BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[Kusanar]

Quote:
Castration of the rooster. There is an entire thread on this explaining what it is, how to do it, and pictures if you're interested in learning more.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

Castration of the rooster. There is an entire thread on this explaining what it is, how to do it, and pictures if you're interested in learning more.

I've read a few threads and looked over YouTube videos...it's a skill that I will be developing.

 

[CanadianBuckeye]

I'm suspicious that my hens might be showing signs of copper deficiency.I've been getting wrinkled eggs from my cornish,and some of the other eggs are feeling sandpapery. I have not seen signs of disease.
I plan to add acidified copper to the water for a week to see if this clears up. Other symptoms can be aortic rupture, and chicks that die upon pipping. There's some conjecture that the blue egg laying breeds have adapted to and actually need more copper (I don't have any of those, ) but I wonder if it's true for some heritage breeds too. I have cut back on scratch and I'm feeding sesame seeds in the meantime. My vitamin premix does not have minerals :-/ . I wonder if they are deficient in other minerals too. What else can I do? I'm feeding supposedly good quality feed, but the birds do free range. We definitely have mineral deficiencies in our soils, so I'm wondering if that's part of the problem. Any thoughts?

 

[lpatelski]

I'm suspicious that my hens might be showing signs of copper deficiency.I've been getting wrinkled eggs from my cornish,and some of the other eggs are feeling sandpapery. I have not seen signs of disease.
I plan to add acidified copper to the water for a week to see if this clears up. Other symptoms can be aortic rupture, and chicks that die upon pipping. There's some conjecture that the blue egg laying breeds have adapted to and actually need more copper (I don't have any of those, ) but I wonder if it's true for some heritage breeds too. I have cut back on scratch and I'm feeding sesame seeds in the meantime. My vitamin premix does not have minerals :-/ . I wonder if they are deficient in other minerals too. What else can I do? I'm feeding supposedly good quality feed, but the birds do free range. We definitely have mineral deficiencies in our soils, so I'm wondering if that's part of the problem. Any thoughts?

https://www.alltech.com/sites/default/files/alltech-egg-shell-quality-poster.pdf

This pdf file has 20 common egg shell problems.
Corrugated Eggs These eggs are characterised by a very rough and corrugated surface. These are thought to be produced when there is an inability to control and terminate plumping.
Causes:
• Inherited
• Newcastle disease or infectious bronchitis
• Excessive use of antibiotics
• Excess calcium consumption
• Copper deficiency

 

[ronott1]

I'm suspicious that my hens might be showing signs of copper deficiency.I've been getting wrinkled eggs from my cornish,and some of the other eggs are feeling sandpapery. I have not seen signs of disease.
I plan to add acidified copper to the water for a week to see if this clears up. Other symptoms can be aortic rupture, and chicks that die upon pipping. There's some conjecture that the blue egg laying breeds have adapted to and actually need more copper (I don't have any of those, ) but I wonder if it's true for some heritage breeds too. I have cut back on scratch and I'm feeding sesame seeds in the meantime. My vitamin premix does not have minerals :-/ . I wonder if they are deficient in other minerals too. What else can I do? I'm feeding supposedly good quality feed, but the birds do free range. We definitely have mineral deficiencies in our soils, so I'm wondering if that's part of the problem. Any thoughts?

You should be feeding hens layer feed. The layer feed has all of the vitamins and minerals that the hens need to make eggs. You were posting about how wonderful it was that a relative in the olden days only fed grain in the winter?

Luckily we have learned that doing stuff like that is bad husbandry. The chickens become deficient in the winter that way and production is hurt. Also, the chickens become sickly. Remember, chickens have been domesticated for thousands of years and have now been changed by breeding to be very productive. That has changed their nutrition needs. They cannot produce up to 300 eggs a year on grain alone.

Too many treats will also throw off their health.

 

[CanadianBuckeye]

You should be feeding hens layer feed. The layer feed has all of the vitamins and minerals that the hens need to make eggs. You were posting about how wonderful it was that a relative in the olden days only fed grain in the winter?

Luckily we have learned that doing stuff like that is bad husbandry. The chickens become deficient in the winter that way and production is hurt. Also, the chickens become sickly. Remember, chickens have been domesticated for thousands of years and have now been changed by breeding to be very productive. That has changed their nutrition needs. They cannot produce up to 300 eggs a year on grain alone.

Too many treats will also throw off their health.

