Buying a Pikat (Red Jungle Fowl)

Buying a bird or a pet for oneself is already hard enough. Buying for a friend is even more difficult. Trust aside, there is the difference in judgement, preference and "gut feeling" factors. Especially so when choosing a bird to be trained as a lure (or locally know as a "pikat" or "denak"). Not only must it be beautiful, but there are many criteria to be met - its vocal sound, braveness, play etc. etc. which actually I am not too well versed with.

So, after dumping him under a tree beside the bird shop to see his reaction, I took him home base on gut feeling (and trusting the shop keeper) :D Its on the pricey side if you were to ask me (for a chicken, that is ;) )

Anyway, hope this chicken turns out well.



On another note, since I am writing on this RJF, a friend did mention to me his interest in organising a competition - "Pertandingan Kokok Ayam Denak" which basically translate to Chicken Crowing Competition :D
I think it has merits. Not only would it bring together a large crowd of enthusiasts who has been keeping these chickens quietly (Grey Area with the law), it would encourage breeding back the RJF to get the original crow.

Now, I wonder whether anybody has documented what a real RJF should sound like (I hope someone did), but the criteria set by trappers generally tallies and I do believe it has some basis. I do hope this friend of mine pulls it off (organising the competition) and may he receive all the help and assistance he needs from hobbyists and the relevant authorities. I know for sure there won't be a lack of candidates for such competitions.

Red Jungle Fowl with female feathers

A friend helped me acquire this chicken. The feathers are probably due to some spontaneous mutation as this colouring appears occassionally. I am sure there must be a term out there for it. For now, I must plead ignorance. Will be keeping him for fun and probably look into pairing him with a hen once he is ready ;)

Death of a Peaceful Dove

A couple of weeks ago, a dove that was in my care suddenly died. The saddest part about taking care of animals, especially birds is to have unexplained deaths. It could have been anything, a virus, an infectioned, scared by something, unseen congenital defects etc etc.

Anyway, luckily no other birds was affected and so, the mysterious death remains a speculation. It is a young "A" bird probably 7 to 8 months old given to me by a friend. Sigh! now I will not know how he will sound like :(



He is buried right at this spot, underneath a palm tree. May he rest in peace.

Change of dry food

Today I decided to go back to the drawing board and experiment on food a little bit. I wouldn't call it re-inventing the wheel though as it is all tried and tested stuff by some of the brilliant bird keepers out there. I think I will split the birds into 2 groups. One will be on this new dog food I found and another group will be put on my tried and tested dry food I have been using. Change would be made gradually by adding a teaspoon of this grounded god food to the existing food daily.

Now, this food is interesting because this is the first dog food that I have come across that was made into pellets that look like chicken feed. Not to mention having a higher protein contents than other brands. The below shows a picture of the pellets ready to be grounded to smaller bits.



Nutritional breakdown:

Crude protein 28%
Crude fat 18%
Crude fiber 4%
Moisture 10%

Ingredients:
Chicken, Chicken By-Products (Organs only, Including Chicken Liver), Corn, Chicken By-Product Meal, Dried Beet Pulp, Brewers Dried Yeast, Cane Molasses, Egg Product, Salt, Sodium Propionate (a preservative), DL-Methionine, L-Lysine, Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Niacin, Biotin, Choline Chloride, Folic Acid, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin B12 Supplement, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Manganous Oxide, Inositol, BHA (a preservative), Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Cobalt Carbonate, Potassium Iodine, Sodium Selenite.

Lets see how it goes.