- Jan 25, 2008
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I am working on my Java breeding project. Unfortunately, production is low and I have a limited pool of genetics to work with. I would like to crossbreed with a faster maturing more productive breed, but remain as close to the standard as possible.
I was thinking maybe throwing in some well bred Rhode Island Reds that a friend of mine breeds. He breeds his RIRs for size and productivity, and that is what I'm looking for in the Javas. It would certainly be easier to introduce new blood with better meat and egg yeilds, than continue breeding my small flock in hopes of getting the same thing.
I want my Java flock to have all the same usefullness that they originally had, egg and meat. I just think it will be extremely hard and time consuming to get back to that with the very limited blood I'm dealing with. My rooster is of a good size, but my hens are small and the pullets take a long time to mature. Then once they mature, the eggs are a bit on the small side and I get eggs maybe every other day in the peak of summer.
Will you review both standards(RIR and Java) and let me know what you think? Maybe you even have another suggested breed for me to use instead of the RIR?
Thanks, I greatly appreciate it. My excitement for this project has simmered down quite a bit, since they take so long to mature and predators seem to grab them before they get to that point. It's been a long summer.
-Kim
I was thinking maybe throwing in some well bred Rhode Island Reds that a friend of mine breeds. He breeds his RIRs for size and productivity, and that is what I'm looking for in the Javas. It would certainly be easier to introduce new blood with better meat and egg yeilds, than continue breeding my small flock in hopes of getting the same thing.
I want my Java flock to have all the same usefullness that they originally had, egg and meat. I just think it will be extremely hard and time consuming to get back to that with the very limited blood I'm dealing with. My rooster is of a good size, but my hens are small and the pullets take a long time to mature. Then once they mature, the eggs are a bit on the small side and I get eggs maybe every other day in the peak of summer.
Will you review both standards(RIR and Java) and let me know what you think? Maybe you even have another suggested breed for me to use instead of the RIR?
Thanks, I greatly appreciate it. My excitement for this project has simmered down quite a bit, since they take so long to mature and predators seem to grab them before they get to that point. It's been a long summer.
-Kim
