BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[LindaB220]

I'm thinking about traveling again...and taking all credit/cash cards with me!  I got a bill today from our local feed store (of all places) for $408.00 (representing a hefty discount)....and not an ounce of animal feed is involved.  Ariel [COLOR=EE82EE]signed[/COLOR] her name to the order slip for 6 dog crates with the dimensions of 34''X24''X27''.  Made by MidWest Mgf,co.  

I have NO need for dog crates because I have kennels and we never take the dogs off the property.  We do most of our own Vet. work and in case of serious emergency, my Vet. lives about 12 miles away and will come out at all hours, rain or shine, holidays, etc and charges accordingly.

Her reasoning for the purchase....Turk tore up her show crates and X-pens to partition off his chicken house in Ky (great air-flow), Sooooo I have to replace some of them.

She is getting them to harbor breeding cocks.  She is not impressed with the outside hooches that Jason has make for cock-birds over the years and wants these to keep inside the barn, for 1: keeping the cocks separated in large enough areas and 2: to keep the young cockerels that are being selected and saved for brood stock from riding the feathers and hide off her pullets. She makes it sound so worthwhile but there must be a cheaper way to do this, even if homemade structures aren't easily moved.

Female logic....I just have to learn to live with it.   

Bahahaha. That's what Dad's do. At least mine did. She worth it. Treasure her. BUT, yes, take your cards with you. Just because. You are a great Dad!!!

 

[ronott1]

I was checking into rooster fertility in the heat and came across a bulletin from the Kansas State board of Agriculture from 1911-1912. Notice that they used both Rooster and Cockerel in the report...from 1912!

Quote: Link to bulletin The point is that it was not profitable even in 1912 to raise cockerels past crowing age.

 

[JRNash]

I ordered multiple roosters. They will not be getting processed when they crow. I need to find the Best rooster for each breed. And you never know how a bird will turn out at full maturity

 

[hellbender]

I ordered multiple roosters. They will not be getting processed when they crow. I need to find the Best rooster for each breed. And you never know how a bird will turn out at full maturity

After one gets a bit of experience, the 'keepers' are pretty obvious before beginning to crow. In our case, the many birds that are not reserved for breeding have been turned to EUNUCHS LONG before any notion of crowing crosses their little minds.

EDIT: Even in dealing with superior stock and regardless of what type of animal is being bred, it is only a very select few that is worthy of being used as breeding stock...that goes for males and females of the species.

 

[bnjrob]

I was checking into rooster fertility in the heat and came across a bulletin from the Kansas State board of Agriculture from 1911-1912. Notice that they used both Rooster and Cockerel in the report...from 1912!

The point is that it was not profitable even in 1912 to raise cockerels past crowing age.

Shoot, if that's the case, I'd be killing butchering 3 week old cockerels. Around here, we have lots of early crowers.

 

[hellbender]

Shoot, if that's the case, I'd be killing butchering 3 week old cockerels. Around here, we have lots of early crowers.

Three week old crowers are precocious indeed!

 

[ronott1]

I ordered multiple roosters. They will not be getting processed when they crow. I need to find the Best rooster for each breed. And you never know how a bird will turn out at full maturity

That is a different set of breeding requirements. If going for production of eggs and selling off extra boys, the methods used would be different. Breeding for showing would require waiting until you see the adult plumage. For production, you can figure out the good ones my measuring growth rate during the first 16 weeks. You do want to keep one that grows fast and gets big by that age for production.

Next generation you might be at that point.

 

[bnjrob]

Three week old crowers are precocious indeed!

If it's not normal, chances are we do it around here. The batch of turkey poults we got last month - barely a week old and several of them started strutting and chest bumping, even fanning out their tiny little tail feathers to show off. It's always something here.

 

[ronott1]

Shoot, if that's the case, I'd be killing butchering 3 week old cockerels. Around here, we have lots of early crowers.

Yes, I have one that started crowing early--he has olive egg genes and is a cross between araucana, leghorn and Partridge Penedesenca.

Cute little thing. His crow is very cute to hear. Definately not very lout.

The Pita Pintas have not started crowing yet and the are the same age--9 weeks old.

 

[ronott1]

If it's not normal, chances are we do it around here. The batch of turkey poults we got last month - barely a week old and several of them started strutting and chest bumping, even fanning out their tiny little tail feathers to show off. It's always something here.

On the bright side, it should be easy to find their testes for making capons....