Now if only I liked duck! I think they are the cutest little things I'd get them their own nice little pond but me and hubby don't really like duck.
I do like several of the chickens though.
Homestead - I'm currently working with several birds to do pretty much the same thing. One of my hopeful projects right now is crossing a black broiler with a red broiler. They are both hybrids so the result I'm sure will not necessarily be consistent. However, if I like the general bird that comes out of the mix then I can keep these hens and roo for 3-4 years. I couldn't keep the same lines going forever like you can with heritage birds. I kept the red girls cause the reds grew consistenly and the girls at about 20 weeks were 6.2 pounds. I kept the black roo because he grew to a nice size rather quickly (no CX quick). He also is mating but not crowing much. He doesn't spur me either. His mating seems to be fertile as I have several eggs in the incubator now that seem to be developing and when cracked I see the bullseye. Not cracking too many right now though I'm loading my bator.
I have other mixes I'm working with as well. I have several americauna eggs in the bator fertilized by the broiler or my 10 pound Orphington roo. I threw those in cause we did in some americauna roos earlier this year and they were surprisingly meaty for a small bird and very tasty. Hoping the Orphington will fill them out a little. The hens can be easter eggers or sold on craigslist. Since I sell fresh eggs having a few easter eggers never hurt.
Also have some Barred rock x Orphington in the bator.
A few Marans x Orphington really have high hopes for this one.
Have some quality French copper marans eggs and barnvelder eggs on order for about 2 more weeks to fill the bator when this batch comes out in 2 weeks. Long term plan is marans or barnvelders x delawares or wyandottes.
Just working with what I have grown and laying right now. Have some teen delawares too though they are craigslist probably hatchery stock. Keeping the largest and processing the rest.
I do like several of the chickens though.
Homestead - I'm currently working with several birds to do pretty much the same thing. One of my hopeful projects right now is crossing a black broiler with a red broiler. They are both hybrids so the result I'm sure will not necessarily be consistent. However, if I like the general bird that comes out of the mix then I can keep these hens and roo for 3-4 years. I couldn't keep the same lines going forever like you can with heritage birds. I kept the red girls cause the reds grew consistenly and the girls at about 20 weeks were 6.2 pounds. I kept the black roo because he grew to a nice size rather quickly (no CX quick). He also is mating but not crowing much. He doesn't spur me either. His mating seems to be fertile as I have several eggs in the incubator now that seem to be developing and when cracked I see the bullseye. Not cracking too many right now though I'm loading my bator.
I have other mixes I'm working with as well. I have several americauna eggs in the bator fertilized by the broiler or my 10 pound Orphington roo. I threw those in cause we did in some americauna roos earlier this year and they were surprisingly meaty for a small bird and very tasty. Hoping the Orphington will fill them out a little. The hens can be easter eggers or sold on craigslist. Since I sell fresh eggs having a few easter eggers never hurt.
Also have some Barred rock x Orphington in the bator.
A few Marans x Orphington really have high hopes for this one.
Have some quality French copper marans eggs and barnvelder eggs on order for about 2 more weeks to fill the bator when this batch comes out in 2 weeks. Long term plan is marans or barnvelders x delawares or wyandottes.
Just working with what I have grown and laying right now. Have some teen delawares too though they are craigslist probably hatchery stock. Keeping the largest and processing the rest.
