American Sumatra Association - Forum: Q & A Forum-General Forum

Mark G on Hatching Sumatra eggs

Sun, 29 Aug 2010 11:44:44 -0600

I ended up with 3 chicks the first hatch. I got 6 the second hatch and a 3rd hatch is expected Sept. 3rd. All the chicks are doing just fine at this time and growing.

SherryParker7 on SEXING SUMATRAS

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 23:40:09 -0600

Here's something else...look in the pictures section on this site. The first three are of females. In the fourth one you can clearly see the long pointed saddle feathers of the males. At 5 months old the males' tails won't be as long as those in the pic but ooooh one day very soon.

chickenfootranch on SEXING SUMATRAS

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 02:40:45 -0600

chickenfootranch on SEXING SUMATRAS

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 02:39:58 -0600

mine must all be pullets, all look the same, they look like over sized crows!

SherryParker7 on SEXING SUMATRAS

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 22:07:10 -0600

You will definitly be able to tell the difference by that age. The males will have long pointed saddle feathers & hackles. The girls will have soft rounded short feathers. The males will also have a bigger comb while the girls' comb is quite flat to their heads. The best thing is that the males look like proud males while the girls are pretty and feminine. I bet if you listen to them you'll hear the males start crowing!

chickenfootranch on SEXING SUMATRAS

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 13:17:34 -0600

I HAVE SIX SUMATRAS THAT ARE 5 MONTHS OLD, THEY ALL LOOK THE SAME, WHEN CAN YOU TELL THE ROOSTERS FROM THE POULETS????

SherryParker7 on Culling the Flock

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 16:42:09 -0600

I now have 26 "babies" hatched from my trio. They are actually about 4-5 months old. I was wondering when is an appropriate time to start culling? I've heard Sumatras don't mature until at least 1 year old. Do I wait? Also--what are the characteristics I cull for first? (They all have yellow feet, no white and gypsy faces.)

Side Note: I had one chick hatch with a red face! He is now about 4 months old. His face is almost entirely gypsy. Interestingly, he is maturing MUCH faster than the rest...he has long sickles (they drag the ground) and has spur buds about 1/8" long. Any thoughts???

Mark G on Hatching Sumatra eggs

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 14:40:25 -0600

Hi Crystal, Yes my roosters do crow at 8 months old. They arent real lould. I set about 24 eggs and have 2 walking aroung in the incubator right now, but expect to get more hatching for the next few days as they wern't all set at the same day. They are pure bread large sums. They look to be quite small chicks for large sums though. Mabey they will end up smaller because both parents are only 8 months old. I didn't do anything special to hatch them in my incubator which is a hova-bator turbo fan incubator with an automatic turner. I keept the temp at 99&1/2 degrees. I will post as they develope for those interested .

Clearly Crystal on Hatching Sumatra eggs

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 13:49:40 -0600

Please don't laugh, but i have 3 hens that are frizzel/ancona cross and one of them came with three chicks that appear to be frizzel/ancona/sumatra cross.

I have a black jersy giant rooster that managed to breed at least two of the hens and out of thirty eggs incubated in april, 9 hatched.(I paid someone to hatch them)

Of the chicks it is clear that one part is from a frizzel/ancona hen, making them frizzel/ancona/giant crosses and the other part of the batch, 5 of them, are obviously out of one of the sumatra cross pullets.

They are really neat birds.

they are four months old now and the sumatra tails are starting to come in on the two cockrels. I have one pullet that has some 'wry' feathers in her tail but I think that is the 'frizzel' coming through.

We jokingly call them our 'Giant Bantams'. ha ha... Only on the reservation!

I am married to a Washoe Indian and we may persue this line of breeding as we want to have birds that will lay, sit, and produce some meat, all the while watching for hawks, eagles and coyotes. This is what it will mean to be 'free range' on the reservation. lol : )

I believe the sumatra part will be improtant part of the new 'washoe chicken'.

Glad I found your forum.

Clearly Crystal on Hatching Sumatra eggs

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 13:35:11 -0600

Mark G said:

Well, It's day 21 and i have 2 eggs starting to pip.So it looks like my 7 month old roosters were firtle and can produce chicks at that young age. I am soo…. excited. I will keep everyone posted on the turnout and progress of the chicks. I have a second batch started in a 2nd incubater as well that i started last week.

How exciting...I have some sumatra crosses and am thinking of using them to continue to produce chicks because they are all I have to work with right now...

did you get any more chicks?

did you have to do anything special to hatch them?

do the rooster crow much? thanks

Mark G on Hatching Sumatra eggs

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 11:05:56 -0600

Well, It's day 21 and i have 2 eggs starting to pip.So it looks like my 7 month old roosters were firtle and can produce chicks at that young age. I am soo.... excited. I will keep everyone posted on the turnout and progress of the chicks. I have a second batch started in a 2nd incubater as well that i started last week.

Mark G on Hatching Sumatra eggs

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 14:45:30 -0600

Well, since now one answered this question, into the incubator they went. Maby i'll get some miniture sums from these little eggs. I'll let everone know how it all turns out.

Mark G on Hatching Sumatra eggs

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 09:35:21 -0600

Hi, i have some 7 month old hens layiny eggs and wonder if it should try to incubate them right now. I know they are smaller eggs than what an older hen lays but if i wait much longer , the chicks might not be old enough to winter over if i wait. What would you do? Should i try to hatch these early eggs or should i just wait intil next year?

dustinbiery on Opinion on Sumatra tails

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 06:34:44 -0600

There also seems to be two camps when it comes to judging them as well. I personally like the full sweeping tails.

Mark G on Sumtrans, good free rangers?

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 21:01:43 -0600

Some of my roosters are good free rangers and roost high in the trees at night compared to other type roosters i have noticed. My hens are kept up and like it inside at night.