BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[Turk Raphael]

The "girl in the fireplace"???

Don't know about that but she was King Louis XVs mistress for several years...had hair style something like the birds you and DesertChick posted.

 

[Kassaundra]

Don't know about that but she was King Louis XVs mistress for several years...had hair style something like the birds you and DesertChick posted.

I know I was making a reference to a fictional story "she" was in to see if you were referencing it.

 

[ejcrist]

I










I have some barreds too, nothing pure

I think the second picture is a Barred Rock and Ostrich cross. A Barred Ostrich.

They're some really cool looking birds - thanks for sharing! If I hatch some like those from the NN's I'm getting soon, my only Barred Rock rooster Hoss better not tell me he didn't have anything to do with it. I'm really glad DesertChic talked me into getting NN's. I'm really looking forward to adding them to the flock now. The more I read about them and see what you guys are doing with them, the more interesting I'm finding them.

 

[Beer can]

I think the second picture is a Barred Rock and Ostrich cross. A Barred Ostrich.

They're some really cool looking birds - thanks for sharing! If I hatch some like those from the NN's I'm getting soon, my only Barred Rock rooster Hoss better not tell me he didn't have anything to do with it. I'm really glad DesertChic talked me into getting NN's. I'm really looking forward to adding them to the flock now. The more I read about them and see what you guys are doing with them, the more interesting I'm finding them.

This thread talked me into getting naked necks, Hellbender, DesertChic, Kassaundra, draye, Kev, probably some others. The turning point for me on the 'ugly chickens' (I think they are super cool looking now that I have them!!) was finding out the big tasting contest GreenFire Farms uses to sell a couple of their breeds ($$$) as the second best and one of the best, the naked neck was the first best according to that French Chefs contest they refer to. I'm here for the meat, eggs are secondary and we get way more than we need. As far as meat, other than cornishX which I have nothing against, besides you have to buy them, and my giants taste better and are bigger, just cost more to get to weight, actually not a lot more, they are not super active like most chickens I've had and free range excellent, I personally don't find them to be hogs at all, usually the last to the feed. Super pleased with the NN I've processed so far, super tender and decent meat proportions. I'm usually not to fond of crosses, these will see some cornishX influence and see where it goes.

Ostrich cross

I told my brother-inlaw when he stopped by to have me change ALL his tires...(don't let anybody know you can do it...hand tire changer for myself to save $$...brings them out of the woodwork...)
I had just moved the NN out of the house to a 4x8 brooder into the garage, "what are they" he says, baby ostriches I told him ....he started talking about the ostrich farm that used to be over the hill, I said "Dude, they're chickens", asked how I was going to fence them in cause they get huge....again told him they were chickens....when he finally left with new rubber he said something else about ostriches, "THEY ARE NAKED NECK CHICKENS!!!
he laughed like crazy

quit messing with me!!! he said.....wow, couldn't convince him, he left thinking I had ostriches...

 

[DesertChic]

@DesertChic what's the other 1/2?!! silkie or polish :-D

.........or Roadrunner?

LOLl! Silkie. She's actually a really consistent layer of medium sized eggs - 5 to 6 per week no matter what the weather or season. She's one of my most reliable layers.

 

[Kassaundra]

This thread talked me into getting naked necks, Hellbender, DesertChic, Kassaundra, draye, Kev, probably some others. The turning point for me on the 'ugly chickens' (I think they are super cool looking now that I have them!!) was finding out the big tasting contest GreenFire Farms uses to sell a couple of their breeds ($$$) as the second best and one of the best, the naked neck was the first best according to that French Chefs contest they refer to. I'm here for the meat, eggs are secondary and we get way more than we need. As far as meat, other than cornishX which I have nothing against, besides you have to buy them, and my giants taste better and are bigger, just cost more to get to weight, actually not a lot more, they are not super active like most chickens I've had and free range excellent, I personally don't find them to be hogs at all, usually the last to the feed. Super pleased with the NN I've processed so far, super tender and decent meat proportions. I'm usually not to fond of crosses, these will see some cornishX influence and see where it goes.

Ostrich cross

I told my brother-inlaw when he stopped by to have me change ALL his tires...(don't let anybody know you can do it...hand tire changer for myself to save $$...brings them out of the woodwork...)
I had just moved the NN out of the house to a 4x8 brooder into the garage, "what are they" he says, baby ostriches I told him ....he started talking about the ostrich farm that used to be over the hill, I said "Dude, they're chickens", asked how I was going to fence them in cause they get huge....again told him they were chickens....when he finally left with new rubber he said something else about ostriches, "THEY ARE NAKED NECK CHICKENS!!!
he laughed like crazy

quit messing with me!!! he said.....wow, couldn't convince him, he left thinking I had ostriches...

