Alternative Chicken In A Box

[animartco]

I will try to remember to post up more photos of them as they grow, have a mind like a sieve at the moment. They certainly aren't camera shy, when I cleaned out the brooder today I put the camera at chick level and they charged it.

Super photo. You can see the movement.

 

[ncotb]

Lovely pics, how are they looking now?

 

[dinosaw]

This is them now, 22 weeks old I think and they are bulking up a bit now, the whitestar crosses are showing some comb development but I think in all probability it will be spring before I see any eggs now. The welsummer and goldline crosses both suffered from cocciodosis so are a few weeks behind, but given that I am quite happy with where they are at. The whitestar X favs in particular have fantastic temperaments, they're very friendly birds which came as a bit of a surprise with all that leghorn blood in them, they are all great characters though and fantastic wasp hunters!, the way they run them down is something to see. So it's so far so good but the real test will come next year when I see what they do egg numbers wise.

 

[foxy]

They look fit and well, attractive and vigorous crosses, which will lay rather well I expect

 

[MrsBiscuit]

I've only just seen this thread - fantastic photos, thanks so much for putting them up and showing us what these crosses look like as they mature

I think I'm falling for those fav x white stars - you will have to tell us how they turn out egg wise, and if they still keep their friendly nature or whether they turn into treetop dwellers

 

[dinosaw]

Thanks Foxy, lets hope your right, Big Bird squatted for the first time tonight so she is closer than I thought to laying. Thanks Biscuit, the limit of their flying aspirations at the mo are onto Mrs Dinosaws shoulders a little habit they have never grown out of though it's quite comical to watch.

 

[dinosaw]

Got my first egg from them today 08, it was cream coloured weighed 44g which isn't a bad weight for a first egg.

 

[Icemaiden]

You lucky thing!

 

[dinosaw]

Even luckier now!, have had two of them laying every day for the past week

 

[dinosaw]

Here are some more pictures of my crosses, taken in the mudbath at the bottom of the garden which has done nothing for their beards. I'm really pleased with how they have turned out. The white star x favs have all been in lay since early November and during that time have averaged five eggs per bird per week, the goldline and welsummer x favs didn't start to lay till January and have been laying at the rate of 4 per week each though this week so far they have been surpassing themselves and I have had six eggs off the six of them for three days running . Especially happy with Phoenix given the cocciodosis I had feared she might be stunted but in fact she is a good size compared to her mother, is laying well and is a very vibrant bird who never passes up a chance to jump on you, though this hasn't endeared her to Big Bird who is top hen and seems to have it in for her. The only downside to report is that one of the white star crosses Gladstone has a weak leg, doesn't hurt her or stop her doing anything but when there is a scrum for food she often gets knocked over or when you pick her up and then put her back down she will just fall over, it's strange but it didn't really manifest itself until about 22 weeks anyway she's ok just not the quickest to the food.

 

[MrsBiscuit]

I think they are lovely birds, really attractive as well as being so productive Thank you so much for sharing them, its given me real food for thought for the future

 

[dinosaw]

Thank you so much MrsBiscuit, it's really nice of you to say so . People do tend to be quite down on crossbreeding but I think it depends on what you are keeping chickens for, if it's for eggs and enjoyment there is no reason not to, provided your careful about your starting stock. Especially true with POLs here in the UK now costing £15 per bird and pure breeds a good deal more.

 

[Marigold]

Fantastic birds, Dinosaw, well done. They just look so white amongst the gloom and mud, like a Persil advert. I love the pic of the girl hitching a ride on your shoulders!

 

[dinosaw]

Thank you Marigold . Phoenix has never grown out of jumping onto us, you see her looking up at you and the next thing you know there she is on your shoulder, truth be told she is probably our favourite. She has all the quirks and independence of her mother (who is Summer who got the neck injury in the fox attack) but without any of the aggressive tendencies. Unfortunately we had some news yesterday which will make it highly likely that we will have to rehome them and our other two chickens in the next few months, it is now 90 per cent likely that we will be posted abroad with work by May for a minimum of a year, very likely longer. Such a shame as not only have we grown very attached to them but I had wanted to see how the white star x favs turned out as a breed long term, would they go broody, how many years would they lay for etc, oh well!. When it becomes definite I will sound out whether any members fancy taking them on on this thread as I really don't like doing free to good home postings in the for sale sections as you get all sorts replying and I really want to find them the good home they very much deserve.

 

[Marigold]

That's sad news, Dinosaw, from the poultry point of view, but I hope its what you welcome jobwise. Whereabouts might you be posted?
If you could remind us whereabouts you live, I expect people will be queuing up for your beautiful birds.

 

[dinosaw]

It's a great opportunity Marigold, it would be in Turkey which I have to say brings on the thought of any number of puns. In an ideal world I would be able to rehome all of them together including the two older birds, but I realise not many people would want to take on 8 chickens especially when one of them probably only has a year or so left to go in her life, that being the case I would be prepared to split them up into smaller numbers. We are in South Bedfordshire, hopefully with a couple of months to find them good homes we should be able to get them fixed up somewhere nice and we will ask around locally as well.

 

[Marigold]

You could try a new post in the Chickens for Sale section, as not everybody may have read the latest posts in this thread.

 

[dinosaw]

I think I will give it some time and see how I get on rehoming locally first

 

[dinosaw]

Good news! , I have found a really nice couple who will take all of the birds together, they are experienced keepers too which is perfect

 

[Marigold]

Great, I'm so glad. Do invite them to join the Forum, so we can hear how they're getting on.