Absolute Chicken Heaven - Kauai Style

[Cock-A-Doodle-Do]

Many of you may know this, I didn't.  My family and I went on a lifelong dream vacation to Hawaii earlier this month.  We spent a few days in Maui and Oahu and rounded it out on our favorite island, Kauai.

We landed at the airport in Lihue and took a shuttle to the rent a car place nearby.  I waited out side the office to guard the suit cases.  suddenly a couple of chickens showed up.  I couldn't believe my eyes.  A hen and rooster.  Then another hen or two and more roosters.  Then a hen with about 10 chicks in tow.  I looked around and the other people around did not either notice or thought this was strange.  I felt as if I were in the Twilight Zone.

My daughter came out and had a similar reaction.  We said nothing and got in our rental car and drove off.  On the way to our hotel in Poipu, we saw many more of these chickens all over the place.  in yards, on the side of the road, all over.  When we got to the hotel we asked about it and a local laughed, explaining that these chickens are the un-official bird of Kauai.  They were brought here by the trade ships and others, and then during hurricanes, they were blown out of their pens and scattered around the island. to this day they are all over the island, even on the top of the tallest mountains at 3,000 something feet. (i have pictures to prove it)

These appear to be some kind of English game bird.  They are bantams.  I have seen them at poultry shows but cannot remember the breeds of which they most resemble.

Anyway, it was such a joy to see these birds wherever we went.  I'm sure anyone on the island who is indigent or homeless, or otherwise wants a good poultry meal, can satisfy their hunger with no problem.

Heritage Hens
herita...@aol.com

[Barry Koffler]

These appear to be some kind of English game bird.  They are bantams.  I have seen them at poultry shows but cannot remember the breeds of which they most resemble.

The basic introduced flock was Red Junglefowl, but they have since crossed with people's domestic chickens, so you see all sorts of colors.

-- 

-Barry

*******************************************************************************************
bar...@feathersite.com Barry Koffler   mid-Hudson Valley, New York
                     the FeatherSite at
                         http://www.feathersite.com
           Lead me not into temptation . . . I can find it myself

Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already tomorrow in Australia!

"It's called the American Dream 'cause you have to be asleep to believe it." -- George Carlin

I dream of a world where chickens can cross the road without having their motives questioned.

*******************************************************************************************

[Sigo]

​Yes Barry and Cock, landraces are fun and colourful..ie. the Swedish Flower hens.  I did not know that about Kauai, I do not know anyone who's been there.  It must have been fun.  Did you get any shots?​

[Cock-A-Doodle-Do]

There wasn't really that much variation in the ones we saw, from Napali down around and up to Waimea canyon.  The hens had a little more diversity but were not colorful. The roosters pretty much were consistent, multi- colored.  I will check out some of the bantam breed manuals I have and get a close proximity.

Heritage Hens
herita...@aol.com

--
--
This message came from the "dom_bird" discussion group. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to: Dom_bird+u...@googlegroups.com

---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "dom_bird" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to dom_bird+u...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

[Cock-A-Doodle-Do]

We got a lot of pictures.  I will try to post some if I can figure out how.  These chickens were not afraid of anything.  They don't have many predators, obviously.

They were not really domesticated, but would eat out of your hand in places.  People have to drive slowly in and out of parking lots and they are on the sides of the roads everywhere.  They are in shopping centers.  

In the restaurants the birds are everywhere too.  They will land on your table even if you are there.  If you get up for seconds at a buffet, they will go right to your plate.  If you are a bird lover, its reason enough to go to Kauai.

Pat

Heritage Hens
herita...@aol.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Sigo <thegreath...@gmail.com>
To: dom_bird <dom_...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Mon, Jul 7, 2014 3:43 am
Subject: Re: [DOM_BIRD] Absolute Chicken Heaven - Kauai Style

​Yes Barry and Cock, landraces are fun and colourful..ie. the Swedish Flower hens.  I did not know that about Kauai, I do not know anyone who's been there.  It must have been fun.  Did you get any shots?​

[Diane]

http://kauaiblog.wordpress.com/2013/03/12/kauais-wild-chickens-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/

check this out -- Diane

--

Contented Farm - free range eggs

Dracut, MA

[Barry Koffler]

There wasn't really that much variation in the ones we saw, from Napali down around and up to Waimea canyon.  The hens had a little more diversity but were not colorful. The roosters pretty much were consistent, multi- colored.  I will check out some of the bantam breed manuals I have and get a close proximity.

Try here: http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/CGD/Hawaii/BRKHawaiiFerals.html

[Sigo]

On Mon, Jul 7, 2014 at 9:19 AM, Diane <dimil...@gmail.com> wrote:

http://kauaiblog.wordpress.com/2013/03/12/kauais-wild-chickens-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/

​thanks.  Sigo​

Best Regards, Sigo