BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[DesertChic]

How may weeks old?

Post a picture!

He was 21 weeks. I don't have access to my photos right now.

 

[ronott1]

He was 21 weeks. I don't have access to my photos right now.

That is an ok size. Do you have breeders that have more meat on them?

Post pictures when you can. It is nice to see how the meat was distributed on the breast and thighs.

 

[DesertChic]

That is an ok size. Do you have breeders that have more meat on them?

Post pictures when you can. It is nice to see how the meat was distributed on the breast and thighs.

I have only one that I'm keeping for a breeder. He weighed in at over 6 lbs last week, but I won't be weighing him again until next week. His breast isn't as full as I'd like, but his thighs and legs are nice and meaty. Plus he's one of only two that didn't have a comb defect, but the other I'd considered for breeding died of heat stroke after being run off by one of my NN cockerels. (At least..I think that's what happened.)

The other Biel cockerel, Bosch, I'm keeping is a pet. He was the first to hatch a full day before the others and imprinted on me right away. He's the sweetest bird I've had so far, never shows aggression towards myself, my husband, or my son, and positively LOVES to snuggle with us. But he's not a breeder. He's lighter than I want for a meat bird and has an extra sprig on his comb that I've been told would spread through his offspring like wildfire. I'm actually going to give my hatchery layer flock to him as they're about to be without a man to watch over them. He's already shown interest in those girls so I think it will work out well. He's quite a gentlemen to the females in his current flock, as well as to my NN girls when he's interacted with them and has tried to court the layer flock as well, but the Silkie cockerels currently watching over them has always intervened.

 

[hellbender]

Ok, I finally, sorta'........figured out this ****** new cam. There are 38 birds in this grow-out coop.... somewhere, that are just at 7 week of age.These are all 'hatchery stock' but for our purposes...they are fine. Few if any of these will be caponized but will be judiciously Xed and the hybrid offspring will be caponized and poulardized.

So let the 'blood letting' begin!!!







That's it for now...perhaps forever!!!!!!!!!!!!!

@Kev ...we appear to have 2 SOLID BLACK Dark Cornish Cockerels. Is that likely or are they liable to color-up with time? Thanks...........Oh...the ones showing here are not the black ones. I'll have to corner them and get good shots.

What the heck...one more Chantecler, diddlin'

around the small orchard.

 

[JRNash]

Chickens are the original paranoid Pete's when it comes to cameras. My geese will turn their heads sideways like they are watching the gub ment surveillance drones that I KNOW are parked over The Land of Nash. When this happens the chicks scatter and I run in the house for my aluminum hat!!!!

 

[Our Roost]

DesertChic, consider this. Currently I have been prompted to monitor and graph weights of my meat birds for utility and breeding purposes. This is a weight gain chart to monitor each birds individual progress. I'm not tracking eggs here and it is strictly for growth and weight. Applying a numbered leg band to each bird lets you record each birds individual assets on a weekly basis. Lets say you want to cull your birds at a dressed table weight of 5 lbs. This is the weight you are happy with and not the mature weight your bird will actually grow to. Why wait until the bird is 8lbs. at 20 plus weeks old if you are happy eating it at 5 lbs? You use less feed and enjoy the benefits sooner. When you chart like this, you can select the best productive growers and weight gainers and choose those birds for breeding. I believe this is why my mentors are pushing me to do this. It makes sense if you can find the time to follow it. Breeding for production, eggs and or meat is much different than breeding for show purposes.
I wish there was more talk on selecting roosters as I feel there is something truly important we can learn. They play a major role in more ways than not! You may have many roosters with one claiming to be the boss but he may not be the best fit for utility breeding and or the goals you are trying to achieve!

 

[hellbender]

Not that it matters that much but I just checked the records and the birds in the posted pics turned 8 weeks today.

 

[dfr1973]

Breeding for production, eggs and or meat is much different than breeding for show purposes.
I wish there was more talk on selecting roosters as I feel there is something truly important we can learn. They play a major role in more ways than not!

I am working my way through the original heritage large fowl thread (link in the colored box on the subforum index) started by Bob Blosl, and in that thread there is talk about cocks for breeding. One theme is to use the son of an excellent layer if you want to keep the egg production up. That thread is taking me just about forever, not only because of how many posts are in it, but there are also a bunch of informative links, including online books. While the main focus of that thread is breeding to the standard, the productive side is addressed and several times so far in the thread the point is emphasized that chickens bred to the standard ought to have the production they were developed to have.

Hellbender Ron, no stones coming from this glass house inhabitant. I have not kept it a secret that I am using hatchery GLWs to have/keep egg production. The four pullets from the Ideal Poultry batch are laying nicely, and larger size than Luanne's pullets (who have a decent lay rate of their own, and won't drag down that aspect of production). In fact, those IP pullets (nicknamed "the Flashy Girls") crossed with Tiny, the black laced cockerel from Luanne, will be the first group I hatch eggs from just as soon as one of the Broody Bunch decides to set.

Here's Tiny and three of the Flashy Girls (all hatched in january).

 

[chickadoodles]

Hellbender your Chantecler are very pretty so are the rest but you have great leg color in your Chanties. My first birds did not have the correct leg color but the chicks they threw had perfect leg color. You also have a nice looking place.

 

[chickadoodles]

Here are some of my bunch

20 Turkey poults Chocolate, Narragansett, BBW and BBB

One of my Bronze Project 2 generation


Bourbon Reds