Whiting True Blue Chat Thread!

[ChickNanny13]

6wks today

 

[urbanhenhouse]

@urbanhenhouse ... I've been reading about the skittish/flighty good foragers, nothing about the "prolapse & shell thickness". What are you feeding? Layer? Oyster Shells?

Apologies for delayed response! I'm not sure I can attribute it to the breed as a whole, but for the couple I've had, it's been a problem. Fed them same as all the other girls - layer pellets, plenty of oyster shells and grit, kitchen scraps, grubbies for extra protein during moult, and nutrients in their water when it is exceptionally hot. Never had the egg problems / prolapse problems with anyone else.

 

[ChickNanny13]

@urbanhenhouse No aplogies needed, we all get busy and thank you for taking the time to reply. Interesting & good to know, I got 2WTB & 2WTG that are about 6wks old now. I'm more into Pets with Benefits ... Will see how they turn out, so far they're fun.
Thank you.

 

[mdguffey]

i have been raising WTB for about 3 years, i get mine direct from the Whiting hatchery from a acquaintance who goes there yearly. i do love these birds but they are a very difficult bird, i think they are much more flighty then most and are a more fragile bird then most.

 

[lovingmyhens]

i have been raising WTB for about 3 years, i get mine direct from the Whiting hatchery from a acquaintance who goes there yearly. i do love these birds but they are a very difficult bird, i think they are much more flighty then most and are a more fragile bird then most.

That’s very interesting! I’ve got a flock of 18 and my WTB is one of those. She’s my only WTB and so far seems to be just like everyone else! No problems thus far.

 

[ChickNanny13]

My girls are going on to 14wks Monday. They are confined in their Chicken House (8x12x7), open air, huge dog house for nest box. I don't find them flighty & all but one comes running when I enter their enclosure. When they were "younger" I'd sit in their mobile run, all would jump on my back/shoulder ... They do like height but still sleeping on the ground in front of the door, during the day they're up on the roosts. Read how they're foragers but find these don't dig as much & deep as other breeds I've had. Really liking these, looks & personalities.

Possibly the difference between breeder & hatchery stock?

First two are the WTG, that first one had me biting nails early on suspecting it was a cockerel & also the "standoffish" one. The last two are the WTB, one turned out muffed & the friendliest.

 

[ChickNanny13]

WTGs started laying at 20wks, one green & the other pinkish brown but they are consistant layers. Still waiting on the WTB (24wks on Jan 6th).

 

[shessowitte]

WTGs started laying at 20wks, one green & the other pinkish brown but they are consistant layers. Still waiting on the WTB (24wks on Jan 6th).
View attachment 1995294

Pretty chickens! I’m guessing the one with the black tail and straight comb laid the tan egg? Let us see when you start getting blue eggs!!

 

[Dharmachick]

I hatched WTBs this year for the first time! I have 8 chicks and I got the eggs from a breeder. Of the first 4, I have 2 pullets, maybe 3, and 1 or 2 cocks. The 2nd hatch are 2 weeks old today. The 2nd hatch are in with my 10 BCM chicks, and are shyer than the wild Marans. I'm excited to have these!

 

[ChickNanny13]

Pretty chickens! I’m guessing the one with the black tail and straight comb laid the tan egg? Let us see when you start getting blue eggs!!

"Red" (pic 2) laid the green egg #3 ... The "Speckle" (pic 1) laid the brown egg #1 ... "Dark" (pic 4) lays the smaller blue egg #2 ... "Grey" (pic 3) lays the narrow blue egg #4.

The other two started laying few days later ....