Can't let this thread go by without speaking up for my China's... "Walter and Ethel". Yep.... that's who they are. Can't figure out the harm in naming a bird. They have their own distinct personalities. They rule the barn yard. Then there was "Wesley" my Old English bantam rooster. He had all of the personality of a bantie rooster. He was in charge. Kept our dog, the neighbor's dog, and a few people on the run. Had our son's bird dog here for a weekend, Wesley jumped the chain link fence into the back yard to put that dog on the run... so he thought. It was like that (snap of my fingers) and Wesley was no more. Poor Wes... but he left many lasting, and funny memories.
Sorry... guess I'm less of an adult (not really)... to enjoy the antics of my fine feathered friends.
Sure, animals/nature should be enjoyed within reason.Originally Posted by Kymarose
Humans can't look at a river without assigning no fewer than 6 names to it. If all you're doing is calling a steer Clyde I can think of a million other things to rail about.
The big proplem was that the crosses got the big mouths and agressive traits from the China and the size from the Africian. If you like Chinas you would love these birds! I was talked into restocking [by people on this board] with the arguement that you could raise "quality" stock for the same cost as "mutts". The only Standard breds that I liked more than my old mutts was the Pilgrims.
Last edited by goosedragon; 05-28-2012 at 09:04 AM.
Mutts have their day in the sun sometimes. The two hens I have left are local Plymouth Rock/Easter Egger mixes. I narrowed their ages, they're full sisters, down to 4 years, maybe 5, and they're each laying an egg a day most days. We have an excess just from just the pair. They don't look much alike but they're interesting to look at and I like them around.
Often times I have found that mutts are hardier and have better personalities. My cross breed goat was a wonderful and intelligent goat. Two others that I had were just pains in the neck. My grade doe rabbits were better mothers than the papered does and looked better than the winning rabbits at the county fair.
I love the big mouth aggressive traits of my china's. I like even more my lovely mellow African. So I guess I will win either way they come out.
I seldom name anything except for the dog & cats. There's just too many birds & most look alike ( hence band numbers ). I do, however spend a lot of time just watching & enjoying them being themselves.
Well I was not fond of the China parents but they were better than the Romans, tufted or not, They were just wimpy! The pure bred Africans were majestic and laid back but were lazy buggers that never seemed to get more than 50 feet from a feeder even when it was empty. I didn't try all the breeds, of the ones I tried only the Pilgrims were liked better than my mutts.~gd
I have one of the small Africans. She is two years old. She finally decided when the Chinas (now a year old) were about 8 weeks old to take them in wing (hand). She taught them to weed and they did a great job of weeding my place by the end of the summer. They nearly got rid of the cheat grass (bad as fox tail) and even ate goat heads (puncture vine) which are two of our most offending weeds. So I have been happy with them. Three of the brown chinas are nesting on who knows what (may include some duck eggs) pure breed goose and X's. I'm looking forward to seeing what they hatch and the care they give of the hatchlings.
I have a Cuckoo Marans hen raising ducklings. She is doing a great job and caring for them longer than the setting hens did the chicks. A Speckled Sussex is due to hatch soon, duck eggs and a Silver Spangled Hamburg has three duck eggs. It will be interesting to compare their mothering of ducklings.
Mary, be very vigilant with the other hens. I've let my LF Orps hatch ducklings in the past and it has on one or two occasions, been a disaster. They other hens, thinking the ducklings to be odd, killed them the moment that they hatched. It was horrible to see. I've kept them segregated since.
I used a broody cochin to rear some east indies last year. The duck was not interested and had abandoned the clutch as they were ready to hatch. I put the eggs under the incessant cochin and they hatched within 2 days. They did well with them but the ducklings only followed her around for a few days before they became more independant. I think the hen was confused but she never acted aggresively. My flock usually sees a few chicks each year and I have been lucky that there has never been a problem. The biggest issue I have now is two broodies I tried to use to hatch this year killed their chicks (chickens) as soon as they hatched. They just want to continue to set. I need to get replacements and do not want hatchery stock so will ne setting some eggs in the incubator today.
Angela,
I will keep an eye out for aggressive behavior from my remaining two hens, a Speckled Sussex and a Silver Spangled Hamburg. The SS should be hatching this coming week and the SSH in about a week to two weeks later. The Cuckoo Marans continues to care for the ducklings and they are bigger than the oldest chicks that have been on their own for several weeks now. I ousted all the older chicks (one about 3 weeks still with his mama...no hatching mates) from the feed room. They had taken to roosting on the shelves, feed cans and any place higher. They are now relegated to the screened room of the hen house.
FYI: Rooroo and the Chicklets.
When I have a bird that does particularly well in the show ring I give them names (Valley Green this or Valley Green that) and usually have a picture by Bill or Neil framed and hung in my den or office. I don't call the bird by that name, it's just for my enjoyment. It seems the height of arrogance to me that some people, for whatever reason, take it upon themselves to decide what is "adult" or "bullshit" behavior in raising poultry. Denigrating people over something as trivial as naming their birds is boorish and just plain poor manners. It also discourages people from participating on these boards (of course that may be the intent) and does nothing to add interest to our hobby.
I totally agree with you VGP.... well said !!
Life IS fun. Shucks... some people name their pet rock.
I enjoy my feathered friends, names and all. They add character to your little acreage.
At the risk of being "boorish" and displaying my "poor manners", I will claim the right to have, and to express my opinion.....as you have just done. I am also capable of doing so without name calling and profanity. I don't consider myself overly arrogant, but I can cop an attitude when provoked. (imagine that!)
Last edited by Angela; 06-16-2012 at 05:50 PM. Reason: sp
I hope that's on the more extreme spectrum. The neighbors had a bantam raise a peachick. It was comical once he started getting bigger than the hen and none were the wiser.
Yes, it's an extreme occurrance. A couple of times out of many, many mixed hatches. I have had bantam hens successfully hatch goose eggs many times. But, be aware that it CAN happen.
I'm with Angela. If refusing to enable their childish behavior is considered the height of arrogance, I'll wear that label proudly, rather than lose all dignity and lower myself to their level. Their gigglefest mentality is just not compatible with that needed to continually educate and improve oneself. I take it upon myself to decide what is adult or bullshit behavior period, not just in raising poultry, and live my life accordingly, as with so many other personal choices. There is a world of difference between naming a notable animal with your farm name to set it apart from all the others, similar to a registered name used in species which are, or identifying an occasional bird with a nickname which is somehow appropriate among family and friends for whatever reason, and elevating poultry to the status of pets, with individual names that they are expected to be referred to. That's Ok if you're 10 years old, or you're one of the emotional retards over at BYC, but in my adult world it's just ridiculous. What I find to be boorish and lacking in manners is insulting my intelligence by displaying that behavior in front of me, and expecting me to condone it. They can stay in their place at BYC. I won't go there and join them. I don't want them here lowering the IQ curve.
I had an e-mail from a friend who lurks occasionally asking what was happening to this forum...that it was sounding like BYC. We've been busted!
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks