BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[oshun55555]

Quote: I am an old timer, that's how I do mine and it works just fine for me, I tried the pen thing out of peer pressure, but I am too old to do all that putting up and taking down pens, I raised my flocks the way you do for many years and it suits my needs, that's the way granny did it and we always had eggs and nice fat chickens on the table.

 

[alisar]

I'm always jealous of people in other parts of the country that are able to free range and only need to put up minimal fencing. Here in our corner of California we HAVE to pen our animals 24/7. Otherwise they are lunchmeat for practically everything from golden eagles to mountain lions. The thing we do have an advantage on is practically year round hatching and brooding with minimal hassle. This may seem harsh but I do a lot of early culling to keep down numbers so I don't need to have as many pens and things aren't overcrowded. They must be easy to handle and thrivers. A few runts and sassy ones slip through if they have personality
That said, my long suffering husband is building me the new permanent breeding pens.

 

[holm25]

I know this doesnt involve chickens but just thought I would show u whats going in the incubator next! Some African goose eggs, Pekin duck eggs, Muscovy eggs and turkey eggs! All from my own stock!

 

[alisar]

I'm still too new at this to have roots to go back to so I may have to borrow yours, LOL! 

In all seriousness, what you say makes a lot of sense. My problem resides in the battles that occur between my logical mind, my soft heart, and my creative imagination. I still have never culled a hen for population control, though I know I should. I still have too many roosters because of both time limitations, my learning curve in determining which are the best ones to keep, and honestly just having some truly wonderful, affectionate boys that have become like pets to me while also caring well for their girls. So here I am, now with at least 80 chickens thanks to these last two batches of chicks, and feeling more than a little overwhelmed at times. And this is why I love coming to this post and reading the sage advice from those with more experience. It may take a while to penetrate my thick skull, but ultimately the wisdom all of you supply does get through and finally, one day, I simply do what needs to be done. Not today...but one day. 

Hang in there, you are at the downhill of what I call the honeymoon phase. You'll end up thinking about which projects you'll really want to focus on with which birds and it will fall into place after that. Besides, your setup is amazing. And you can process your birds beautifully! Mine always end up getting skinned because I mangle them.

 

[Beer can]

I know this doesnt involve chickens but just thought I would show u whats going in the incubator next! Some African goose eggs, Pekin duck eggs, Muscovy eggs and turkey eggs! All from my own stock!

I don't see chickens in the title of this thread ;-)
What's your plans on going about the different hatch dates as far as humidity, 'lockdown' etc? Just asking cause I know someone that just went through it with chicken and muscovy at the same time. He made a 'tent' with a strawberry container and a sponge to segregate humidity.
And took the turner out when chicks were hatching, turned muscovy by hand, then put back in.

 

[angry rooster]

How funny, I was just going to ask if anyone had tried Bresse. I thought the were French though but maybe it's the French- Canadian connection?

Only the ones from France are bresse same as champagne everything else is sparkling wine

 

[holm25]

I don't see chickens in the title of this thread ;-)
What's your plans on going about the different hatch dates as far as humidity, 'lockdown' etc? Just asking cause I know someone that just went through it with chicken and muscovy at the same time. He made a 'tent' with a strawberry container and a sponge to segregate humidity.
And took the turner out when chicks were hatching, turned muscovy by hand, then put back in.

I set the muscovy's till they have 28 days left then throw in the goose, pekin and turkey eggs. I run the humidity for the duck eggs and the turkey eggs do just fine.

 

[Beer can]

@holm25 that sounds a lot easier!

 

[NanaKat]

Reading 120 plus posts to catch up...lots of great opinions and comments.
On pens and free ranging our birds....my layer flock free ranges most every day.
The 10 special breed pens get garden greens, grass and weeds pulled when I'm collecting eggs for hatching.
When I'm not hatching eggs those special pens free range on a rotating schedule of three days a week...some on half day if they return to their pen mid day and I shut their pen gate.
All pens get a few hands full of cracked corn in the evening as I lock up their pens...very rarely do I need to herd a lone bird to its pen.
All broody hens go into a brood cage until chicks are 4 days old. Then mom and chicks are dropped to the floor in the layer coop and free range at will. Chicks have a chick only feeding station on the floor in the layer coop.

 

[Mini Meat]

I will likely switch to flock breeding once I have my flock where I like them. Probably be several years before they are ready. Part of the reason that my pullets will have the primary free ranging privileges is so I can add foraging skill to my list of selection criteria.

I am so tired today. 8 hrs. with the electrician replacing my main panel after it literally blew up in my face last night. I am fine, but my undies could not be salvaged

220v...you scary.

I stuck around all day because I know how nice it is to have someone there even if just to hand you stuff.

I'm gonna go pass out.