BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[gjensen]

I am so glad you posted this! I was just about to ask for advice on when is the best time to evaluate a female for culling or retaining as I've yet to venture down that path.

In maintaining my pure line of NN Turkens I keep an eye on the SOP, but ultimately I'm still breeding for good production of eggs or meat, depending upon the line, and overall hardiness. My NN flock hatched in January of this year so that one year anniversary is quickly approaching and I've been watching my girls closely. I'm really impressed by their body density...very meaty breasts and legs...and I'm actually quite impressed with how well they lay too. Right now they're in the middle of a pretty aggressive molting process and I'm still averaging 4-6 large eggs per week from each of them. I only have four pure pullets and I'm down to two pure cockerels, but just performed a hatching using primarily a third cockerel that I have since culled due to temperament in order to add diversity and work towards some improvement in comb and color conformity. I'm hoping to get a couple of really clean buffs out of that mating.

Patience....yeah, that's always been one of my weak points, but managing these birds is teaching me a great deal about the virtues of being patient.

All of that said, my two favorite chicks out of the last hatch have been "surprises". The first is this gorgeous guy....the progeny of my two favorite NNs. Daddy wasn't the buff cockerel I culled, but my gorgeous black cockerel I had been planning to breed next. I guess he sneaked in when I wasn't looking. He's a very solid pure NN with the most impressive growth rate in the group and a very confident demeanor.



The second surprise is an Austrolorp/NN cross I had been expecting. I crossed my Aussies with my Bielefelder cockerel, but one of my NN boys must have gotten to my best Australorp layer when I wasn't looking. Frisky, sneaky little guys.

This chick has really been impressing me with very rapid growth, outstanding temperament and vitality, and a healthy dose of smarts.



So I went for buff and fell in love with the black chicks.

Desertchic, it is understanding an ideal. Then it is adapting it to your own setting and goals. It is a seasonal rhythm that we develop for ourselves. Enjoying the process as we move along. It is a process and a rhythm.

There is a time for everything. My post was not exclusive. It is a perspective.

 

[Beer can]

I've only begun. So far my culls have only been the ones that don't fit breed description. Now I'm left with so few I have to pray for no predators and good health.
Have to see what next year brings. Going to hatch out as many as I can.

 

[NanaKat]

@gjensen Definitely agree with you about selecting for traits to improve to the Standard and about proving hens and cockerels.
Using toe punch and color coding zips, 1/3 of the saved juveniles are from two hens from last year that were selected for comb, tail and yellow legs. The bonus benefit is they continue to hold the traits I've held for four years. I recently posted photos of the selection traits for pullets on the Heritage of Perfection: Standard bred LF thread in the Exhibition section.

 

[hellbender]

@gjensen Definitely agree with you about selecting for traits to improve to the Standard and about proving hens and cockerels.
Using toe punch and color coding zips, 1/3 of the saved juveniles are from two hens from last year that were selected for comb, tail and yellow legs. The bonus benefit is they continue to hold the traits I've held for four years. I recently posted photos of the selection traits for pullets on the Heritage of Perfection: Standard bred LF thread in the Exhibition section.

As you know, we play fast ans loose on this thread and you are more than welcome to post it here as well..

 

[gootziecat]

I'm behind on this thread. Welcome back hellbender.

 

[Our Roost]

Here's a new line for discussion. Due to changed security practices, most parcels being shipped are x-rayed for content. I guess my question is, are fertilized hatching eggs effected by an x-ray? Could one expect possible deformities or any other effects attributed to an x-ray ?

 

[LindaB220]

Hey folks, back from my hiatus, and now living in Vancouver WA. Very sad that I can't get more chickens but the backyard is all deck and sloping hill. But the country itself is fabulous after Shreveport heat and humidity. Property taxes and home prices are high but that won't bother me. Ha. I'll probably get an apartment later but right now I'm here and adjusting to life after the death of my daughter Aimee.

 

[ronott1]

Hey folks, back from my hiatus, and now living in Vancouver WA. Very sad that I can't get more chickens but the backyard is all deck and sloping hill. But the country itself is fabulous after Shreveport heat and humidity. Property taxes and home prices are high but that won't bother me. Ha. I'll probably get an apartment later but right now I'm here and adjusting to life after the death of my daughter Aimee.

I am sorry for your loss.

It sounds like you are getting along up in Washington. I hope you can get chickens again sometime too.

 

[Beekissed]

Hey folks, back from my hiatus, and now living in Vancouver WA. Very sad that I can't get more chickens but the backyard is all deck and sloping hill. But the country itself is fabulous after Shreveport heat and humidity. Property taxes and home prices are high but that won't bother me. Ha. I'll probably get an apartment later but right now I'm here and adjusting to life after the death of my daughter Aimee.

Awwwwww, LindaB!!!! I'm so sorry! I've been wondering where you were and never imagined it would be due to something this devastating.

Missed you on here and will be praying for you often.

 

[TNBielefelder]

Hey folks, back from my hiatus, and now living in Vancouver WA. Very sad that I can't get more chickens but the backyard is all deck and sloping hill. But the country itself is fabulous after Shreveport heat and humidity. Property taxes and home prices are high but that won't bother me. Ha. I'll probably get an apartment later but right now I'm here and adjusting to life after the death of my daughter Aimee.

Hope you will find a place to have chickens again someday and I am sorry for your loss. Well wishes from Tennessee