BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[Mini Meat]

I went back and looked at my notes. The White rocks are only 6 weeks, I thought they were 8 weeks.

In light of that info I went back and looked at the WR cockerel that I got... I like him.
He has the boxy look that I like. A very wide head and good heft to him. He has some meat on his bones already too. I would not describe him as "large" but his proportions... H x W x L and Meat x Frame... are very pleasing to me. I would take a smaller, well proportioned bird over a big gangly thing any day. He compares well to the 8wk DC's. The pullets are the same but with a more feminine look to them. Not bad birds for hatchery stock.

My Bresse cockerel is 8 wks and he is VERY large and has very nice heft as well but he is much longer and not as pleasing to my eye. I'm sure he'll be a nice meaty bird, just not the look that I'm drawn to. He is almost as big as The 8 wk turkeys. Pullets are quiet large as well. I'm going to go forward with the breed and see how I like them. I am also very interested to see how the cross with the DC's and WR.

The 10wk DC cockerels are are putting on a burst of frame. They seem to grow in an inverted fashion from a lot of other breeds. They are stubby little meat bricks until about 9-10 wks then the grow a lot of frame. I will have to note when the meat starts to catch back up to the frame. That should be my optimal culling age for the DC's. The first cockerel to reach the balance I like will be my keeper. The pullets are the breastiest pullets of all my breeds. The adults that I have are not large but well proportioned and my hens have very large breasts.

The 8 wk Marans is big but light. His shape is fair, good depth and length, but a bit on the narrow side and all frame so far. We'll see how he grows but unless my daughter wants him for her layer flock I doubt I'll keep him. The OE's are about the same.

The Astrolorpe and Langshan pullets are 8 wks and very unimpressive so far. The Langshans are quite narrow. They were only ever intended for the layer flock anyway so they'll serve.

I have realized, that I am not going to be a weigher of chickens. Too many chickens, too little time.
I am training myself to rely on my eye and "feel". I even compare the sound they make when I drop them from about 3 feet up onto the bedding. It tells me a lot about their density. Gotta love a good solid THUD

 

[Turk Raphael]

I went back and looked at my notes. The White rocks are only 6 weeks, I thought they were 8 weeks.

In light of that info I went back and looked at the WR cockerel that I got... I like him.
He has the boxy look that I like. A very wide head and good heft to him. He has some meat on his bones already too. I would not describe him as "large" but his proportions... H x W x L and Meat x Frame... are very pleasing to me. I would take a smaller, well proportioned bird over a big gangly thing any day. He compares well to the 8wk DC's. The pullets are the same but with a more feminine look to them. Not bad birds for hatchery stock.

My Bresse cockerel is 8 wks and he is VERY large and has very nice heft as well but he is much longer and not as pleasing to my eye. I'm sure he'll be a nice meaty bird, just not the look that I'm drawn to. He is almost as big as The 8 wk turkeys. Pullets are quiet large as well. I'm going to go forward with the breed and see how I like them. I am also very interested to see how the cross with the DC's and WR.

The 10wk DC cockerels are are putting on a burst of frame. They seem to grow in an inverted fashion from a lot of other breeds. They are stubby little meat bricks until about 9-10 wks then the grow a lot of frame. I will have to note when the meat starts to catch back up to the frame. That should be my optimal culling age for the DC's. The first cockerel to reach the balance I like will be my keeper. The pullets are the breastiest pullets of all my breeds. The adults that I have are not large but well proportioned and my hens have very large breasts.

The 8 wk Marans is big but light. His shape is fair, good depth and length, but a bit on the narrow side and all frame so far. We'll see how he grows but unless my daughter wants him for her layer flock I doubt I'll keep him. The OE's are about the same.

The Astrolorpe and Langshan pullets are 8 wks and very unimpressive so far. The Langshans are quite narrow. They were only ever intended for the layer flock anyway so they'll serve.

I have realized, that I am not going to be a weigher of chickens. Too many chickens, too little time.
I am training myself to rely on my eye and "feel". I even compare the sound they make when I drop them from about 3 feet up onto the bedding. It tells me a lot about their density. Gotta love a good solid THUD

I think you will really like the WR X DC. Not only beautiful but very functional. I would cross DC over WR. Don't ask, I just would.

 

[CanadianBuckeye]

I separated out my 9 week old cockerels from my pullets last night, (yay!) and tried to do the body assessment thing as recommended by the ALBC. A couple of disappointing cockerels, they look good but are actually lighter than expected, and a couple of nice surprises under the feathers. I have one cockerel that has a very nice head, he has the lovely Brahma like head I'm looking for with the eyebrows and width, but it was all feathers and he's lighter than I'd like. I'll put him in the assess later category. A couple are light and narrow, some will be easy to cull because of their single combs (only keeping the pea combed chickens). But I'm looking for more layer than meat, so it will be a compromise between keel length, body capacity and width for choosing the best cockerels. Once they start fighting for real I'll have to re assess the lot and make my choices. This is going to be tougher than I thought.

 

[Mini Meat]

I think you will really like the WR X DC. Not only beautiful but very functional. I would cross DC over WR. Don't ask, I just would.

Crossing that way will have to wait until next year. I do intend to try it though.

The only mature hens I have this year are DC so any crosses this fall will have to be over DC.
Next year I want to do crosses each way, over and under and compare each. I don't doubt you are right but I want to see just what the differences are for my own education. I should learn a lot by doing that.

