Breeding Sex Links - third generation - Page 3

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoostersCrow,HensDeliver! 

Wow, THANK YOU, Fred's Hens! I can't tell you how many months I've been pouring over information on breeding RSL and BSL birds. The research you've done is just amazing. You've answered a lot of questions that I've been pondering and some that I didn't even know I had. I just subscribed and I will definitely be following this thread. Thanks again!
 

You're very welcome.  All I'm doing is sharing our experience.  I do not even pretend to know very much about genetics.  Chickens?  yes, but genetics, not much.

If there is anything specific you would like to ask a question about, I'll see if I can relate something from our experiences that might be of some value to you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris09 

It's possible depending on how far back in the breeding it was used and how good the original stock was.

But there are a number of white fowl that could have been used. Shoot the UK has so many different varieties of breeds of fowl it isn't funny. They even have a White variety of the New Hampshire that looks a lot like what the hatcheries here are calling a "Rhode Island White".

 

 

Chris 

Thanks Chris.  I so value your knowledge and input.

Like me, I'm sure you've looked at the photo page of Townline's website. As a licensed ISA dealer, they obviously must get either the grandparent stock (via jet shipped eggs) or parent stock (via jet shipped eggs) from ISA, no?   Looking at the photo's posted, the rooster used is obviously filled with RIR blood.  But the white birds shown in the parent stock photos is a complete mystery to me.  What do you see?

Quote:

Originally Posted by donrae 

Fred, have you butchered out any third gen cockerals? From the size of those hens, I'd wonder if they would make a good meat bird.

I know of some folks around here that buy the rsl cockerals and raise them for butcher, they're pretty happy with them but I'd wonder if you could get a bit larger. Those hens are georgous!

Oh yes, the roosters from gen 1,2 and 3 have mostly been HUGE.  The BSL roosters have run about 9 lbs live weight, and the RSL roosters have pretty well matched them, maybe 8.5-9 lbs live weight.   Typical DP carcass.  If you want to breed meat birds, you'd likely start with something else?

That said, a bunch of RSL roosters, for free?  Why not eat them?

We've never seen the slightest inclination of broodiness. One must assume that's been effectively bred out in the 30 year development of the commercial layer.  No doubt, one in ten thousand will come along and sure enough go broody.  Meanwhile, yes incubator. Broodiness isn't a feature we are even the slightest bit concerned about. 

The DNA of these birds is one of being a layer, first and foremost.  They get in and out of the laying box quickly.