BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[Beer can]

Then, if I did switch to roll out boxes they'd probably lay in the corners of the coop...

 

[CanadianBuckeye]

Then, if I did switch to roll out boxes they'd probably lay in the corners of the coop...

It's true, hens can be maddeningly particular about where they lay!

 

[DesertChic]

My persistently broody White Rock, Mama Lily is broody AGAIN! She has yet to lay for longer than six weeks without going broody. I'd love to give her some eggs to sit on right now but until I cull these extra cockerels there's no place to put her. Why can't she wait until I have the breeding pens set up?

 

[Kev]

My persistently broody White Rock, Mama Lily is broody AGAIN! She has yet to lay for longer than six weeks without going broody. I'd love to give her some eggs to sit on right now but until I cull these extra cockerels there's no place to put her. Why can't she wait until I have the breeding pens set up?

she;'s telling you to hurry up and get on with it Already... sheesh....

 

[bnjrob]

This is an interesting plot twist - Canada's commercial egg industry has a game plan to change how the hens live. https://www.realagriculture.com/201...ustry-wide-move-away-from-conventional-cages/

 

[AnthNDacula]

It's true, hens can be maddeningly particular about where they lay!

My favorite is when someone is in a hen's chosen next box, so she climbs on top and drops one on their back.

 

[hellbender]

My persistently broody White Rock, Mama Lily is broody AGAIN! She has yet to lay for longer than six weeks without going broody. I'd love to give her some eggs to sit on right now but until I cull these extra cockerels there's no place to put her. Why can't she wait until I have the breeding pens set up?

She figures you have 20 or so days...get the lead out... She has work to do!

 

[CanadianBuckeye]

I really have to get going on my Sportsman electric broodie- lots of hatching eggs coming in April, HAS to be ready! I'm building a raft of tractor/coop combos. I've realized that I have to house my breeds separately- the Buckeyes and Cornish are too fat on the food that keeps my red sex link crosses thin.
I have no experience with Barred Hollands (keeping the hens only, not breeding) and I'm getting some Anconas (ditto). Any advice which breeds could be fed the same? I'm guessing that dark Cornish and Buckeye would have the same nutritional needs, ( treated like meat breeds- more protein to start but fewer extras when they start to lay) and that Barred Hollands, Buckeye/production RIR crosses (getting those too) and Anconas should be fed like other egg breeds - using the ISA brown recommendations- but what about Buff Rocks? I ordered a handful of buffs just for the colour. I'll be crossing them ( a future project) with the Dark Cornish, just for pretty cross chicks.

I'm going to be very strict about not hatching pullet eggs, or any chick that isn't from a planned mating. I don't think any chicken I have right now is worthy of reproducing (maybe one Cornish hen, that's it) so that makes it easy. Right now I have a small flock running loose, they are wreaking havoc with their scratching, so into a tractor they go! They won't like it but it will be much better for biosecurity. And at least next year I'll have Hostas.

 

[hellbender]

I really have to get going on my Sportsman electric broodie- lots of hatching eggs coming in April, HAS to be ready! I'm building a raft of tractor/coop combos. I've realized that I have to house my breeds separately- the Buckeyes and Cornish are too fat on the food that keeps my red sex link crosses thin.
I have no experience with Barred Hollands (keeping the hens only, not breeding) and I'm getting some Anconas (ditto). Any advice which breeds could be fed the same? I'm guessing that dark Cornish and Buckeye would have the same nutritional needs, ( treated like meat breeds- more protein to start but fewer extras when they start to lay) and that Barred Hollands, Buckeye/production RIR crosses (getting those too) and Anconas should be fed like other egg breeds - using the ISA brown recommendations- but what about Buff Rocks? I ordered a handful of buffs just for the colour. I'll be crossing them ( a future project) with the Dark Cornish, just for pretty cross chicks.

Are you going to be ready for an invasion from South of the brooder...border?

 

[CanadianBuckeye]

Absolutely YES

The Lumber store really likes me