BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[Fire Ant Farm]

Since I'm waiting, I should take the opportunity to post the latest weights. They are 14 weeks weights, though they were done 1.5-2 days early (if that matters at all).

Looks like there was some sort of stressor for the flock previously - I did start providing a trough of food out in the paddock a few days (when it wasn't raining). Maybe that's what has turned the growth curves back up? Glad to see both Tank and Puppy have picked back up to have similar rates as the others now. Well, anyway, as I said in my previous post, I think I'm keeping Bane, Tank, and Apoc. Dozer, while large, is tall with a narrow body - I handled him a few times to confirm. I like everything about Mouse (conformation, attitude, NN genotype, coloring) but his size. He may or may not get a reprieve as a back up boy if I don't feel certain enough tomorrow.



OK, I'm going to go check the water again...

- Ant Farm

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

I don't think you have asked but I hope you don't mind if I make a suggestion. I don't think you have very many NN pullets nor very many of any kind for that matter and keeping so many cockerels could be counter productive. You might want to think about keeping only your best to or perhaps three at the outside until spring and then butcher the lesser of the three. This advice is based on my understanding that you have very few pullets.

Yep - that's the plan. Three boys, max. I have 6 NN pullets (and 2 NH that I've decided to keep for now), and I also have 5 Speckled Sussex pullets coming up 5 weeks behind them. I think I'll have one cockerel per flock (thinking to put Tank with the 5 SS, Bane with the main NN flock of 6+2=8). I suppose Apoc will be solo? Anyway, I'll figure out those housing details later.

I was going to do just two (Bane and Tank), but then thought I should have a back up...

- Ant Farm

(Edit to add: Of course, in breeding season, I will likely set up specific pairs or trios, I was just referring to living arrangements outside of breeding season...)

 

[Kassaundra]

Thanks - now just having another cup of coffee while waiting for the scald water to come to temperature. I guess I wasn't thinking straight earlier, because though I started with hot tap water, it's a cold morning but I failed to cover the scalder. Duh. Covered now, and finally making progress getting warmer.

Depending on how today goes (New Hampshire dispatch), I will decide how many of the Naked Neck boys to cull tomorrow. Minimum are two (the smallest two, Neo and Cypher). But I think I'm starting to hone in on some decisions, and think I may just need to commit. I believe I will just keep Bane, Tank, and possibly Apoc. Dozer, while large, has the wrong body type. Mouse, while NN in genotype (a plus), is still quite small, as small as the other two.

- Ant Farm

After your plucking of the NH today, then your plucking of the NN tomorrow, you will be even more set on the path of NN. lol

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

After your plucking of the NH today, then your plucking of the NN tomorrow, you will be even more set on the path of NN. lol

That was my thought exactly!!!

- Ant Farm

 

[Arielle]

Happy Holidays to all!! Been working too many hours and am still 120 pages behind . . . .

We are adding the second section onto the big coop. Debating on the roofing material. 25$ for a sheet of metal roofing, 55$ for the almost clear fiberglass sheeting. . . .. that or rolled asphalt "shingle" over plywood. . . . a week of 60 weather to get the work done.

Buckeyes are still laying without lights. SS still laying without lights. SLower but we still get eggs.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!!

 

[gjensen]

Since I'm waiting, I should take the opportunity to post the latest weights. They are 14 weeks weights, though they were done 1.5-2 days early (if that matters at all).

Looks like there was some sort of stressor for the flock previously - I did start providing a trough of food out in the paddock a few days (when it wasn't raining). Maybe that's what has turned the growth curves back up? Glad to see both Tank and Puppy have picked back up to have similar rates as the others now. Well, anyway, as I said in my previous post, I think I'm keeping Bane, Tank, and Apoc. Dozer, while large, is tall with a narrow body - I handled him a few times to confirm. I like everything about Mouse (conformation, attitude, NN genotype, coloring) but his size. He may or may not get a reprieve as a back up boy if I don't feel certain enough tomorrow.



OK, I'm going to go check the water again...

- Ant Farm

A reasonable goal and expectation is to have birds weighing in the range of 5 1/2 lbs 12 and 14wks. A good dual purpose bird that has an emphasis on the production of fowl meat should realize similar gains. Not many strains achieve this.

Consider what you are feeding them, and their length of day.

Have they began to molt yet? At some point you should be seeing a surplus of feathers on the floor.

Here are some growth curves. Notice the variety, dates, etc. The growth curve is not only an expression of gains, but the rate of those gains.

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q...bac928d2ea07558451f072d3aafb6853H0&ajaxhist=0

 

[gjensen]

Happy Holidays to all!! Been working too many hours and am still 120 pages behind . . . .

We are adding the second section onto the big coop. Debating on the roofing material. 25$ for a sheet of metal roofing, 55$ for the almost clear fiberglass sheeting. . . .. that or rolled asphalt "shingle" over plywood. . . . a week of 60 weather to get the work done.

Buckeyes are still laying without lights. SS still laying without lights. SLower but we still get eggs.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!!

Where you are, consider the r value of your sheathing etc. Some makes of roofing panels make solid colors and clear. An example is Ondura panels. On solid plywood (or OSB) you can get an r value of 4 from the sheathing. These Ondura panels have clear panels with the same profile. This makes adding skylights easy, and without the added risk of leaks etc. Some winter sunlight, and better insulation.

 

[hellbender]

It was 17*F here this morning with wind chill of 7*. My Chantecler and Dark Cornish started off laying slowly but they have been out in the breeze and snow covered ground and going back in 2 or three at a time to lay. So far by 11:AM, half of them have laid and the others are in the nests doing their thing. The high today is supposed to be 30*.

I honestly thought the Dark Cornish and perhaps some of the Chanteclers might take off today but that is not happening apparently. They are in a much smaller 'coop' than what we used for the large laying flocks and there is very much more ventilation. I've decided to keep the Cornish with the Chanteclers....let the strong survive.

For the first time in over 3 years, a hawk was seek close enough for Jason to take appropriate action. It was too small to carry off one of these birds but it surely could have done serious damage.

 

[Arielle]

Quote:
I knew someone would bring up r values.....lol . Getting the housing right for chickens/poultry has proven far more challenging that for the sheep and horses. Though as a general rule closing up ANY barn causes more health issues ( respiratory) than an open airy, good air flow barn. I shoot for protection from wind and rain. Horses get blankets. Sheep have wool coats. Still learning poultry. . . . .

As for skylights, I do like the barns where we added the almost clear fiberglass. . . . great lighting. . . . .and no leaks.

No perfect answer.

 

[Arielle]

Yup, we loose 1-2 to juvenile hawks in the late summer and early fall . . . their punishment is that the chicken killed is too big to carry off. No reward. They try elsewhere next time--lots of woods to hunt in next door. Victim becomes dog food. Tough being a young bird used to mom and dad feeding them . . . most die of starvation before getting the hang of hunting.