BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[dfr1973]

But I'm watching the chicks I ordered from Eight Acres carefully (currently almost 10 weeks): I got 7 German New Hampshires (which I want to cross into the NNs), and since there was a 20 chick minimum, filled out the rest of the order with Blue Copper Marans and Olive Eggers. I've been watching the carefully - it can be hard to tell if they are going to have an issue or not. When they sit still and hang out, they pant and hold out their wings some, but not in distress type panting (like today, when it was only 86F and they were in deep shade) - when they decide to get up, they run around like there's no problem.

THAT BEING SAID... The Marans seem to have their mouths open more than the others, and occasionally a couple of the bigger Marans boys have looked a bit iffy (had me on the verge of getting a bucket, but then got up and toodled around). So I have a question for all you super hot weather chicken folks - any experience with Marans in heat? Since they are nice examples from a good breeder, and supposed to be good dark egg layers, I considered keeping a Maran cockerel with the Maran pullets. But I'm beginning to wonder if he will have a hard time making it through the summer...

The weather you describe is just typical Florida weather. Luanne's chicken runs are tucked under several shade trees, but it is still hot and humid come August in the shade. Just make sure they have plenty of shade. I live about two hours' to the east of Luanne, so same weather.

Apparently, we are having a tropical storm come through the area today - the trees will certainly be happy with all the rain. It's been a little drier than normal (for Florida) so we have needed to water the young fruit trees added last month. I still have not hatched out any more really nice chicks like Bigfoot and his four sisters (from Oct 2015) and that is starting to irk me. The genetics are there, just need the right combination.

I've been rather busy with not only garden and fruit trees, but dairy goats and cheese making and this past weekend was a surprise acquisition of new rabbits. One is a pretty blue Rex furred doe, and for months I've been telling her previous owner, "If you ever want to sell her, I definitely want to buy her." Now she is mine!

I'm sorry to hear about Ron/hellbender's health issues. I too hope he recovers and makes it back to posting here; he certainly has a unique perspective on things.

 

[CanadianBuckeye]

It's been drier than normal here, almost no rain in May, but no weather extremes. We got some rain yesterday, and now I'm watching closely for a coccidia outbreak just in case. My chicks are still on medicated feed but the older chickens are not. The chicks are four weeks old, and I'm feeding them 28% turkey starter with pork meal in it and they have done very well on that food. I'll be cutting down the protein after 5 weeks.

 

[Beer can]

@DesertChic Your silkie is probably unfazed from the heat for two reasons, one; they ain't real chickens ' alien chickens' two; their lack of real feathers probably acts like breathable hot weather wear. They do say they don't do good in cold weather cause their feathers don't hold in the heat, did fine here last winter.
I'll be seeing how well naked necks are cold hardy this winter.
Threw together a large brooder box in the garage for them, brother-in-law stopped by asked what they were, I said baby ostriches... (heard that here Lol)
While latter I fessed up, he didn't believe me, thought I was messing with him still Lol!
He probably would have believed they were a ancient rare breed of Amazon buzzards...Lol!

 

[Beer can]

@hellbender Jason you sure do sound a lot like your dad. I saw a hellbender post on another thread awhile back talking about your sister's 'situation' if you didn't end it with Jason I would have thought for sure it was your dad behind the keyboard, Lol! Not to long ago he threatened to close this thread for 'lack of interest, run it's course', sure did get some action then!
This is a great thread, lots of input here of actual helpful info. Some of the more active threads I have no interest in following, too much small talk and gossip. I had a hatching question I was wanting immediate answers so posted it to a hatching thread, two days and 200 pages of yap yap nothing about chickens or hatching and sally sunshine came back on and answered it. Should have asked it here.
If it wasn't for this thread and your dad and others that have them on here I sure wouldn't be trying out naked necks now.
Thoughts and prayers going out to your family.

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

Quote:
Very helpful - thanks! I knew she was in Florida, and would have thought they would be fine, but am just watching carefully.

- Ant Farm

 

[cyborg]

THAT BEING SAID... The Marans seem to have their mouths open more than the others, and occasionally a couple of the bigger Marans boys have looked a bit iffy (had me on the verge of getting a bucket, but then got up and toodled around). So I have a question for all you super hot weather chicken folks - any experience with Marans in heat? Since they are nice examples from a good breeder, and supposed to be good dark egg layers, I considered keeping a Maran cockerel with the Maran pullets. But I'm beginning to wonder if he will have a hard time making it through the summer...