They do have 2 kinds of layer feed, a non-gmo pellet, and a commercial non- soy grain/pea complete mash. I have two kinds because I don't trust just one source of feed for all their needs. Basically I feel that most commercial feed is mostly the equivalent of a Ritz cracker and a vitamin. Without the addition of vitamins and minerals,modern commercial feeds would probably be totally inadequate. So for me, it's a balancing act of commercial and more "natural" sources of vitamins and minerals including meat, but I am very aware that it's just that, a balancing act and that problems can occur.
I did not say it was wonderful that my grandparent's chickens were fed poorly, just that they were, I do not agree with skimping on feed and nutrition and I try to give my chickens the best nutrition I can. However they are free ranging birds, and I'm very aware that this can cause problems and in fact I'm suspicious that it has. They do get some scratch, I suppose it might have been too much and I have cut back on that, but I don't know if this will make them eat more of the commercial feed or more free ranged food. bugs and greens. They have free choice to eat whatever, a choice of commercial or free ranged food. Plus free choice oyster shell. None of my birds have great egg production, they are primarily dual purpose and crosses,none are laying 300 eggs a year. So I was a little surprised, because I know that the feeding of the commercial layers has to be precise, but I thought that it could be less so with dual type chickens.
I've ordered a vitamin/mineral mix, cut back on scratch, and we'll see if there's improvement.

 

[CanadianBuckeye]

https://www.alltech.com/sites/default/files/alltech-egg-shell-quality-poster.pdf

This pdf file has 20 common egg shell problems.
Corrugated Eggs These eggs are characterised by a very rough and corrugated surface. These are thought to be produced when there is an inability to control and terminate plumping.
Causes:
• Inherited
• Newcastle disease or infectious bronchitis
• Excessive use of antibiotics
• Excess calcium consumption
• Copper deficiency

I don't think it's disease, might be inherited, they are free range/ free choice oyster shell so I don't suspect excess calcium, so that's why I suspect copper deficiency. I will see if there's improvement with supplementation.

 

[Beer can]

@Rock Home Isle a lot of good reading and info here, from many. Glad I found this thread. gjensen I've always thought should write a book, pretty insightful information.
If you get a chance reading @CanuckBock's posts is very insightful too. Always thought she could write a darn good book, her thread is "Jest Another Day in Pear-A-Dice - Higgins Rat Ranch Conservation Farm in Alberta", I haven't followed her thread but she pops in on a couple others and usually gives some great posts, info, knowledge.
I've learned a lot from many on this thread, great one to follow.

 

[ronott1]

They do have 2 kinds of layer feed, a non-gmo pellet, and a commercial non- soy grain/pea complete mash. I have two kinds because I don't trust just one source of feed for all their needs. Basically I feel that most commercial feed is mostly the equivalent of a Ritz cracker and a vitamin. Without the addition of vitamins and minerals,modern commercial feeds would probably be totally inadequate. So for me, it's a balancing act of commercial and more "natural" sources of vitamins and minerals including meat, but I am very aware that it's just that, a balancing act and that problems can occur.
I did not say it was wonderful that my grandparent's chickens were fed poorly, just that they were, I do not agree with skimping on feed and nutrition and I try to give my chickens the best nutrition I can. However they are free ranging birds, and I'm very aware that this can cause problems and in fact I'm suspicious that it has. They do get some scratch, I suppose it might have been too much and I have cut back on that, but I don't know if this will make them eat more of the commercial feed or more free ranged food. bugs and greens. They have free choice to eat whatever, a choice of commercial or free ranged food. Plus free choice oyster shell. None of my birds have great egg production, they are primarily dual purpose and crosses,none are laying 300 eggs a year. So I was a little surprised, because I know that the feeding of the commercial layers has to be precise, but I thought that it could be less so with dual type chickens.
I've ordered a vitamin/mineral mix, cut back on scratch, and we'll see if there's improvement.

For the first years that I had chickens, I went the organic and non GMO route. The chickens did not do as well as they should have. They do much better on Purina Layeena, especially now that the Layeena has been re formulated with pro biotics and better vitamins. I do not need to put out calcium for them when they are eating layeena.

Psst. lets keep this quiet....but I think a lot of the organic feeds are either a scam or not based on nutrition and science...Also, maybe check out the new organic line of Purina feed--They actually have Nutrition scientists working for them and they test the feed to make sure it meets their standard...

I do have hens that are super producers of eggs. I hatched them from Trader Joes fertile eggs. They are a cross of Hy-line 36 and Hy-line brown. Each breed lays in the 350 eggs per year range.

 

[Beer can]

So glad Cackle threw in the xtra chick, possible partridge rock with these naked necks. I didn't want it but it's really showing me how fast the nn grow in comparison. The nn are not only growing bigger faster than it but also are feathering out a lot faster.