Bearded Hens

[Jackpine Rob]

While driving home on Sunday from a wonderful boat trip with Art Barbarians on a paddleboat out of Stillwater, Jr. and I came across what I thought was a most unusual sight.

Not just one bearded hen, but two - both with broods, traveling across the road together. We drove within a few feet of them, and they stood about 20 feet from the truck as the stragglers crossed the road.

While I have seen bearded hens before, having two together like that - both with broods, seemed a bit strange. One of the beards was probably in the neighborhood of ten inches, but extremely thin, while the other looked like a jake - just a brush sticking straight out.

[Hotspotter]

Jackpine:

With Art to reap your winnings I gather? Great photo by the way.

That's wild! I've seen bearded hens only a handful of times, and each time with the long, thin, and wispy-type beard. To see two, together, with broods, would have to be quite a rare sighting I think. Perhaps such a trait is genetic, and certain hens in that area are more predisposed to having the beards? Either way, cool sighting, and thanks for sharing!

Joel

[riverrat56]

On the genetics thing, are discolorations genetic? There is a flock a see a few times a year ( mostly in winter/ early spring ) 3/4 th's of the hens and one big tom have tan coloration to them, a few have almost white in them, and a few are solid gray/white speckled, Are the possibly inbred with a domistic or semi domestic bird?

[Jackpine Rob]

Thanks Joel. We were pretty excited about winning the contest, and on the Cruise we got a chance to meet the artist who painted the prize artwork. It was a great time.

I was kind of wondering about the genetics thing myself, and what really got me to thinking about it was that the two hens were basically hanging out together with their respective broods. Maybe turkeys are different but in my experience it seems like mother birds often chase away other chicks/broods from their own - but in this case the little ones mingled freely.

[Wallydog]

FYI,

I think the genetic thing is for certain. We transplanted 33 birds here in SW Idaho in Feb that were trapped from a single location in central Idaho. Of the 13 hens we placed radio collars upon 7 had beards........mostly wispy and 6-9 inches. Hopefully they are running around with babies now!

WD