BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[gjensen]

what are the benefits or drawbacks to changing the hatch day: July 1, October 1, and January 1

If you ask ten people, you will get ten opinions. Some of that will have a lot to do what breed they have, and where they live. When the birds are hatched will have no impact on their genetic potential. My April date was only an illustration on how important point of lay is to the qty. of eggs laid in the pullet year.

Always make comparisons within a given hatch, and you will do no harm. Birds to grow at different rates in different seasons, but genetics rule at the end of the day.

Some breeds would be important to hatch early for some. I could see where a breeder of Brahmas would want to hatch early, even with your Jan 1st date. I would recommend discussing this with a breeder of Brahmas. One that has done well with them. For many the hatch date has a lot to do when the birds would be in their prime during show season.

One of the considerations, and possibly the largest consideration, is the growing environment. You are always looking to achieve good steady growth, without repeated growth checks. An example of something that can cause this is extreme weather changes. I try to achieve a large percentage of my birds growth before we get especially hot. I try to "beat the heat".

Another consideration could be timing a fall hatch where they will be coming into lay as the days are getting longer in the spring vs. coming into lay when the days are getting shorter. Cull pullets are also easier to get rid of in the spring than they are any time of year. Especially that they are not "spent" hens. There is a lot of people that want to get birds in the spring that do not want to hassle with raising chicks.

I had preferred to hatch my birds in early March. My Catalanas want me to do other wise. If I hatch too early, they are prone to molting during their first winter. They mature sexually especially fast. I think by hatching April 1 this year will not be too early or late. They would be laying well before show season. It could be that hatching them later would be better to hatch later for the shows, but I like my pullets laying by 6 wks before my hens molt.

I prefer the flowing with the natural rhythms of the seasons vs. struggling against it. I have grown into enjoying the seasons and the particular things that naturally flow within the seasons.

We do all find our own rhythm, for our own reasons.

 

[ocap]

If you ask ten people, you will get ten opinions. Some of that will have a lot to do what breed they have, and where they live. When the birds are hatched will have no impact on their genetic potential. My April date was only an illustration on how important point of lay is to the qty. of eggs laid in the pullet year.

Always make comparisons within a given hatch, and you will do no harm. Birds to grow at different rates in different seasons, but genetics rule at the end of the day.

Some breeds would be important to hatch early for some. I could see where a breeder of Brahmas would want to hatch early, even with your Jan 1st date. I would recommend discussing this with a breeder of Brahmas. One that has done well with them. For many the hatch date has a lot to do when the birds would be in their prime during show season.

One of the considerations, and possibly the largest consideration, is the growing environment. You are always looking to achieve good steady growth, without repeated growth checks. An example of something that can cause this is extreme weather changes. I try to achieve a large percentage of my birds growth before we get especially hot. I try to "beat the heat".

Another consideration could be timing a fall hatch where they will be coming into lay as the days are getting longer in the spring vs. coming into lay when the days are getting shorter. Cull pullets are also easier to get rid of in the spring than they are any time of year. Especially that they are not "spent" hens. There is a lot of people that want to get birds in the spring that do not want to hassle with raising chicks.

I had preferred to hatch my birds in early March. My Catalanas want me to do other wise. If I hatch too early, they are prone to molting during their first winter. They mature sexually especially fast. I think by hatching April 1 this year will not be too early or late. They would be laying well before show season. It could be that hatching them later would be better to hatch later for the shows, but I like my pullets laying by 6 wks before my hens molt.

I prefer the flowing with the natural rhythms of the seasons vs. struggling against it. I have grown into enjoying the seasons and the particular things that naturally flow within the seasons.

We do all find our own rhythm, for our own reasons.

thanks, you pack a lot of information into your answers

 

[southernmomma]

Quote:
In this particular case it does indicate overall vigor. In fact, I've wondered if she might actually be a cockerel; she's wider and taller for sure, and has a larger skull....and is certainly more assertive. If she is indeed a pullet, I like her.
It's been my intention to arbitrarily divide them into families, and mark them permanently, but I'd been putting it off so I started with her today.

This is the fun stuff

@Arielle , I hope you get input about broody management....and let us know how she does. They are attractive.

M

 

[LindaB220]

This is a very interesting idea. Cpartist in post #355

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/882979/breeding-delawares-to-the-standard-of-perfection/350

 

[ocap]

This is a very interesting idea. Cpartist in post #355

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/882979/breeding-delawares-to-the-standard-of-perfection/350

thank you for the link, the article post was great.

As I read the post I thought about a three farm team that mentioned raising buckeyes where each farm took on one different weak point in the three flocks. I as a newbie can't comprehend culling for so many detractors, failures or weak features. I can see that my progress might proceed at a faster rate if I only raised from 2% of my hens but I might also perpetuate a very weak gene that was hidden, because of my inexperience.

 

[dfr1973]

This is a very interesting idea. Cpartist in post #355

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/882979/breeding-delawares-to-the-standard-of-perfection/350

That's Luanne, whom I bought the black BLR Wyandotte chicks from earlier this week. Her Dels are very good-sized IMO - although I don't know much about Delawares in general - and all her birds have a healthy and happy look about them. I don't know how she keeps so many breeds straight, but she does and will tell about each project off the top of her head as you walk through.

 

[neopolitancrazy]

[quote name="ocap" url="/t/845018/breeding-for-production-eggs-and-or-meat/2190#post

I might also perpetuate a very weak gene that was hidden, because of my inexperience.
[/quote]

Everyone perpetuates hidden genes because they are hidden.
Not because of the breeder's experience, not because the gene is "weak" but because the gene is hidden.

Once again, you miss 100% of the shots you don't take.

Best wishes,
Angela

 

[ocap]

Quote:
I did have faulty logic didn't I

I will continue to kick the can

 

[gjensen]

This is a very interesting idea. Cpartist in post #355

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/882979/breeding-delawares-to-the-standard-of-perfection/350

This who I was telling you about when you asked about Delaware and NHs. She is a good friend of mine. She does well with her birds.

 

[gjensen]

I did have faulty logic didn't I

I will continue to kick the can

There are genes that are simply recessive that can linger and become problematic, because once they are seen, they are established. Then there are genes that are not purely recessive, but are a compilation of traits that can be problematic. These things are strain specific, so it is helpful to discuss with the breeder what problems he/she has dealt with. Usually there is nothing to be concerned about, and you find these things in projects and in birds that have become too inbred.

The more information we can gather from a breeder (both good and bad), the better. Over time, you will learn the right things to ask. Most are helpful. Most real breeders are not trying to make a profit, and they will be honest and frank about any problems. If there is any.

Challenges are not problems. Every strain has challenges. If we do not believe there is, it is because we do not know them well enough.

Don't worry about imaginary problems. We can do more harm in the worrying than is done by any real problem we might encounter along the way.