BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[CanadianBuckeye]

#115 update...





68 days today 1,472g or 3 1/4 pounds.
3 weeks older than Auggie and a 1/4 pound lighter.
Maybe it's just a 3/4 Dark Cornish is slower growing. Could be a pullet.

This pullet is a 3/4 Dark Cornish close to the same color pattern. Her name is Koi for her beautiful Koi-scale like colorful feathers.

There are some very interesting colours showing up ! And your size is amazing. I can really see the difference between my random bred layer crosses and your dedicated meat birds. It's astonishing. My biggest chick, including Buckeye/ hatchery Dark Cornish cross, would probably only dress out at a pound or so at 8 weeks. True they are free ranging and they would probably be bigger contained and fed higher protein but clearly the genetics aren't there.

 

[DesertChic]

Here is a new 7 month Dominique cockerel to be added to our breeding program 7/15. He doesn't look so great in this pick. For one thing, he's standing in a rain storm in West Virginia. He over-sized but that' ok, that's why the breeder is giving him to us. It appears the pic was taken with a cheap phone cam so enlarging it only blurs it....

I seem to recall that your dad had considered adding Dominques to his breeding program. He was curious about the quality of the meat since the Dominiques have long been touted for their superior texture and flavor. I think it's cool that you guys are moving forward on this, even if that's not the reason you're doing it.

 

[Turk Raphael]

I seem to recall that your dad had considered adding Dominques to his breeding program. He was curious about the quality of the meat since the Dominiques have long been touted for their superior texture and flavor. I think it's cool that you guys are moving forward on this, even if that's not the reason you're doing it.

Yes there is some clear and certain reasoning behind the decision to use this Cockerel over three Dark Cornish and hens that evolve from crossing Dominiques over Necked Necks but I just didn't feel like getting into it the other day. No disrespect to Ms. Canadian Buckeye, I was tired and not up to the discussion and neither was the other half, even though he actually was the one who suggested we consider following through on the idea since Jason had decided against it.

We have too many irons in the fire too but no one has a boot on our necks like they have on Jason. He has big shoes to fill but he can handle it.

 

[gjensen]

I thought you lived in West Virginia?

 

[holm25]

My future project rooster is looking great! Hes bigger now than he was in the pic but he still looks good. I want to cross him over some off colored Buckeye pullets and HOPEFULLY pass on the peacomb. A 1/4 Dixie, 1/4 BA and 1/2 Buckeye should be a good cross for size and maybe eggs I would think??

 

[Beer can]

Of course! Yes that's it that makes perfect sense now.  But it's probably a cockerel, right?

If it is, will be my first capon :-D
Only keeping the naked necks and my current giants for now.
Sure is a pretty, stout wide chick, but I don't believe the breed makes for much of a meat bird.

 

[CanadianBuckeye]

My future project rooster is looking great! Hes bigger now than he was in the pic but he still looks good. I want to cross him over some off colored Buckeye pullets and HOPEFULLY pass on the peacomb. A 1/4 Dixie, 1/4 BA and 1/2 Buckeye should be a good cross for size and maybe eggs I would think??

You will get chicks with combs that look like peacombs, but the next generation, many single combs will show up. Nice looking rooster! The cross should be very good.

 

[Turk Raphael]

I just talked to Jason. It's 83*F there with 63% humidity and not even his heavies, nor the most cold tolerant birds have their lips open...they don't seem to be bothered by that heat at all. It's a tad bit hotter here in this area and while I can't see our birds, I suspect they are a bit uncomfortable. A friend is going by shortly and put a couple of 2 gallon sized chunks of ice into their water tubs, that are situated in the shade anyhow. I think he will turn on the exhaust fan on in the big coop...that will keep air moving up and out of there at a goodly clip.

 

[Beekissed]

95* in the shade here, with 52% humidity, so a tad muggier than over yonder in Tucker County...a couple of my oldest WR hens have wings slightly lifted and mouths open for breathing...but then they are out foraging in this, so walking in that heat makes me want to pant and lift my wings also.

The WR pullets and juvenile birds and other breeds seem not the least affected, not even the big ol' rooster.

 

[Molpet]

86 and 75% birds are hot and so am I
had the first rain in a few weeks and I see the cheap blue tarp over the hoop coop leaks like a sieve. 4 months old,,,

I had a cheap white one I put over the other this morning but wondering where @Beekissed got the blue and green one? I just find blue or green cheap ones locally. And no blue/green online.. I must be looking in the wrong places.
I have some good clear ones I bought for winter I bought online a while back.