You are SO in the right place - we adore NNs here and cross them with wild abandon. My first NNs were form Ideal about 1.5 years ago as well, and I was also super pleased with them. They are my core NN flock. I'm playing around with S&G broiler NNs and Aloha NNs this year as well.
Absolutely - EVERY chicken looks better with a naked neck!!!
I've been crazy busy, but I got the 3 week weigh-in for the S&G NNs done this evening. Most are catching up, the three "runts" continue to be too small - not culling now, because I want to see what happens. But I may cull earlier rather than later. Only two data points for each bird, so the graph isn't that informative yet, but even with the horrific start they had I already have 6 that are bigger than Tank was at 3 weeks (10.35oz), and Heinz (the biggest friendly boy who has band #57 - so, Heinz 57. Har har har...) is a whopping 13.44oz at 3 weeks (and is a little brick). It's still a little early, but I'm excited by the possibility of some big girls in this group. They were fussy during weighing, but I've been so busy I haven't been able to spend time with them and handle them as much as I'd like. I need to make some more time to get them used to me. (Hard to do with 71 chicks growing...)
Here's Heinz 57:
So, I want to get more data, of course, but so far, it's looking like the S&G NNs ARE big solid birds, and the variability and issues/losses I've had are likely due to the terrible shipping delays and problems. As I said before, I will be pleased to have unrelated big NN genetics. The little Aloha NNs are super cute but are smaller at 4 weeks than these are at 3 weeks. I was already planning that cross to bring the size up - still think that's a good plan. I'll wait to see their coloring before deciding whether I want the S&G in the GNH cross project.
- Ant Farm
13.44 oz at only 3 weeks??? Holy cow!!!!!