oriental breeds

[1Chick Magnet]

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If you are going with hatchery stock, don't expect them to be perfect to standard. Many hatcheries use brood stock infused with a little something else to increase egg production since most oriental game breeds are not great layers. All of the show/breeder quality birds we have are super gentle and will allow you to walk right up to them and pick them up, even when out on the yard. We HAD hatchery aseels at one time, somewhat of the aseel look to them, but could definitely see other influence in them. Also the rooster was very mean towards our 3 year old, would chase him around the yard..(notice the past tense used...LOL). Oriental games are much quieter than your average yard birds. Other than the occasional deep pitched crow outta our shamo, malay, and thai, you'd never know they were there. Aseels too (bit higher pitched crow). Being they are hardfeathered birds, winter housing needs to be addressed if you are in northern regions, but do have friends that raise them in Minnesota, Michigan, and Alaska. My suggestion would be to research those breeds that interest you and start out small. Talk to a breeder and get some input as to ideas about the best direction to start. Their great personalities makes Oriental Gamefowl very unique. Even though they require a bit more care than barnyard birds, they will soon become your favorites.

can you please explain hardfeathered to me?

 

[MoodyChicken]

YOU NEED SPACE FOR THESE BREEDS. Otherwise they'll likely kill each other. Oriental breeds tend to be very friendly to people but vicious to other chickens. More often than not, the hens will kill their mates if the cockerel isn't mature. They may love each other one day, and despise each other the next. They are very hardy and have wonderful disease resistance. They are not super cold tolerant, but better than other hard feathered breeds. All these breeds, especially the Jungle Fowl, fair pretty well in the wild (they're not dumb like other domesticated breeds!). They're highly intelligent and may push your buttons. I'm not trying to persuade you away from them, but I don't recommend them to a beginner. If you're willing to put up with some of their negative habits, they're a wonderful breed to own.

 

[1Chick Magnet]

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thankyou. that is what I was wondering. I see no point in making the birds unhappy just because I like them. it would not be fair to them.

 

[ShadyGlade]

Some do come in some miniature (bantam) size and they are different than other chickens. I love watching my Malays, they look like little dinosaurs with their fierce expressions and odd gaits.

 

[prariechiken]

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Hardfeathered is the tight feathering on the oriental gamefowl. They do not have all the fluff and feathers of the barnyard breeds...

 

[fowlafoot]

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Some good points, most of these are ancient gamefowl breeds and have been bred as such for thousands of years. They have interacted very closely with people for thousands of years which is why they're so friendly to people but the game part shows in their treatment of other chickens. The only situation where I have been able to keep these breeds in circumstances other than adult breeding pairs is by keeping sisters together... and occasionally even that doesn't work. As for them being intelligent I must say that my shamo rooster reminds me a lot of my 4yr old son, smart and always pushing the boundaries. If you have these breeds you need room and time to spend with them everyday. It's an actual relationship and as such you have to work on it, very rewarding but you can't neglect it.

 

[1Chick Magnet]

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do the bantams have the same personality as the full size?

 

[MoodyChicken]

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do the bantams have the same personality as the full size?

For the most part, yes. Most seem to be more flighty.

 

[wclawrence]

But if a person wanted to make bantams similar to this, they could take show quality cornish bantam hens and breed to show quality modern bantam roosters, start working from there.

 

[MoodyChicken]

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That would be a heck of a hard project. It's better to start with large and breed smaller and smaller. I met a breeder who did that. He has the most beautiful bantam Shamo I've ever seen.