2021 Chick Order

[JacinLarkwell]

That's definitely interesting. Can you recognize the eggs that hatch defective chicks? Or would you have to use food coloring (or a separate pen) to know which hen laid which eggs, then hatch them and check the chicks for defects?

I'd have to do the food coloring. Most eggs all look the same and I haven't incubated any myself. They've all been broody hatched.

Easiest way to do it would be just dye her and select only her eggs for a test clutch, I suppose. Or avoid hers completely and see if any that hatch have defects

 

[JacinLarkwell]

We are actively hunting a predator now. Lost my 3rd EE, and my lavender Cochin. The thing was bold enough to eat the Cochin literally 6 feet from the master bedroom and it barely made a sound during the kill

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Just found the 3rd EE. Whatever it is is actively climbing over the fence in the shed, so either a fox or raccoon.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Processed 3 males today. 2 Starcombs and a NN

Is there any reason that would cause a cockerels.... bits..... to be either gigantic or itty bitty? My two mixes are at least half siblings, very likely full siblings, and the difference is almost disturbing.

Spoiler

first pic is the two that are gigantic next to full sized scissors. The second is one of those next to the itty bitty one from the other male, who's were like the size of an eraser

 

[NatJ]

Processed 3 males today. 2 Starcombs and a NN

What's a Starcomb? I don't remember hearing of it before (or did autocorrect do something odd?)

Is there any reason that would cause a cockerels.... bits..... to be either gigantic or itty bitty? My two mixes are at least half siblings, very likely full siblings, and the difference is almost disturbing.

One was clearly a lot more mature than the other one.

We all know that pullets can start laying at different ages, even when they are closely related-- I think this is the male version of the same thing.

When I find differences like those among same-age cockerels, I usually find that the more mature one had a larger comb, was crowing, showed male feathering, and was seen trying to mate with the females. The less mature one would have a smaller comb, might not crow, might have less or no male feathering, and almost certainly was not trying to mate. The mating (or lack of it) seems to have the strongest correlation with the size of those organs.

 

[Poultrybonkers]

Processed 3 males today. 2 Starcombs and a NN

Is there any reason that would cause a cockerels.... bits..... to be either gigantic or itty bitty? My two mixes are at least half siblings, very likely full siblings, and the difference is almost disturbing.

Spoiler

first pic is the two that are gigantic next to full sized scissors. The second is one of those next to the itty bitty one from the other male, who's were like the size of an eraser

View attachment 2861445View attachment 2861444

One rooster was more dominant then the other is why his are bigger

 

[JacinLarkwell]

What's a Starcomb? I don't remember hearing of it before (or did autocorrect do something odd?)




One was clearly a lot more mature than the other one.

We all know that pullets can start laying at different ages, even when they are closely related-- I think this is the male version of the same thing.

When I find differences like those among same-age cockerels, I usually find that the more mature one had a larger comb, was crowing, showed male feathering, and was seen trying to mate with the females. The less mature one would have a smaller comb, might not crow, might have less or no male feathering, and almost certainly was not trying to mate. The mating (or lack of it) seems to have the strongest correlation with the size of those organs.

Okay. The StarCombs are my Spitz mixes I have. Let me get some pictures
They are Single/Vcombed

The blue one had the giant ones and the black had the itty ones. They're from like midMay's hatching. I haven't seen a ton of mating, but Blue was definitely crowing a lot

 

[JacinLarkwell]

One rooster was more dominant then the other is why his are bigger

Yeah, but these were larger than matured flockmasters I've looked at. They were larger than his heart somehow

 

[Poultrybonkers]

Yeah, but these were larger than matured flockmasters I've looked at. They were larger than his heart somehow

Ive had roosters with huge ones before some roosters hormones are worse then others

 

[NatJ]

Okay. The StarCombs are my Spitz mixes I have. Let me get some pictures
They are Single/Vcombed

Oh, I remember them now! Yes, the combs looked a bit like stars.