BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[HeritageGoose13]

I've heard that, too. I wonder if there is any truth to it or not.

 

[hellbender]

I don't think I've yet posted on this thread but thought I would say that I really enjoy reading through it.

Is it just me or are more and more people talking about cuy lately? It was being discussed on another thread here on BYC too. It makes me wonder how many people actually raise them for meat outside of South America...

For people who don't know what cuy is:



Fat rats basically. Chickens are much more appealing!

Let's be a bit more clear...Yes, they are rodents but they are vegetarians where as the rodents generally known as 'rats' are omnivores and will eat a bunch of stuff that most folks wouldn't want...second hand, so to speak. A whole lot like swine...and CHICKENS!!

 

[HeritageGoose13]

True. I'm familiar with guinea pigs. Even if all they eat is grass, they still smell bad. Actually I find guinea pigs tend to be more stinky than rats. So I still think they're gross.

 

[hellbender]

Black meat is supposed to be medicinal.

The most of what I had was dark but tht's because it was charred. The meat itself is more like stringy rabbit...to me. It tasted really good but I was very hungry too!

 

[collie1470]

Rattus vs. Cavidae

Guinea Pigs also have no tail, produce a milky substance near the eyes that is used to groom themselves, have an uneven number of toes on their front and back feet, have an oil gland above where the tail would be and give birth to young which are already furred, have open eyes and ears, and can walk, whereas rats start out as pinkies and differ in many other ways

 

[collie1470]

And male rats do not have nipples, while male Guinea Pigs do.

(That one I had to include, because there is a general thought that all male mammals have nipples)

 

[Beer can]

Lol! When my daughter was in 4H her first rabbit show, she had a Rex at the county fair was a rabbit and cavy show. What's a cavy ? Oh a guinea pig! Why are guinea pigs included? Hmm, wow, they are e the same as a rabbit in many countries! Ok....

 

[hellbender]

In just another detour...I got more chicks today...18 White Rocks ans 20 NNs...Supposed to be all pullets. The NNs were hand picked, something I'll talk about a bit later and the White Rocks really please me too!!! They have very large heads, indicative of large bodies. I know, I know....some will think that sounds crazy but it does work out. It was the same with the White Chanteclers (the ONLY legit color, in my opinion)...Most of them had very large heads too.

When the chicks are 3 to 5 or 6 days old...look directly down on the tops of their heads from the rear. If you can't see their eyeballs, that indicates large head and large bird follows. Just try it sometime and see.

 

[HeritageGoose13]

I have heard about the large head thing before. I think that rule works for dogs too.

 

[Beer can]

Black meat is supposed to be medicinal.

Look up fibromelonistic (spelling?) chicken,
and silkie soup health benefits. Lots of info.
I was going to do s breeding project with ayem cemani naked neck crosses, culls from someone who only wanted the NN ones. Didn't work out bad hatches, she ended up with some fibro (black meat) NN but only one non NN fibro pullet and the non NN cockerels were not fibro.
So I got six white silkies also fibro from TSC in Feb. The hatchery they get theirs from, well they are not SOP, poor crests and they run larger than they're supposed to, which is great for my plans. I will be putting a white jersey giant pullet in with them and back breed for fibro and silkie feathering. Hopefully for some giant fibro silkies. I already have the cockerel picked out, have two one is twice the size of the other, and at 16weeks has 1/4 spurs and huge feet. He's big and meaty, I'm going to check his weight out of curiosity, he looks and feels as big as my EE and welsummer hens, but I will weigh him just to see for sure.
Crazy plan I know, but I don't have any other hobbies besides brewing beer Lol!