BCM Roo x Red Selinks - 3 generations and they're a new BCM?

[NTBugtraq]

That's the bane of most of my cockerels also. That or for sale.

I am still struggling trying to figure out how to integrate younger birds in with older birds. I had a 10-week-old root get into the main flock and by the next day it was bloodied and I had to cull it. I didn't intend for that bird to go into the main coop, but it was actually identically colored and very close to the size of the hens in there, and I had heard that coloring can be a big help in integration.

 

[draye]

I am still struggling trying to figure out how to integrate younger birds in with older birds. I had a 10-week-old root get into the main flock and by the next day it was bloodied and I had to cull it. I didn't intend for that bird to go into the main coop, but it was actually identically colored and very close to the size of the hens in there, and I had heard that coloring can be a big help in integration.

I never try integrating young roosters with other roosters. The young ones usually always loose.
I don't have a problem with the hens usually maybe a little pecking around to establish pecking order. I take at least three or four pullets and pen them together and move the older hens into the pen with them.

 

[NTBugtraq]

Interesting tid bit. Dad is an American BCM, no leg feathers. My cockrels are now 11+ weeks old and all of them, yellow legs, grey legs, and black legs, are feathered legs. Some only have 1 feather on 1 leg, but they all have feathered legs.

 

[sjturner79]

Well if you're hens are booted the in proves leg feathers are a true dominant.

 

[NTBugtraq]

Well if you're hens are booted the in proves leg feathers are a true dominant.

None of the layers have feathered legs, they're all red-sexlink. Not sure if feathers are someone in those genes.

Also, I should correct what I said earlier...all of the cockerels who have the BCM coloring have feathered legs...none of the cockerels who aren't BCM looking have feathered legs.

 

[NTBugtraq]

Set another 80 today, 40 in a Janoel8-48, and 40 in my Brinsea Octo 40 EX Adv. They're on their sides this time, and I am running at a temperature based on wet bulb temperatures adjusted for my elevation. For each day they were layed, prior to today, I put them in 30 minutes apart. So the newest eggs went in 10.5 hours after the oldest eggs. Should be an interesting comparison.

Well, another miserable result. Fertility was way down (only 66%), probably due to the poor nutrition regiment I had been using. 15 early deaths, 3 late deaths, and 2 deaths after hatch (so far). 8 chicks are struggling and likely will not make it. That leaves me with 24 healthy chicks this time, or a 47% hatch rate. While I used too high humidity in this setting (resulting in eggs hatching on days 22, 23, and 24) I think this setting proved to me once and for all my feeding habits were the biggest issue.



This little healthy guy came out of this hatch. Notice the tuft on the side of his head...I have several chicks with tufts this time.

Setting another 80 today; all eggs I am setting next come from the flock on a great layer food, so should prove far more viable.

 

[NTBugtraq]

Locked down today, 11 clears and 10 suspected clears (still in the bator), so potentially a 68.75% fertility rate. Better than last time, but less than I hoped. Only one early death, so right now this hatch is looking like 98.21% hatch rate. The oldest egg in this setting is 15 days, whereas my next hatch will have no eggs older than 7 days, so hopefully that will improve the setting.

Taking my first project cockerels for processing tomorrow, 9 in all, all of which I have sold. Fingers crossed that people notice a big flavor difference. But its a huge relief to have them all pre-sold.

 

[NTBugtraq]

Nearing the end of Day 21. 39 hatched, 1 pip, still the 10 suspected clears, and 16 "viables". Of course those "viables" could be late deaths...but I'll wait it out. So that's a 73.75% fertility rate this hatch, and so far a 71.43% hatch rate...my best hatch ever.

Processed birds came in small, 1.31 to 1.86kg dressed, albeit at 15.66 weeks-old. I hope this trend doesn't continue, or I will have to stop trying to sell meat birds and instead use younger cockerels as part of a raw diet for my dogs.

At this hatch rate I don't get to my 2nd generation until the end of May next year...;-[

 

[NTBugtraq]

FWIW, I have had 3 reports from customers who ate the meat birds. 2 say they were tough and stringy...ouch...the other says the smell from using the carcass and wings for stock was "Amazingly good". So, the judge is still out. I contacted everyone and insisted they take their money back...so far nobody has showed up for their money, but I still feel bad selling them something that isn't awesome.

 

[draye]

FWIW, I have had 3 reports from customers who ate the meat birds. 2 say they were tough and stringy...ouch...the other says the smell from using the carcass and wings for stock was "Amazingly good". So, the judge is still out. I contacted everyone and insisted they take their money back...so far nobody has showed up for their money, but I still feel bad selling them something that isn't awesome.

How old were those birds? We're they free ranged?