I separated out my 9 week old cockerels from my pullets last night, (yay!) and tried to do the body assessment thing as recommended by the ALBC. A couple of disappointing cockerels, they look good but are actually lighter than expected, and a couple of nice surprises under the feathers. I have one cockerel that has a very nice head, he has the lovely Brahma like head I'm looking for with the eyebrows and width, but it was all feathers and he's lighter than I'd like. I'll put him in the assess later category. A couple are light and narrow, some will be easy to cull because of their single combs (only keeping the pea combed chickens). But I'm looking for more layer than meat, so it will be a compromise between keel length, body capacity and width for choosing the best cockerels. Once they start fighting for real I'll have to re assess the lot and make my choices. This is going to be tougher than I thought.

You learn so much about them by getting your hands all over them. It can be disappointing sometimes but then I remember that I only need a few to move forward and if I choose well... next year should be that much better.

 

[DesertChic]

I think you will really like the WR X DC. Not only beautiful but very functional. I would cross DC over WR. Don't ask, I just would.

Now that I have DC and DC cross hatching eggs in the incubator from @lpatelski I hope to perform this cross as well as crossing them with my NNs.

One of my neighbors came over last night to buy some eggs from me and was astonished by the looks of my birds...and not just the NNs. He grew up on a farm, but still couldn't believe how manageable all of my birds are, and how big many of them are. I picked up several roosters to show him my favorite attributes of each of them and he was astonished by how friendly the boys were, and how easily they co-habitated without fighting. Then I told him about my future breeding plans for better meat production and he began discussing paying me to raise some birds for him. Then we showed him the aquaponics and the ready-to-harvest Tilapia we've grown. He wants those too!

My husband just stood there listening, grinning from ear to ear. Later he joked that we're going to sell our business and just stay home and being chicken and Tilapia farmers. Sounds like a pretty good life to me.

 

[Turk Raphael]

Now that I have DC and DC cross hatching eggs in the incubator from @lpatelski I hope to perform this cross as well as crossing them with my NNs.

One of my neighbors came over last night to buy some eggs from me and was astonished by the looks of my birds...and not just the NNs. He grew up on a farm, but still couldn't believe how manageable all of my birds are, and how big many of them are. I picked up several roosters to show him my favorite attributes of each of them and he was astonished by how friendly the boys were, and how easily they co-habitated without fighting. Then I told him about my future breeding plans for better meat production and he began discussing paying me to raise some birds for him. Then we showed him the aquaponics and the ready-to-harvest Tilapia we've grown. He wants those too!

My husband just stood there listening, grinning from ear to ear. Later he joked that we're going to sell our business and just stay home and being chicken and Tilapia farmers. Sounds like a pretty good life to me.

I have a feeling you may be "thinning your herd" next year or before, especially some of the birds/breeds that are just holding onto your imagination. Linda's birds will add a totally new and exponential dimension to your breeding program.

 

[DesertChic]

I have a feeling you may be "thinning your herd" next year or before, especially some of the birds/breeds that are just holding onto your imagination. Linda's birds will add a totally new and exponential dimension to your breeding program.

Yep! Already started. I butchered 7 birds last week and have another half dozen to finish off this week, as long as my work schedule allows it.

 

[CanadianBuckeye]

Now that I have DC and DC cross hatching eggs in the incubator from @lpatelski I hope to perform this cross as well as crossing them with my NNs.

One of my neighbors came over last night to buy some eggs from me and was astonished by the looks of my birds...and not just the NNs. He grew up on a farm, but still couldn't believe how manageable all of my birds are, and how big many of them are. I picked up several roosters to show him my favorite attributes of each of them and he was astonished by how friendly the boys were, and how easily they co-habitated without fighting. Then I told him about my future breeding plans for better meat production and he began discussing paying me to raise some birds for him. Then we showed him the aquaponics and the ready-to-harvest Tilapia we've grown. He wants those too!

My husband just stood there listening, grinning from ear to ear. Later he joked that we're going to sell our business and just stay home and being chicken and Tilapia farmers. Sounds like a pretty good life to me.

Woooo hoooo!

That's awesome! I'd buy tilapia from you too! And probably even chickens!

 

[lpatelski]

Now that I have DC and DC cross hatching eggs in the incubator from @lpatelski I hope to perform this cross as well as crossing them with my NNs.

One of my neighbors came over last night to buy some eggs from me and was astonished by the looks of my birds...and not just the NNs. He grew up on a farm, but still couldn't believe how manageable all of my birds are, and how big many of them are. I picked up several roosters to show him my favorite attributes of each of them and he was astonished by how friendly the boys were, and how easily they co-habitated without fighting. Then I told him about my future breeding plans for better meat production and he began discussing paying me to raise some birds for him. Then we showed him the aquaponics and the ready-to-harvest Tilapia we've grown. He wants those too!

My husband just stood there listening, grinning from ear to ear. Later he joked that we're going to sell our business and just stay home and being chicken and Tilapia farmers. Sounds like a pretty good life to me.

I am glad you are breeding for temperament. There is nothing worse than a pen of flighty, panic driven chickens stampeding and crushing each other or Roosters that want to take you on. Most of my flock will tolerate being touched. Some are down right obnoxious, perch on your boots type. I have one that jumps up to be petted. It's cute now, just wait until he hits 10 pounds.

 

[DesertChic]

I am glad you are breeding for temperament. There is nothing worse than a pen of flighty, panic driven chickens stampeding and crushing each other or Roosters that want to take you on. Most of my flock will tolerate being touched. Some are down right obnoxious, perch on your boots type. I have one that jumps up to be petted. It's cute now, just wait until he hits 10 pounds.

Yeah, I have two Bielefelder roosters, one about 9 lbs and the other around 11 lbs, who insist on being held tight against my chest so they can rest their heads on my shoulders while being pet. Those two boys are spoiled rotten! As soon as one hops onto my lap the other comes running over to try to knock him off and take his place. It's very sweet, but sometimes a bit overwhelming.