BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[neopolitancrazy]

 Hey. Actual comments on actual breeding...

 Their needs and what is ideal does change with time. It is interesting to hear your observations with your own birds.

  Even with poultry, they are the most efficient when they are at their best.

  It is interesting to hear the markedly different results that you did realize with the different matings, and your plan to move forward.

 Your plan with your experiences is a model for others to follow. To secure the best stock that we can. Something deep enough to start with. Either two pairs or one trio. Go in some different directions, and focus on what does work best.

 Then you have narrowed your focus, which we have to do. And that can change from year to year, according to what we are seeing. Heck, sometimes we have to set a  side pen up to work on something separate from the main effort. Not getting too complicated, but not to the neglect of something that we will pay for later either.

 You will do well if you choose. I hope that others consider your example, and establish a model that aligns with these fundamentals. It is helpful for me to be reminded of them....

 It has been interesting to work through all that it has required to just get started. The most rare and challenging breeds really should not be everyone's starting place. There really is value in considering a breed and variety in better shape, and simpler to start. There is nothing wrong with white Leghorns or Rocks. LOL.

Thank you, sir, I value your opinion.

I have saved one nice Blue cockerel, and am still evaluating 3 Red pullets. I may cross them with each other for a purple family, or backcross the cockerel to his dam and the pullets to their non-sire. (as luck would have it, all my Blue family pullets were either black laced or gold instead of red.)

Dfr1973, those hideous very slow feathering chicks threw me for a loop. I planned to cull runts, but wound up culling mostly for nudity instead. I even had a feather-legged pullet, lol! If either of next year's families show the same problems I had this year, I will cull the common parent, for sure! When those recessive surprises are less frequent, I will be able to better focus on production.

 

[gjensen]

Thank you, sir, I value your opinion.

I have saved one nice Blue cockerel, and am still evaluating 3 Red pullets. I may cross them with each other for a purple family, or backcross the cockerel to his dam and the pullets to their non-sire. (as luck would have it, all my Blue family pullets were either black laced or gold instead of red.)

Dfr1973, those hideous very slow feathering chicks threw me for a loop. I planned to cull runts, but wound up culling mostly for nudity instead. I even had a feather-legged pullet, lol! If either of next year's families show the same problems I had this year, I will cull the common parent, for sure! When those recessive surprises are less frequent, I will be able to better focus on production.

I think it is the challenge of the problems that holds my attention most. I have a love hate relationship with them. The fun is the rolling up our sleeves and going to work. We have to have a problem solving mindset to make it in this hobby. They certainly will come, and not just the ones we expect. We almost have to enjoy them, or at least enjoy figuring them out.

 

[Beer can]

Hmm, is LF chickens like great danes, high protein fast growth bad?
My w giants and r sussex have not been on grower feed since my hawk episode now that they are with the rest of the adult flock. The giants are still growing great, getting quite big now. I was kinda regretting not having them separate and on a higher protein feed. Maybe they don't need it?

 

[cyborg]

Hmm, is LF chickens like great danes, high protein fast growth bad?
My w giants and r sussex have not been on grower feed since my hawk episode now that they are with the rest of the adult flock. The giants are still growing great, getting quite big now. I was kinda regretting not having them separate and on a higher protein feed. Maybe they don't need it?

I raise black Giants, for juvies, I give them 20% protein, for adults, a 50/50 mix of 15% layer feed and 20% grower feed.

 

[Beer can]

Now that my young stock is getting big their coop and run is not going to be big enough to keep everyone. I do not want to get rid of my current mix of layers until probably spring. I did plan on building large tractors to house the sussex and giants separate, which would require nest boxes in each and to many cockerels, cockerels and some of the pullets that I don't plan on breeding...hmmm..??..
Just thought of a much better plan, hatched from this thread.
One large hoop coop tractor to house all the cockerels, pullets all stay in current coop with current layers. That way I don't have to have nest boxes, over breeding, stress, and I can let all cockerels grow out to a nice roasting size, and pick breeders at a full grown size.
Tractor will be placed and moved around on my garden area, will not have to deal with weeds clogging up the rototiller in the spring, should be nice bare ground.
And much cheaper.
That will give me till spring to have to worry about doubling the current coop size for two breeding pens, and getting rid (eating) all non-hackers.

 

[DesertChic]

With your fruit trees...did you try to put a heavy layer of mulch in a hole that was just a bit deeper than called for and put a couple of layers of HEAVY perforated black weather-proof material over the heavy mulch around the base of the trees?

Yes on the mulch, and no on the weatherproofing material. Honestly, along with the sterility of the soil here (we live on what used to be a rock quarry), I think drainage was a major, major issue. With so much rock to contend with, water didn't drain properly and I would bet the roots couldn't spread either. We just recently had work done in the back yard and when they started moving the dead trees the roots were extremely shallow. The only trees that thrive in our yard are the native ones....though I've considered trying some Moringa trees, which has roots that grow straight down just like the mesquite trees.

 

[Beer can]

I grow my tomatoes in barrels cut down to a third, lotsa rabbit poop topped with cheap potting soil. They grow tons of maters.

 

[hellbender]

Hmm, is LF chickens like great danes, high protein fast growth bad?
My w giants and r sussex have not been on grower feed since my hawk episode now that they are with the rest of the adult flock. The giants are still growing great, getting quite big now. I was kinda regretting not having them separate and on a higher protein feed. Maybe they don't need it?

IMHO, 20% protein is more than adequate but it needs to be high quality (meat based) protein.

 

[dfr1973]

5 acres of "sterile dirt and lots of rocks" won't get you much beef or bison but you could have more red meat than you ever wanted with muscovy ducks. They don't need much water, since they're a different species than other ducks. They make red meat. I have heard it tastes much like beef and can be eaten as a steak.

Look, this is muscovy meat:



Looks a lot like beef, doesn't it?

I had hubby look at this pic and he is wanting the recipe. I know someone who has muscovies locally.

ETA: We just had another cull Wyandotte cockerel from Luanne for dinner tonight. Hubby smoked it for a couple hours (after brining overnight, of course) then we finished it off in the crockpot on low for a couple hours. Ohhhh yeaaaaahhhhhhh ... this is the life, I tell ya!

 

[HeritageGoose13]

I found the pic and recipe here:

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/muscovy-duck-breasts-with-pomegranate-wine-sauce-231292

And for anyone else curious:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/669058/muscovy-ducks-tastes-like-roast-beef

It says:

Quote:
The only reason they're not more popular is because they're ugly.