Wanted to post on here about my "Aloha Chickens" project!
Here is the link to my latest update on the web site:
http://alohachickens.webs.com/january2010.htm
Anyway, the goal of this project is to create multi-colored, mottled, excellent egg layers that are also hefty enough for eating of the surplus roos. Right now, as you can see, the color part is coming along great, but still will need a
lot of work to increase size and egg production.
I will have **FREE CHICKS** coming soon for people who want to get involved in this project!!!
You need to have (or want to have) some good egg layers to cross with these. Perfect outcrossing breeds will include Buff Rock, Buff Orp, Australorp, RIR, NHR, Speckled Sussex and a few other breeds. Ameraucana are kind of so-so for this project - they have the size and egg laying ability, but I'm aiming for an upright comb to help sex the chicks earlier.
Not good outcrosses: Any Bantys, (too small), Cochins (broody, not as productive, feathery legs), Polish, (small eggs, skittish, small birds not good for eating) and Barred Rock or any solid white layer breed. (Not good feather color contrast.)
Goal is to outcross small mottled stock with larger, solid color good egg layers. The chicks will lose the mottled color when outcrossed, but will carry the gene. Cross them back to a mottled chicken, and the color will reappear in the future chicks. So, if you get involved, you'll need to have an incubator or be willing to team up with someone with an incubator (like me, Larissa, or a friend who will loan you one.) You'd need to keep the solid color half breed chicks, raise them, and then raise a second generation which will show some mottling, and will be a bit larger every time you cross them with "big" chickens.
So, you'd need to be OK with working on the project for about two years, maybe three, in order to see the fruits of your labor!
If you have an existing flock that includes (for example) a nice Buff Orp roo that you could cross with small mottled hens, or some RIR hens that you could toss a colorful rooster in the pen with, and hatch and keep some of the chicks from, you'd be a perfect candidate for this program!
Sign up now - I put about 18 eggs in the 'bator last night. These are not "cull" eggs, these are the GOOD stock! This is the first time I've offered the "good chicks" to outside people, this is a huge deal for me. I've given away "culls" in the past, but now I have a good number of chicks to work with, I am considering releasing some of the newborns to good homes. I need people who are seriously excited about this project, and willing to share eggs and chicks with others involved in the project down the road.
I will continue to hatch out all the best eggs as the months continue! When you look at the web site, please check out "Ginger" who was the result of the little banty hen and a Speckled Sussex type roo.
Note that there are many eggs in the incubator now, by the little banty hen! You can produce chicks like that this fall, if you got even one or two little banty chicks from me, and crossed them with a Speckled Sussex rooster!
This first hatch is due Feb. 11th.
Thanks!
Sommer
