Well I have 3 boys and 1 girl
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Reading this makes me so happy! I have lost almost half my flock to Marek’s this year. I ordered just a few EF pullets to see how they do. If they thrive then I plan to get some roos to breed them and cross breed with my survivors. After reading your comment now I’m thinking I should have gone for some straight run right away but I already ordered.Sorry you dislike the birds, @Zawisty. I introduced EFs into my flock because I lost about 2/3rds of my original flock to Marek's Disease and had to do something. EFs were the answer.
True, they are not heavy layers, but when you just need eggs for two people and a few close friends, and have other hens in your flock that are heavier layers, the 175 eggs per year is a moot point when you are trying to inject some disease resistant genes into your flock.
I have only lost one EF hen and that was to a heavy parasite load. And since I use my older surplus cross bred roosters for freezer meat that I slow cook for stock and use the stock for cooking and supplemental food for our dogs, having heavy bodied birds is not a big thing.
Most of all I love the fact that the roosters are gentlemen. My Game bird cross roosters have blinded and even killed one another but not Tut. He is the gentlest rooster I've seen even more gentle than my Buff Orpingtons and will walk away before he is maimed or maims another rooster.
Today I set 8 eggs for a Good Friday Hatch. All EFs and frankly, I'm praying for a few good roosters to add to my flock.
Jewel I am so sorry to hear that you are dealing with MD in your flock. It's a Witch to deal with but it looks like you have a plan.Reading this makes me so happy! I have lost almost half my flock to Marek’s this year. I ordered just a few EF pullets to see how they do. If they thrive then I plan to get some roos to breed them and cross breed with my survivors. After reading your comment now I’m thinking I should have gone for some straight run right away but I already ordered.
microchick,Jewel I am so sorry to hear that you are dealing with MD in your flock. It's a Witch to deal with but it looks like you have a plan.
I invite you to read my article here in BYC:https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...-i-learned-to-deal-with-mareks-disease.76944/
The 8 eggs I set hatched 6 birds for me, three males three females. I lost one of my older birds to suspected botulism last year. Keep in mind, these birds will eat ANYTHING even if it isn't good for them so extra care needs to be taken with what they can get their beaks on. Mine got into feed mixed with bedding that had gotten wet in a compost pile. She was the only EF to get sick.
I also hatched a half EF rooster with a different batch of eggs. He is a hoot. Very gentle and beautiful with meaty breasts and better musculature than the EF birds. He free ranges with his brother from time to time and it's a riot seeing them gallop across the yard towards me when they see me come out of the house.
To date I haven't been able to hatch a EF cross hen. Can't explain it but I have 5 half EF and Amish barnyard cross birds (the latter resistant to MD) and all 5 are blessed roosters. It's like, come on guys give me a break.
I think it's safe to say that EFs played a part in saving my flock.