BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[Our Roost]

Sorry as I didn't clarify. My interest was in the trap nests pictures and not GLW's.

 

[DesertChic]

Sorry as I didn't clarify. My interest was in the trap nests pictures and not GLW's.

Check out these sites:

http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/trap+nests.html

http://journeytoforever.org/farm_library/ppp/ppp5.html

https://willowcreekfarm.wordpress.com/2013/07/15/how-we-built-trap-nest-boxes/

You can also Google "trap nest for chickens" and get a variety of images.
One caveat to trap nesting though...if it's really hot out and your chicken is trapped inside for too long she can die of heat stroke. I could never use them most of the year here in AZ. Too hot.

 

[hellbender]

Too funnny! But....didn't you once say you were minimizing the number of breeds & birds? It seems the chicken gods have bigger plans for you.

Yes I did say that. I was going to re-order them for my daughter anyway...so this couldn't have worked out better.

Still, in the back of my mind...I fully plan to test breed a couple of those Wyandotte pullets under a Dark Cornish at some point so still staying within the 'meat bird' boundaries that I have established for myself.

But again...this is our hobby....who knows what foolishness tomorrow brings?

 

[Our Roost]

IMO, I feel that if you are breeding for a good utility bird, you have to set standards of perfection or you will never truly succeed. Your end result will always look like what? You are tinkering and experimenting to achieve something that no one has seen but you yourself have envisioned what you want. Somewhere along the line you will have to have a standard deemed your perfect creation!

 

[dfr1973]

Wow! With that kind of service, if I ever decide to buy live hatchery chicks I'm definitely going with Cackle. Good customer service is everything nowadays....and so rare.

I had a good interaction with them as well this spring. I placed my order for mid-April back at the beginning of February, and the website didn't have that hatch period up yet, so I talked to someone over the phone. The lady on the phone was helpful, courteous, and cheerful.

 

[hellbender]

IMO, I feel that if you are breeding for a good utility bird, you have to set standards of perfection or you will never truly succeed. Your end result will always look like what? You are tinkering and experimenting to achieve something that no one has seen but you yourself have envisioned what you want. Somewhere along the line you will have to have a standard deemed your perfect creation!

Right here represents what I consider perfection. Perhaps not the greatest layers but there will be plenty of eggs for my family and a few friends....also lots of eggs for the birds and dogs!



Buckeye over Dark Cornish.

 

[JRNash]

I REALLY like the looks of this bird.he looks REALLY SOLID

 

[LindaB220]

The gals at Cackle Hatchery are sweet hearts...The one put me on hold for about 5 minutes...got back to me and said to enjoy them...no charge. It's their fault. Those are fairly expensive chicks...about $8 bucks each for the pullets. Of course I don't know but I suspect other hatcheries would try to squeeze part of that money out of my fist and honestly, if they asked, I'd pay for them.

Still glad to get them free!

Pics coming shortly...

Yea!!!!! Good job. On their parts too. Well, after the snake fiasco a few days ago, I decided to get rid of my breed stock and most of the others. With summer coming, I'm just not in the shape for a lot of outside activities. After I get back from DD in Vancouver WA in late Sept. I will start over on some hens and not worry about trying to breed. I gave the Blosl rooster and the two XW hens to a La thread friend locally. She's thrilled. She ended up with 9 newborn babies and 21 or so 3 wk old chicks. Along with 3 or 4 other hens. Yes, I gave them away. Not the time to try to make a profit. I want them where I can get babies or eggs whenever. The XW rooster and my Blosl hen and the Coronation Sussex went to another friend. He ended up with one of my big coops. The two other coops are in exchange for George building me two 4 x 8' x 24" tall raised beds. I'll have time to garden before my trip and in the fall. Frost doesn't come until 11/15. Right now I'm sitting with just one Black Australorp hen that got away and I may just put her in the new coop I kept for eggs. The other friend is buying the new 1588 incubator I bought 6 wks ago. I'll have enough to buy me a small freezer to put in for in veggies I grow and sales from the grocery store.
Even though I may be chickenless for a while I'm still coming on and chatting. Good friends need to stay in touch and I have a few.

 

[Our Roost]

hellbender, my gosh he looks impressive. Bet he's got some jump in his giddy up! Any pictures of the hens? My good friend is hatching out breeder stock buckeyes and getting very excited. I will mention you post and project.

 

[Shellz]

Sorry, not on here much. Been butting heads with hubby about our poultry direction. We don't always see eye to eye. In any case, I love your rooster hellbender! Nice shape, thick legs...very meaty looking.

I'd like to try breeding a Buckeye rooster over Malines hens & see what happens. I've got 17 Buckeye eggs in lockdown right now. If only I can convince hubby to keep a few Malines hens over the winter.