Calling all Hmong (black meat) chicken breeders

[firstlight]

Hi,

I am a newbie at breeding hmong and I am having a hard time finding much info on the breed. I have a bunch hatched out but I don't really know how to select for the breed. I'm torn between selecting for size/fibro characteristics and maintaining the diversity of the landrace. I was surprised how many colors I got from all back/pak lay colored chickens! Is anyone on the forums raising these still? I have eggs to trade too. I could really use more hens from a fresh line. I have had ok luck hatching in my sportsman, but I'm also interested in any insight about their hatching idiosyncrasies. I've had a consistent, though minimal, number failing to pip/zip but otherwise formed.

I have 2 roosters with 4 hens, and one (third) extra rooster who is hanging in my free range pen with ducks and banties. I need to pair down to two roosters, what characteristics should I look for in selecting my keepers?

I'm curious what anyone knows about the traditional uses for these chickens. I am raising them to sell for meat, are there particular holidays they are used for, and is there any special diet that would improve their quality or desirability? I have read and read and translated lots of pages but I still don't know much except that I've fallen in love with this breed! I have always stuck to ducks for my real breeding projects and these guys won my heart.

I'll get some pictures tomorrow. In addition to the breeders I've hatched out 25 chicks from 1-4 weeks old right now. I can't believe how fast they are growing.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I'm torn between selecting for size/fibro characteristics and maintaining the diversity of the landrace.

Are these Ayam Cemani... that you are speaking of? Or a whole other breed?

 

[Broodygranny]

You could always put a couple of mixed breed hens in with your extra rooster. You could sell hatching eggs. I have mixed breed hens with black skin, and I can't find any roosters to go with them because the breeds with black skin are so expensive! I understand why they are of course! If something is rare, then it will be expensive! I think a lot of people just like interesting chickens, and don't care about breed though.

 

[exoticpoultry]

Please post pictures.

 

[Ms Biddy]

Hmong chickens aren't the same as Ayam Cemani. They're a meat bird and come in a rainbow of colors.

I know someone who raises them, but I don't personally. Since you're selling them for meat, perhaps your customers can tell you what they consider most desirable. In the flock I'm familiar with some are dark skinned and some are not. Some are single combed and some are not. I assume the flock has some mixed genetics. The owner keeps them as they were received and hasn't been selecting for any particular traits that I know of. They are keeping their flock "landrace."

I think they're really cool birds. If I didn't already have some AC's I think I'd like to have a flock of Hmong chickens. We have too many birds already unfortunately.

 

[firstlight]

 

[firstlight]

wow sorry for all the duplicates.

 

[firstlight]

one of the full grown hens has some red feathering. It's hard to see but some of the chicks have patterned feathers. Some even have white feathers. The roosters are soo pretty.

 

[firstlight]

I like their size for meat, I believe they are bigger than ayam cemani but I've never seen an AC in person myself.

 

[Broodygranny]

So pretty!