If I knew what was going to happen, it wouldn't be an experiment, would it?
Every step here is uncharted territory AFAIK, which is what makes it interesting to me. I'm not very good at accepting "it can't be done"; and since i have the ability to test it, I just have to!
So far I know that they can maintain a healthy weight without having to be starved/rationed, they begin laying at about the same age as I'd expect for a bird of their weight, can breed naturally and produce fertile eggs. If those eggs can hatch, will the progeny be healthy, what will they be like... these are still unknowns.
I have no intent of selling them regardless of the result; if they hatch & are healthy, the roos will become capons, the hens will be meat as well, just sooner. If they don't hatch/grow as healthy chicks, I'll order a couple hundred more in Feb, because I DO know that they can be healthy long enough and grow large enough to make stunning capons. (the roo is 23lbs live weight at 10 months, still healthy & quick - just not graceful, but he never was!)
I split an order with someone else early last year - I took all the hens and the three liveliest roos. At 10 weeks, I chose what I felt was the 'best' roo and four best hens and processed the rest. The hens averaged 5.1#, the two roos 6.3. The 'chosen' stayed free-range with the capons until 16 weeks, when I put them in a private apartment; initially I 'rationed' them a pound each of feed per day, but they never ate that much so I just keep the feeder full now - and four weeks later they began laying.
I suspect that most of my clear eggs were the same hen - there's one hen who does not accept the roos advances peacefully, and now he rarely approaches her. She also lays a double about twice a week. Dunno whats up with that, but I have an egg customer who loves them.
It's all about the experiment... what will be, will be. It may end in disappointment - but it won't be the first time, and as long as there's a plan B, I'm okay with that!
