Backyard Chick Mash-up

[Hip Hillbilly Acres]

I'm sitting here this morning pondering what my BY flock is going to ultimately look like come November. I can't wait to get out there, camera in hand, sitting amongst them watching, reading, listening to music with any who choose to hang out with me.

Thanks to a mistake from one of the hatcheries I now have 10 chicks headed my way . Others will ship in October.

Hip Hillbilly Acres residents will include:

* Dark Brahma ~ 5 unsexed
* Dark Brahma ~ 1 pullet
* Light Brahma ~ 1 pullet
* Assorted Marans ~ 3 unsexed
* Welsummer ~ 4 unsexed
* Ameraucana ~ 4 pullets
* Buff Orpington ~ 4 pullets
* Turken ~ 5 unsexed
* Cream Legbar ~ 2 pullets
* Dixie Rainbow ~ 5 pullets
* Speckled Sussex ~ 1 pullet
* Assorted Silkie Bantams~ 2 unsexed
* Black Frizzle Cochin Bantam ~ cockerel

I'm guessing at least 11 roosters (with no prior experience in these matters). What do you think? Def not enough roosters for girls, eh? Will be difficult deciding which go to freezer camp. Maybe they'll make it easier by being mean or something. I know it WON'T be my frizzle IF he actually frizzles. Then again I guess he has the gene and can pass frizzle on to another chick, correct? I do want a frizzle in my flock before the end of 2023.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

WOW. You are going ALL IN! are you planning on allowing unrestricted breeding and letting the chaos ensue???

 

[Hip Hillbilly Acres]

WOW. You are going ALL IN! are you planning on allowing unrestricted breeding and letting the chaos ensue???

Yah, unless I learn of some reason not too (besides space). From what I have been reading natural brooding seems hit or miss (am I wrong). So, I did not think there would be a heapa buncha gals setting all at once. Am I underestimating? Now, having said that I am under the impression that I will never have to buy from a hatchery (barring predation).

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Definitely not enough pullets for the number of cockerels you're likely to have. I wouldn't keep more than two, maybe three if you have a lot of pullets result from your unsexed chicks. It's something you'll have to play by ear because some cockerels are really well behaved from the start and it may work out with keeping more of them, but many of them are hellions for months when those hormones start pumping, especially without adult hens and roosters to teach them manners, and you'll be ready to put them in the freezer as soon as possible.

As for frizzling, no, if your cockerel is not frizzled, he does not carry the gene and will not make frizzles unless bred to a frizzled hen. Frizzling is the result of a partially dominant gene. What that means is that one copy causes a partial effect, and two copies causes a full effect. No frizzling genes, no frizzle effect. In this case, the partial effect is preferred, which is why some chicks from frizzle pens are smooth. With the full effect, birds are deemed Frazzles; their feathers are extremely curled and brittle, making them bald a lot of the time because those brittle feathers wear off fast, and they also have some issues internally such as enlargement of the heart and problems with their metabolism that often lead to shortened lifespans. This is why it's advised to breed only frizzle to smooth and never frizzle to frizzle, because you want to avoid producing frazzled birds. So most responsible Frizzle breeders breed them frizzle to smooth, making half frizzled offspring, half smooth offspring, and no frazzled offspring.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I'll leave the genetics to others, but yes, unrestricted breeding chaos is exactly the practice I am currently enjoying, and culling my way towards desired traits. My advice is to remove any aggressive roosters as they appear and try to get your total rooster count down to ~4 by 24-ish weeks, hopefully each with traits you want to keep in the flock. Your Brahma Roosters may not be mature by that age - certainly won't be full adult weight, and if your Dixie Rainbows are a production red line (as many are) those should all be pullets. Put those on your list for culling early when you finally get around to the girls.

 

[Poultrybonkers]

Being its near end of year and most pullets are sold out id assume most if not all straight run will be cockerels this time of year

 

[Hip Hillbilly Acres]

and if your Dixie Rainbows are a production red line (as many are) those should all be pullets. Put those on your list for culling early when you finally get around to the girls.

Speaking of culling I read that turkens taste very delish. Seeing as I KNOW I will have five of them; that's good to know.

As far as my dixie rainbows go ya know I never thought of eating them (for some reason). Yes I believe they are all pullets from what I can tell they are still young at 2 months. Thank you so much for this advice though. I am listening with pen in hand (I take notes about everything) so I don't forget.

 

[Hip Hillbilly Acres]

Being its near end of year and most pullets are sold out id assume most if not all straight run will be cockerels this time of year

Yah I am steeling myself to expect cockerels. "Where there is no expectation; there is no disappointment" they say. I'm counting 2022 as part of my learning curve. I expect by this time next year I will be rolling along, knowing what my fave backyard breed is and even more. I have claimed the brahma. I just think they are a majestic, beautiful breed.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I lvoe Brahma too, which is too bad, because they are very poorly suited to both my climate and my needs

 

[Poultrybonkers]

Yah I am steeling myself to expect cockerels. "Where there is no expectation; there is no disappointment" they say. I'm counting 2022 as part of my learning curve. I expect by this time next year I will be rolling along, knowing what my fave backyard breed is and even more. I have claimed the brahma. I just think they are a majestic, beautiful breed.

Brahmas take forever to lay they are big but for me not worth the feed lol least with allot of cockerels they fill the freezer I just did 18 this year. Seems all I hatched was cockerels