I know someone who breeds Black Penedesencas, I may end up getting hatching eggs from him sooner rather than later if I have to do too much support of any of these over the summer. It doesn't get as obscenely hot here as it does where're you guys are (where you must really assist any chicken of any breed), but breeds that can't make it at 90-95F aren't really practical for me in the long term, no matter how much shade I've got... 

- Ant Farm 

Well, I guess I qualify as " hot weather chicken people" and I have a bunch of black copper Marans. The roosters seem to struggle a bit more than the hens, and I keep a close eye on them. Mine like to dig holes in the muddy areas and wallow in it like pigs, so they usually look like ****, but they look happy about it. Haven't lost any yet this season.

 

[Beekissed]

My thinking is that chickens that tend to die in extreme weather conditions~hot or cold~ were already compromised health wise in some way, so it may or may not be a breed consideration but just nature's way of weeding out the non thrifty birds. Unless all the birds of a particular breed die in the same heat or cold wave after being given reasonable shelter against the elements, then I consider that a bird problem instead of a breed or flock problem. Some breeds will fare better in hot weather, some do better in colder climes, but most chickens adapt well to these things by either putting on a thicker down layer or blowing one off if given time(fall/spring) to adapt.

I've had 7 wk old CX birds foraging all over 3 acres in 98* weather with maximum humidity levels and they didn't seem the least affected by the heat while others tell of their CX birds dying from the same weather....and their birds were penned in the shade with food and water, so not even exercising like mine.

 

[DesertChic]

My thinking is that chickens that tend to die in extreme weather conditions~hot or cold~ were already compromised health wise in some way, so it may or may not be a breed consideration but just nature's way of weeding out the non thrifty birds. Unless all the birds of a particular breed die in the same heat or cold wave after being given reasonable shelter against the elements, then I consider that a bird problem instead of a breed or flock problem. Some breeds will fare better in hot weather, some do better in colder climes, but most chickens adapt well to these things by either putting on a thicker down layer or blowing one off if given time(fall/spring) to adapt.

I've had 7 wk old CX birds foraging all over 3 acres in 98* weather with maximum humidity levels and they didn't seem the least affected by the heat while others tell of their CX birds dying from the same weather....and their birds were penned in the shade with food and water, so not even exercising like mine.

On a purely intellectual level I wholeheartedly agree with you, but I'm also more than a little sentimental at times, even when it's not in my best interest. I do know without a shadow of a doubt that this environment is NOT good for Bielefelder and I've no intention of ever acquiring more Biels, but there are aspects to the breed that I really like and have been trying to incorporate into my "keeper" flock. I'm really hoping that by crossing them with my NNs, which are much more heat tolerant and hardy, I may be able to retain some of the best traits of both breeds. Until then....my Biels are sort of the family pets, so no culling. I think my husband and my son might disown me if I culled those darn Biels.

 

[DesertChic]

Well, I guess I qualify as " hot weather chicken people" and I have a bunch of black copper Marans. The roosters seem to struggle a bit more than the hens, and I keep a close eye on them. Mine like to dig holes in the muddy areas and wallow in it like pigs, so they usually look like ****, but they look happy about it. Haven't lost any yet this season.

Oh good! I'm not the only one with "mud hens"!

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

Quote:
Ahhh.... Now that you mention it, it is the boys who look like they're struggling more than the girls, which is I think why I may have noticed it.

It is mostly the youngest birds that have their mouths open. And the last batch (5 weeks ahead of the youngest group, now about 15 weeks old or so) used to worry me with their beaks open in the shade in 80-degree weather at 9-10 weeks old. Now they are totally fine (and it's hotter). As they are in age cohorts (artificially hatched), I wonder if the older group finally "learned" the best ways to adapt and cool off. Thinking that when I get to my goal of raising chicks in a flock with older birds, then perhaps they'll learn from the older birds? Bee, that would fit your experience - you are a broody-hatch kinda person, right? (Though I agree that a healthy/strong bird will do better than a weak bird under environmental stress - I know this may sound harsh, but that's why I refuse to put out ice water, etc., until it gets REALLY hot - they need to make it in 90 degree weather without too much coddling.)

DesertChic, I'm hoping to get a naked neck on just about everything eventually...

- Ant Farm