BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[DesertChic]

Dorkings and dorking crosses will get fat on them.

Well, that Dorking blood did its job then. Thankfully his off-spring are mixed with other breeds too, so maybe I can diminish the fat content at least a little. Don't get me wrong...he was delicious, but that was an insane amount of fat.

 

[stryker]

Well, going to use a cornish X hen with a rhodebar roo. The cornish X is 4 weeks old and I am trying to keeo them small but they just keep growing everytime I give them feed. This fall we will see how they do. Guessing they will go in the roaster before the project starts. We will see.

 

[CanadianBuckeye]

Stryker you should get some very nice birds from that cross, I hope some of your Cornish cross hens mature!

 

[dfr1973]

About fat "rolls": I see nice layers of fat in the late autumn and in the first half of spring, but over summer when temps are high I've not seen as much fat on birds I've slaughtered. I think temp has a bit to do with it, as in they put on the layer of insulation for cooler weather, and run it off in warmer.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

About fat "rolls": I see nice layers of fat in the late autumn and in the first half of spring, but over summer when temps are high I've not seen as much fat on birds I've slaughtered.  I think temp has a bit to do with it, as in they put on the layer of insulation for cooler weather, and run it off in warmer.

When the temperature gets hot, chickens cut back on eating and egg laying suffers as well. They'll use up those body reserves at that time. Once temperatures drop in the fall, appetites return and fat accumulates once again.

 

[DesertChic]

About fat "rolls": I see nice layers of fat in the late autumn and in the first half of spring, but over summer when temps are high I've not seen as much fat on birds I've slaughtered. I think temp has a bit to do with it, as in they put on the layer of insulation for cooler weather, and run it off in warmer.

Normally I would agree but I don't think that tendency is nearly as pervasive out here in the desert. We've had maybe a total of two weeks of temps in the 50s-60s since last November with most days registering 80 or above, and have been above 85 for at least the past two months. In this case I really think it was just this bird's genetics.

I've also noticed that irrespective of when I've culled them, any of my birds with Bielefelder blood tend to be much fattier than my other breeds. I'm convinced that's part of the reason for their difficulty in the heat.

 

[dfr1973]

Normally I would agree but I don't think that tendency is nearly as pervasive out here in the desert. We've had maybe a total of two weeks of temps in the 50s-60s since last November with most days registering 80 or above, and have been above 85 for at least the past two months. In this case I really think it was just this bird's genetics.

I've also noticed that irrespective of when I've culled them, any of my birds with Bielefelder blood tend to be much fattier than my other breeds. I'm convinced that's part of the reason for their difficulty in the heat.

Out of curiosity, where did you get your line of Bieles? I know I tried to source as many of my Wyandottes from the deep South due to the heat and humididty, and I succeeded. Some are from one county west (Luanne of Eight Acres), some from central Texas (Ideal Poultry), and the rest from Missouri (Cackle Hatchery) which can get some brutal summers some years ... usually when my family drove (with no AC) there to the family farm (with no AC) for a big outdoor cookout. Oops, back on topic - I have not had any birds heat stroking or even distressing, and neither Wyandottes nor Silkies are known for being heat tolerant breeds. My F1s are out hopping around today, completely unphased by the heat. Then again, they are also sticking to the shady area.

 

[DesertChic]

Out of curiosity, where did you get your line of Bieles? I know I tried to source as many of my Wyandottes from the deep South due to the heat and humididty, and I succeeded. Some are from one county west (Luanne of Eight Acres), some from central Texas (Ideal Poultry), and the rest from Missouri (Cackle Hatchery) which can get some brutal summers some years ... usually when my family drove (with no AC) there to the family farm (with no AC) for a big outdoor cookout. Oops, back on topic - I have not had any birds heat stroking or even distressing, and neither Wyandottes nor Silkies are known for being heat tolerant breeds. My F1s are out hopping around today, completely unphased by the heat. Then again, they are also sticking to the shady area.

I bought hatching eggs from two separate Bielefelder breeders, one located in Oklahoma and one located in another state I can't quite recall...Alabama, I think.

Silkies aren't heat tolerant? I didn't know that. Ironically, my lone Buff Silkie has proven to be the one least fazed by our excessive heat. While the other birds lay around panting, she just happily goes about her day scratching around like she doesn't have a care in the world. She even comes to me to be picked up and snuggled despite it being over 100*F, LOL! Silly little chicken!

 

[DesertChic]

I know many here have been missing Hellbender and wondering about his well-being. His son, Jason, gave me permission to update everyone.

It is with a heart heavy with sadness that I report that after returning home to be with his family, Hellbender (Ron) was taken off his respirator and died in the early hours on Thursday, June 16th. His family held a small, private Irish wake for him. My heart goes out to them and to all who loved him, and it is my greatest hope that their grief will soon abate enough for them to smile at their memories of him rather than weep.

I never had the honor of meeting Hellbender in person, but that has in no way lessened the tremendously positive impact he had on me. I miss my friend; I miss his delightfully warped sense of humor, his sagacious instruction, and his enormously kind heart. To this day I cannot comprehend why, of all the people he met here on the BYC, he chose to befriend me and share so much with me. In spite of his numerous frustrations with electronic communication, he never hesitated to offer me guidance and encouragement as I strove to learn as much as possible as quickly as possible about poultry keeping, and he never hesitated to lend me his ear when I simply needed to vent some frustrations about life in general or receive some much-needed advice. He was a very generous man who shared with me his abundant love for his family, his concerns and perspectives on world events, and the wisdom of his years.

Yes, I miss my friend, as I’m sure so many others here do, but I am also tremendously grateful to him for all he gave me. I am grateful for the opportunity to have also met his son, Jason, and his daughter, Ariel, through him, and for meeting so many other extraordinary people here on the thread Hellbender created. It is a tribute to him that so many will continue to learn and grow because of environment he created here.

Thank you, Hellbender. You will be sorely missed.

 

[bluejean55girl]

So sorry to hear this. He will be missed. Sending special guardian angels that multiply as needed to his family and friends. He will be remembered in your hearts.