Developing My Own Breed Of Large Gamefowl For Free Range Survival (Junglefowl x Liege)

[RobG7aChattTN]

Thanks. So see, I don't want them entirely feral, just enough to hide their nests out in the brush within the property lines where the dog can keep the coyotes run off and I can keep the skunks trapped out and something that has enough instinct to fly up into the tall cottonwoods or hide her brood from the cooper's hawk. And see there too, there the difference, tons of chickens have the ability to fly from danger, but not the instinct. I have anconas and leghorns, and they haven't the sense at all to fly or roost in a tree, even though they're plenty muscular and have decent sized wings for it. And at the same time, I have some cochin and old english game bantams who have the instinct to fly and even one banty cochin cockerel that wants to roost in the trees, but they don't have enough umph to get up there or for the OEGB's (which I know aren't really true games) to have enough size to not be a target for even small male cooper's hawks. Thanks though, and another issue, I need permits in my area to own Ceylons and Greys. Great thoughts, I know that, yes, I would only let the fittest survive, thats how landraces came about, not based on appearance or production, but survival, and if it produces enough thats a perk.

Where do you live that you need permits for Greys and Ceylons?

 

[Molpet]

Where do you live that you need permits for Greys and Ceylons?

Click on Pic and some people put where they are.

 

[Az OEGB]

I am from Dewey Az. but I never heard about any permits needed to own Ceylon jungle fowl or grey jungle fowl but I didn’t look to much into it because I couldn’t find anyone selling them and them being expensive.

 

[NagemTX]

All my birds have that kind of sense and they do a good job at keeping away from predators but I’ll tell you the eggs are hard to find. Some will lay in the barn but a lot of them lay their eggs in the bushes and either I find them and don’t know how old they are or I just find a pile of egg shells because the raccoons, opossums or skunks found them first. I usually just have one or two roosters that roost in the barn and the others roost in the trees (which normally only lasts a few months before the predators find them). Most of my hens roost in the barn but a few take to the trees. My set-up is a tall half-door to their coop-stall in the barn and they all put themselves up in the evening and as soon as the sun comes up they fly out to forage. I do have a few guineas and I’ve heard that they are better at spotting predators but the chickens are better about knowing what to do when when a predator shows up.

Can I suggest Spitzhaubens? Intelligent, strong flyers, and would rather be in a tree than a coop.

 

[RobG7aChattTN]

I am from Dewey Az. but I never heard about any permits needed to own Ceylon jungle fowl or grey jungle fowl but I didn’t look to much into it because I couldn’t find anyone selling them and them being expensive.

They are expensive and hard to find but any big poultry project will cost you a ton of money.

 

[RobG7aChattTN]

Can I suggest Spitzhaubens? Intelligent, strong flyers, and would rather be in a tree than a coop.

See MY problem is the opposite. I want my birds to roost in the BARN! My birds already can fly like you wouldn’t believe. I find this thread interesting but I’m actually trying to breed back to birds that are LESS wild.

 

[Florida Bullfrog]

See MY problem is the opposite. I want my birds to roost in the BARN! My birds already can fly like you wouldn’t believe. I find this thread interesting but I’m actually trying to breed back to birds that are LESS wild.

My 2 cents would be focus heavily on the oriental gamefowl side of the genetics then. I haven’t an an oriental yet that didn’t prefer to roost on something man-made when given the chance. When Indo is out, he never roosts in a tree. He always roosts up on the tallest chicken coop that’s under tree cover. Same with Azog and any other bird I’ve had that was at least half aseel.

Edit: one exception, the half aseel x half American hen I have in my Cracker improvement project will roost as high as she can in a tree. Usually starting at 20 feet.

 

[tlewis_2003]

Can I suggest Spitzhaubens? Intelligent, strong flyers, and would rather be in a tree than a coop.

There will never again be spitzhaubens at my house. We tried with 4 different roosters and they were all suicidal mean. Did some research on chickens says orientals tend to be better with people. Haven't had an issue since.

 

[Bigtom Turkey]

My 2 cents would be focus heavily on the oriental gamefowl side of the genetics then. I haven’t an an oriental yet that didn’t prefer to roost on something man-made when given the chance. When Indo is out, he never roosts in a tree. He always roosts up on the tallest chicken coop that’s under tree cover. Same with Azog and any other bird I’ve had that was at least half aseel.

Edit: one exception, the half aseel x half American hen I have in my Cracker improvement project will roost as high as she can in a tree. Usually starting at 20 feet.

Yup, good Orientals are like puppies.

 

[NagemTX]

There will never again be spitzhaubens at my house. We tried with 4 different roosters and they were all suicidal mean. Did some research on chickens says orientals tend to be better with people. Haven't had an issue since.

I only had an issue with one out of the 6 I had. The other 5 either follow me around like puppies or just keep their distance.