eat their chick mash, that's it! No yogurt (I've tried 6 times), bread, turkey, grass, nada! The few times they accidentally escaped the cage, they just sat there, didn't try to run away at all, I kinda thought that was funny! No curiosity, and I don't think that's due to sight, LOL.

Anybody else have some observations of their Sultans? My two fer sure cockerels first crowed at 5 to 5.5 weeks of age. Think I have other cockerels, but haven't caught them crowing yet.

Nope! Mine loves everything and tries everything...LOL! Could be that they don't have older chickens around to show them the ropes...or they just don't care. That should change as they age...or not!

Oh, one more thing. Is it of any help to be propagating bantam sultans or do they not count as helping save the breed? Stupid question but since I found out they were so endangered, I kinda got to thinking it'd be nice to keep a viable healthy flock going.........? But I think that only the standard size counts, no?

Not unless you have quality birds. Breeding birds with poor genes doesn't help.

Oh, finally,I read somewhere that some people use electrical tape to tie up their crests so they can see without cutting the feathers?? Have any of you ever done that?

I haven't seen electrical tape, but I have seen some kind of tape...maybe painters? I think it looks silly and would rather just trim a few feathers than have it looking goofy all the time. http://www.svfrenchbulldogs.com/chic12-15-11 008.jpg

 

[cluck-cluck]

LOL, that does look silly, but in a kinda cute way. Reminds me of a 70's hair do,

You know with the head bands?

 

[hokankai]

Oh gosh, haha. Yeah I'd rather preserve the way they look, since that's why I picked the breed!

I'm really liking my sultan and am looking into hatching some this spring alongside some bantam polish and a few more cochins ^_^

 

[cluck-cluck]

Well I finally caught all three of the cockerels I put aside in another cage (to give away) crowing. So they are all 3 definitely boys. However, the one I think is a boy that I left in with the other birds, and all the other birds have not crowed yet. I wanted to keep my best roo, and Charlie would be the best...er...if he were a he, ROFL. His comb is red but not as red as the other three..... could a pullet of 7 weeks have red in her beak/comb? Urg, so frustrating! Need to get the boys on Craigslist asap, but am afraid to!

 

[hokankai]

Do you have any close up pics? That would be the most helpful. I generally say if they're getting red that early then it's a boy because females don't redden until their hormones kick in close to laying, but if you're not sure there's no harm in holding on for awhile longer. Also, the shape of the comb is a good clue too.

This is a closeup of mine. This is how red she was at 6 months:

 

[cluck-cluck]

Yes, I'll try to post a close up of him. He's gotta be a boy, he has more red than that, LOL

Oh good, I have one here, taken on the 7th:



The others do have a bit more red then he has, and he seems to have more fluff on his forehead... but then again???

About 7 weeks old

 

[hokankai]

do you have any of his actual comb? that's what I meant, sorry

But yeah that red is very suspicious.

 

[cluck-cluck]

Ok, hows this?



I have them in a long home made brooder/cage where it's hard to catch anyone, so I don't handle them much anymore. Charlie was so upset, there was drool that dribbled out of his mouth after I caught him. I was so worried, I mean, it wasn't food, but clear drool, but poor thing, then he was panting. I'm not putting him back until he's more used to me. He's currently riding around on my back in my hoodie LOL, works well!!!