 

[CanadianBuckeye]

Roger that. I really like those Minorca's too. Yet another breed I'd love to raise. Yeah I wouldn't look to get rose or pea combs unless I had extended temps below 25 or so like in Minnesota, Wyoming, up in Canada, etc. I know you get some nasty winter weather in your neck of the woods even though you ain't up north but I believe I'd be more worried about hot summer temps than cold winter temps. The heat is a real killer. I know a lot of experienced chicken raisers that lost birds this past summer.

It's not just the cold, it's a combination of temperature and the humidity- I had some touches of frostbite even on my Buckeye cockerel's pea comb one night, it was only around 18oF but there was 100% humidity- the coop was less humid than outdoors, so venting did not help. There was fog and thick hoar frost the next day. The single combed layers got frostbite on the tips, but the Buckeye hens were fine.
So in my particular area of south- central Ontario, the winter temperature does not get anywhere near as cold as Minnesota, really most winter nights are around 0F or maybe the occasional 5-10 below, the odd night does get to -30 but that's rare. But our summers can be hot- above 90oF- so I need a comb on my chickens that isn't too small. Pea combs are perfect. Bigger than a walnut/cushion comb for summer, smaller wattles than a rose comb for winter.

 

[Turk Raphael]

It's not just the cold, it's a combination of temperature and the humidity- I had some touches of frostbite even on my Buckeye cockerel's pea comb one night, it was only around 18oF but there was 100% humidity- the coop was less humid than outdoors, so venting did not help. There was fog and thick hoar frost the next day. The single combed layers got frostbite on the tips, but the Buckeye hens were fine.
So in my particular area of south- central Ontario, the winter temperature does not get anywhere near as cold as Minnesota, really most winter nights are around 0F or maybe the occasional 5-10 below, the odd night does get to -30 but that's rare. But our summers can be hot- above 90oF- so I need a comb on my chickens that isn't too small. Pea combs are perfect. Bigger than a walnut/cushion comb for summer, smaller wattles than a rose comb for winter.

If I may interject, Dad and I have removed wattles from MANY birds over the hears and for that matter, I can say so now, since Dad is no longer with us, we have totally 'dubbed' birds for their protection from frostbite. Certainly one can't do that to birds that are being considered for show but I have only one breed (Chantecler) for which I have such notions so there are several birds scampering around here that will face the surgical scissors before I leave for vacation.

Edited to correct spelling.

Aaron

 

[CanadianBuckeye]

If I may interject, Dad and I have removed wattles from MANY birds over the hears and for that matter, I can say so now, since Dad is no longer with us, we have totally 'dubbed' birds for their protection from frostbite. Certainly one can't do that to birds that are being considered for show but I have only one breed (Chantecler) for which I have such notions so there are several birds scampering around here that will face the surgical scissors before I leave for vacation.

Edited to correct spelling.

Aaron

That's interesting, I would have thought that a Chantecler's comb and wattles were so small you didn't have to worry about frostbite. ?

 

[3riverschick]

My term top poppers are those chicks that mature into birds that closely align with SOP....they make you catch your breath and stand still to watch them in motion.
Bob Blosl advised us to kick the can down the middle of the road; others advise we do that by selecting for balance in breeding characteristics. By careful selection and pairing, the genetics nic and those few beauties pop to the top.

In our herd there will be standout heifers that we all comment about as we check the herd....nice top line, great head, broad rear, good muscle, good-looking, nice disposition...from 4 months of age and still getting those comments at 8 months....she is a keeper.

Knowing that type is more influenced by the hen, with color from the male, it will be interesting to follow your Chantecler female family in-breeding plan.

Thanks for the clarification! In dogs, we called "top poppers" dogs that "fill the eye" their symmetry and grace are such you just want to keep looking at them. There is no disruption of their breed type or fluid grace which interrupts the eye as one views the dog.
Yes, I am excited about the female family inbreeding. That's what's so neat about having breed with only one color which breeds consistently. Easier to spend more time breeding for type. I am going to explore the possibility of moving my flock to pure silver. As I understand it now, the White Chantecler is a mixture of Silver, dominant and recessive white genes.
A pure silver bird is so much easier to breed for type, smile. I think I can pull some nice structural traits forward out of the females.
Best,
Karen