BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[DesertChic]

You are talking about the theory that they can either make meat or eggs but not both?

You are proving that one to be false. I have seen this with Pita Pintas too. The cockerels are big fast and the pullets\hens lay lots of big eggs.

The number of egg laid has to do with the ovaries producing eggs. That is a selected gene on it's own--does not link to meat production.

I've pondered that theory a lot and had concluded over a year ago that the "perfect chicken" was a myth. So, I keep a line of pure NNs, a line of egg layers (various and mixed breeds), and a line of meat birds (various and mixed breeds incorporating more NN blood), but what I've found is that some of my meatiest, heaviest girls are also some of my best egg layers and also give me some of the meatiest chicks for eating. Most of my NN girls have been weighing in around 7-8 lbs at one year of age, and give me large to jumbo sized eggs 5-6 days per week, even during the short days of winter without artificial light, the hottest days of summer, and through intense molting. Right now I'm just feeling exceptionally grateful for my good luck because I feel I currently have a lot of "perfect" chickens, but I also worry that my luck won't hold out. In the meantime my primary breeding focus will be on improving my meat line, and hoping I don't ruin any of them.

 

[ronott1]

I've pondered that theory a lot and had concluded over a year ago that the "perfect chicken" was a myth. So, I keep a line of pure NNs, a line of egg layers (various and mixed breeds), and a line of meat birds (various and mixed breeds incorporating more NN blood), but what I've found is that some of my meatiest, heaviest girls are also some of my best egg layers and also give me some of the meatiest chicks for eating. Most of my NN girls have been weighing in around 7-8 lbs at one year of age, and give me large to jumbo sized eggs 5-6 days per week, even during the short days of winter without artificial light, the hottest days of summer, and through intense molting. Right now I'm just feeling exceptionally grateful for my good luck because I feel I currently have a lot of "perfect" chickens, but I also worry that my luck won't hold out. In the meantime my primary breeding focus will be on improving my meat line, and hoping I don't ruin any of them.

You are doing great!

It is not all luck but a lot of good husbandry.

 

[lcertuche]

I want some Naked Necks!

 

[NanaKat]

Two little naked necks in the brooder. One is white, the other is a reddish yellow. A third pipped at the small end and expired thru the night. There are 5 other breeds. A brown and red chipmunk, three solid buff colored and one black and yellow. All are robust little cuties.
Added a bantam Delaware to the brooder that hatched early under a bantam hen. It had gotten out of the nest box and mom was sticking tight to her clutch of eggs. When the rest hatch, I'll give this baby back to the broody.

 

[omalicha]

Ferment their feed...saves you money, the feces smell less, they consume less water, they are generally more active and healthier on the FF. 

Hi dear..... I am getting point of lay birds that have never ever eaten FF. I want to introduce them to them at once when they arrive . When will it totally get into their body system and make them produce good big eggs

 

[CanadianBuckeye]

I've pondered that theory a lot and had concluded over a year ago that the "perfect chicken" was a myth. So, I keep a line of pure NNs, a line of egg layers (various and mixed breeds), and a line of meat birds (various and mixed breeds incorporating more NN blood), but what I've found is that some of my meatiest, heaviest girls are also some of my best egg layers and also give me some of the meatiest chicks for eating. Most of my NN girls have been weighing in around 7-8 lbs at one year of age, and give me large to jumbo sized eggs 5-6 days per week, even during the short days of winter without artificial light, the hottest days of summer, and through intense molting. Right now I'm just feeling exceptionally grateful for my good luck because I feel I currently have a lot of "perfect" chickens, but I also worry that my luck won't hold out. In the meantime my primary breeding focus will be on improving my meat line, and hoping I don't ruin any of them.

This is very good news indeed!

Thanks you've made my breeding decisions much, much easier! I'll continue to select for the meatier ones, but try to maintain good body depth and capacity. I've been so frustrated evaluating the cockerels, wondering if selecting the faster developing meaty ones was the wrong path and I'd end up with an 80- a -year egg layer.

But when I looked at the lighter cockerels, to me they seem lacking.....they are blah- just didn't have that special spark.......

 

[DesertChic]

This is very good news indeed!

Thanks you've made my breeding decisions much, much easier! I'll continue to select for the meatier ones, but try to maintain good body depth and capacity. I've been so frustrated evaluating the cockerels, wondering if selecting the faster developing meaty ones was the wrong path and I'd end up with an 80- a -year egg layer.

But when I looked at the lighter cockerels, to me they seem lacking.....they are blah- just didn't have that special spark.......

As @NanaKat mentioned in her ovation, the hens notice the difference too. I've had some very pretty but thin cockerels that my girls flat out rejected in favor of the bigger, meatier boys. The girls know who they want as the daddy of their babies.

Trust Mother Nature. She knows a whole lot more than we think we do.

 

[NanaKat]

Two really cute Turken chicks and brood mates. Tiny one is a Bantam Delaware that hatched early in the nest with mom. She was still on eggs so moved baby to brooder with the Turkens and others until Mom hatches the rest of her clutch. I have no idea what the other breeds will be...so it will be interesting. Was told he had Turken, EE and "other breeds. The red chipmunk might be RIR.

 

[CanadianBuckeye]

As @NanaKat mentioned in her ovation, the hens notice the difference too. I've had some very pretty but thin cockerels that my girls flat out rejected in favor of the bigger, meatier boys. The girls know who they want as the daddy of their babies.

Trust Mother Nature. She knows a whole lot more than we think we do.

That's funny.And, I've been listening to my cockerels crowing, and they have very different crows. I wonder if the hens find certain crows attractive? My biggest red rooster has a lovely sexy deep Barry White crow, my runty little Barred Holland has a high pitched Girly crow. I know which one I'd prefer if I was a hen!!!!

Mad stampede for the red rooster................

 

[DesertChic]

I want some Naked Necks!

I don't blame you! They're wonderful birds!