BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[Fire Ant Farm]

I've been trying to get some decent photos of Monty's son, Andres, as well as my big NN boy, Lenny to show the amazing beauty of their feathering so far, but they don't like to work with me at all. That said, these are the best I've managed to take to date:



Andres continues to outpace his father in both growth rate and size for his age, which just blows me away. I thought Monty was big! And just since I took this photo three days ago he's got more color coming in on his wings...more of a red than pale buff. And he's super sweet so far without being overtly affectionate, a tendency I hope he maintains.

And now Lenny:




He's less than half an ounce smaller than Andres but with a slower overall growth rate. I'd considered butchering his father (I still have too many roosters around here), but I'm going to weight until Lenny's 10-week weigh-in to compare growth rates and really get a feel for his body shape. At least Lenny has a better personality than his daddy, who's a bit flighty for me taste.

My big surprise is a chick from my most recent hatch - no name yet, but he's actually bigger than either of the two boys above were at 3 weeks, but has a slower overall growth rate. Still, I see potential here:

These look great! Love the look of that last chick - chunky looking!!!!!

 

[GabrielBane]

Just when I was losing hope, I found our Wheaten pullet squatting under a bunch of vines, and she had laid her first egg! Were elated, I've misplaced my small scale, so I didn't weight it, but it's white with a very slight tint to it

 

[Turk Raphael]

I've been trying to get some decent photos of Monty's son, Andres, as well as my big NN boy, Lenny to show the amazing beauty of their feathering so far, but they don't like to work with me at all. That said, these are the best I've managed to take to date:



Andres continues to outpace his father in both growth rate and size for his age, which just blows me away. I thought Monty was big! And just since I took this photo three days ago he's got more color coming in on his wings...more of a red than pale buff. And he's super sweet so far without being overtly affectionate, a tendency I hope he maintains.

And now Lenny:




He's less than half an ounce smaller than Andres but with a slower overall growth rate. I'd considered butchering his father (I still have too many roosters around here), but I'm going to weight until Lenny's 10-week weigh-in to compare growth rates and really get a feel for his body shape. At least Lenny has a better personality than his daddy, who's a bit flighty for me taste.

My big surprise is a chick from my most recent hatch - no name yet, but he's actually bigger than either of the two boys above were at 3 weeks, but has a slower overall growth rate. Still, I see potential here:

Hope you don't 'off' Lenny for having a slower growth rate. That's in the 'PLUS' column for me and my program. Birds that mature rapidly do nothing for me but my interest is by far, much more aimed toward quality meat production (capons) than egg production. All the production I need is to get enough eggs for the broods to ride or to fill my incubator when I'm in the mood.

Both fine looking cockerels.

As an aside...When your son comes of age, perhaps you would trust him to take a trip with me. I wouldn't go near Turkey now but Greece is still whispering to my heart strings and I'm certain he would love that country.

Aaron

 

[miss heny]

On the whole concept of travel while young.

As a youngster myself I can see the appeal, and plan on a gap year but cost and a family farm holds you back a lot :/ I would love to travel one day but I also have plans to run a poultry and miniature horse business one day plus possible schooling in the future. At last the cost of dreams.

On to another note, had a broody hatch out three chicks that I have no clue who the daddy is they all appear dom white though.

 

[DesertChic]

Hope you don't 'off' Lenny for having a slower growth rate. That's in the 'PLUS' column for me and my program. Birds that mature rapidly do nothing for me but my interest is by far, much more aimed toward quality meat production (capons) than egg production. All the production I need is to get enough eggs for the broods to ride or to fill my incubator when I'm in the mood.

Both fine looking cockerels.

As an aside...When your son comes of age, perhaps you would trust him to take a trip with me. I wouldn't go near Turkey now but Greece is still whispering to my heart strings and I'm certain he would love that country.

Aaron

Based on size, personality, and even his beauty, I'm currently favoring Lenny over his father. I just like to have all in the info in making comparisons before deciding.

As far as Hayden (my son) is concerned, once he's 18 he gets to make his own decisions unless I'm paying for them.

Currently he's planning to become a flight attendant so he can get paid to travel while gathering information for the books he plans to write. He's not quite fluent in French but fine tuning his bilingual skills so he can hopefully work on international flights. He's also planning to get an associates degree, probably in psychology, to improve his chances of getting the job he wants. I wholeheartedly encourage him to pursue his hearts' desires. Life's too dang short to live with regret.

 

[dan26552]

May I join? I'll be starting to breed my ducks for production soon.

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

Just when I was losing hope, I found our Wheaten pullet squatting under a bunch of vines, and she had laid her first egg! Were elated, I've misplaced my small scale, so I didn't weight it, but it's white with a very slight tint to it

May I join? I'll be starting to breed my ducks for production soon.

Hey, Dan!!!! Welcome to the Breeding for Production thread.

- Ant Farm

 

[DesertChic]

May I join? I'll be starting to breed my ducks for production soon.

Absolutely and WELCOME!!!!

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

Dan's cool! Dan built his own incubator and had an amazing hatch in tandem with mine! Dan's about to set duck eggs! Dan's cool!

Dan, this thread is about production - there's lots of talk about meat, but eggs are part of it too. Tell everyone about your duck egg production compared to chickens...

(I tell ya', if I didn't already have all those chicks coming, I'd be getting ducks this year...)

- Ant Farm

 

[GabrielBane]

I *love* Lenny's coloring thus far. He's going to be a stunner!

Dan's cool! Dan built his own incubator and had an amazing hatch in tandem with mine! Dan's about to set duck eggs! Dan's cool!

Dan, this thread is about production - there's lots of talk about meat, but eggs are part of it too. Tell everyone about your duck egg production compared to chickens...

(I tell ya', if I didn't already have all those chicks coming, I'd be getting ducks this year...)

- Ant Farm

You can live vicariously through us, we're getting ducks and a pair of geese for next Christmas' celebration (and to de-forest our pond of the assorted weeds that have taken over....). I grew up on a Muscovy duck operation in Puerto Rico, and the ducks are so much fun; They are the biggest goof-balls.... but just *SO* gross to brood and contain. If we didn't have the pond, I'm not sure if I'd be getting waterfowl again.