The Poultry Keeper

CP · Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2007 9:19 pm Post subject: Sulmtalers

Thread for Sulmtalers.

Is that how it's spelt? Confused

I haven't checked! Rolling Eyes

Clucky · Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 2182 Location: Shropshire

Care of Feathersite

Info at Feathersite here

mulberry · Joined: 22 Feb 2007 Posts: 5 Location: suffolk

I breed these darlings. have 3 hens with 1 cockerel, have loads of chicks now. I am amazed they arent more popular, as well as being pretty and unusual, they are very easy going and not bad layers either.

We need to make more effort to keep some of these unusual breeds going !!!
Joy

Welsh Duck · Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2007 8:03 pm Post subject:

I have a friend who breeds them. He loves them but found it hard to bring in new blood. I don't know why they aren't more popular either. They are really quiet and easy to handle. In my mind they are the perfect childrens breed

Drachenreiter · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 17 Location: Bavaria

Here is a picture of them.

Don`t think they are Altsteirers!

The Sulmtaler are the heyvier type of the styrian chickens.

Regards from Bavaria

DR

mulberry · Joined: 22 Feb 2007 Posts: 5 Location: suffolk

They are definately Sulmtalers although not show quality.

Joy

Drachenreiter · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 17 Location: Bavaria

PaulF · Joined: 08 Oct 2005 Posts: 16 Location: Nottinghamshire

I think they are actually good examples.

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 3222 Location: Monmouthshire

I suspect that it's the usual thing, the UK works to a different Standard from the rest of the EU. Bearing in mind that the Sulmtaler was bred as a utility bird and has been around for well over 100 years, it is hardly surprising that different standards should be acceptable.

Clucky · Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 2182 Location: Shropshire

Henwife, did I see some at Hereford. We actually thought at the time they were crosses, but now thinking on..... They were caged as a trio on the right as you walked in on the top row. If they were.....bummer... they are pretty

mulberry · Joined: 22 Feb 2007 Posts: 5 Location: suffolk

Been a bit delayed in responding to this post. I breed Sulmtalers and the UK version is slightly different to the previously posted pics. The bird should be very square , almost like a box on legs, with a fair bit of substance to it even in the bantams. The headgear should be obvious but not in your face, and the colour should be a rich biscuit, with very little dark markings anywhere.

The birds are very docile but egg laying numbers are not brilliant although they dont seem to go broody. I have struggled this year with breeding as the chicks seem to be quite delicate . Once they have reached 6 weeks they normally make it through, its getting them to that age that is my prob this year. May have something to do with the weather as I have a couple of other breeds that have been the same.

Joy

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 3222 Location: Monmouthshire

If I could find the catalogue I could check, but there is somebody who breeds banty ones, so quite possible. He certainly had some eggs in - and finds them good layers.
Mulberry - how does the photo in Poultry Standards look to you - I know that standard and photo don't always co-incide as they should!

Welsh Duck · Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 8:30 pm Post subject:

A friend of mine who you met saturday henwife used to breed them so it is quite possible there were some in Hereford at past sales.

Is the lack of vigour up to 6 weeks due to the small gene pool I wonder. I know Silver Grey Dorkings have a similar problem

mulberry · Joined: 22 Feb 2007 Posts: 5 Location: suffolk

Henwife, the photo in PS is a bit misleading, but as you say pics dont always portray the live bird very well. The small gene pool may well be the reason for delicate chicks, although I dont have the same problem with Silver Dorkings, they are one of my more vigorous breeds.

The bantam Vorwerks are probably the worst, closely followed by Buff Mottled Barbu Duccles. Last hatch all had very forward facing legs and couldnt stand at all. Splayed leg I can deal with, that isnt possible to do anything about , especially on such a tiny chick.

Most prolific chicks this year for me have been the Houdans, and there is hardly a large gene pool there either.
Joy