I will make sure to record as much as possible. I guess I'll need a binder with plenty of paper!
When I get started, I'll make sure to get pictures and keep y'all updated!
Thank you everyone, this is most insightful information! I think that I might try to breed just Buckeyes for a little bit to try and get a better feel and understanding of how it works. Then, I might try crossing in some Plymouth rock and/or Cornish.
That's good to know. I've looked at buckeyes before and liked the idea of getting them. How would you suggest I set about creating a breeding program? What should I look for in a breeding rooster and his hens?
Hi, I'm wanting to get into breeding chickens, but I've never tried anything outside of casually letting by broodies hatch whatever eggs they found. I can order some American white Bresse chicks, but kind of want to try crossing them with something that grows bigger.
I'm looking to keep the...
Hey all! I'm just getting back into having chickens after 2 years and I'm wanting to go a step further than just keeping chickens. I've always dreamt of having s homestead and just can't keep waiting. If like to get started selling eggs and chicks but I have no experience with good breeding...
Yes I have. All I can hope for is that the majority of my eggs don't land in that fatal range. For now I am just hatching as a hobby to see what I can get. Later I might go into specifics and try to breed for specific traits but for now I'm just trying to get through school and then on to college.
Really cool. Thanks so much for all of the replies. I can't wait to hatch some out and get yelled at by my mom for hatching even more chicks. Maybe when I am older I can work on some projects. I know that I would like to make japanese/ silkie crosses an actual breed and maybe I can add more...
I can't really find any genetics on the patterns of Japanese bantams and it looks like I will be having two whole black tailed buff pullets with an experienced black tailed white rooster. I was just wondering, next year, when those pullets start to lay, what colors would I get in their chicks...
I have 1 rooster and 21 hens. That number is new since 10 of them were added just last year. But I agree. He will hang out with as many hens as will stay with him and will take care of them. Although, I once had a black australorp take care of 15 hens with a very good hatch rate; which probably...
I have been watching a you tube homesteader named Justin Rhodes. He uses his chickens to prep his garden; but he uses poultry fencing and a chicken tractor. I don't have a lot of access to materials right now because I'm still in high school. However, I still wanted to do what he was doing.
The...
Thanks aart. I'll try to get hardware cloth on it but it might take me a while because I'll have to buy it myself. Good thing that I've only got hawks that frequent my area. I do also have skunks and coyotes that come around occasionally, but by then whatever is in this tractor will be in their...
I just started my own personal chicken tractor and thought that it would be fun to share it as well as helpful to get advise. It is made entirely out of leftover lumber. I made it for my bantams, as well as for any broodies and/or poults that I would like to have on grass.
Right now I've just...
Man, I can't wait until I have experience:old (and land) for all of this. As it is, I have one more year of high school, then probably 10 or so more years until I can be serious about this:hit. But I love genetics and love growing things. I'll probably start out just breed for the sop so that I...
From what I know, cornish cross will eat themselves to death, so if you've had them for a few weeks and haven't restricted their feed, then that might be your problem. Although, it sounds like you haven't had them that long.