BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[GabrielBane]

Crested breed usually have a tuft up there from hatch. I really have no idea...

Our Sulmtalers didn't really have much of a tuft, more of a little bump, our Spitzhauben did however exhibit the right from birth. We've also noticed our pulleys exhibited tufts earlier than cockerels did in the Sulmtalers

 

[GabrielBane]

(Forgive the double post!)

Speaking of my Sulmtalers.... It seems out of the 6 Silver Wheatens, we got 4 cockerels and 2 pullets (one of whom has a nasty bald spot and some scabs on her neck.... I think the turkey poults got in while I was at work. Poor thing seems stunted but otherwise healthy), everyone is developing along nicely, but one of the cockerels is a mystery to me.... he seems to be almost grey in color.

The mystery boy (is it just poor genetics? should I not use him moving forward with my silver wheatens?)

The other Silver wheaten boys look like this:


One of the Silver Wheaten pullets (for comparison)

Side-by-side of the boys

 

[DesertChic]

(Forgive the double post!)

Speaking of my Sulmtalers.... It seems out of the 6 Silver Wheatens, we got 4 cockerels and 2 pullets (one of whom has a nasty bald spot and some scabs on her neck.... I think the turkey poults got in while I was at work. Poor thing seems stunted but otherwise healthy), everyone is developing along nicely, but one of the cockerels is a mystery to me.... he seems to be almost grey in color.

The mystery boy (is it just poor genetics? should I not use him moving forward with my silver wheatens?)

The other Silver wheaten boys look like this:


One of the Silver Wheaten pullets (for comparison)

Side-by-side of the boys

I can't speak to Sulmtalers since I've never worked with the breed, but I experienced a similar phenomenon with my Bielefelders when I hatched them out. Most of the cockerels were pretty uniform in color, but one showed more signs of both black and silver when still a chick up through early adolescence. As he matured his coloring evened out more, but not completely. He always appeared darker than the other boys. For that reason, and the fact that he was annoyingly whiney, he was a cull. I'm curious to see how your own little non-conformist turns out.

 

[Kev]

Yes, with unknown/unfamiliars- in this case, this breed being new to you.. best to simply note it and wait until it matures. It may correspond to something- wrong color or specific trait of some sort, maybe not.

@DesertChic did that one look like he may have been single barred? Bb instead of BB to use the Nn vs NN analogy.

Single barred(Bb) roosters are darker overall than double barreds(BB). One common trait of Bb roosters is the tail being mostly solid/even colored instead of showing obvious barring over the whole tail feathers. It's far from universal though, as barring is influenced by various genes.

 

[Kev]

I've been so pleased with the GNHs - 5-1/4 lb at 16 weeks, 6+ lbs at 20 weeks. George Jensen has talked about them "putting on feather" early therefore slowing down in potential (on the GNH thread) - hence my idea to cross with NN! Fewer feathers may lead to even better growth in the cross, I'm hoping!!! Here's a re-post of the weight charts of the GNH boys (orange), with the NN curves in grey for comparison. (Red is the splash CM, lowest three are GNH pullets)

I am so sorry

... I'm color blind so I'm unable to read this chart no matter how hard I try to lol can I ask for average 16 and 20 wk weights for GNH and NN? Just curious which. came out bigger/heavier.

The pullets are so beautiful also!

 

[Kev]

Sorry I missed this at the time. Hmmmmm.... I had just talked myself into just skipping the whole S&G idea and then I read this. I must be strong, I must be strong, I can't raise 100 chicks, I can't raise 100 chicks. Maybe I'll be spared the decision if they stop carrying them (though I wonder if anyone has their stock).

I have not seen anything specific on whether S&G are dropping or continuing their NN, the response mentioned a couple hatcheries are either taking their chicks or have their stock,, unfortunately I forgot which ones. If there's a hatchery that has their NN stock and has 25 minimum I would be all over that in a flash!

Quote:
What I do is soak the pellets until they are like pudding(not too thin) or wet oatmeal- takes just a couple mins, then simply break the raw eggs right on top and stir. I often add BOSS and/or animal protein based cat food but they will eat those 'dry' so that's not necessary.

It seems better to wet the mash/pellets because this mix is "so delicious" they literally try to gobble it down, I don't dare try breaking raw eggs over dry pellets for this reason. Choking risk would be rather high.

 

[GabrielBane]

I have the list somewhere in my post history, I'll see if I can find it!

 

[Beer can]

I tried the search thread thing, no luck using all sorts of words related. I believe Dunlap Hatchery was one that got S&G NN stock, and they do have them listed in their broilers. I think Cackle was mentioned also, if they did get some I think they probably just mixed them into their existing flock.
Dunlap is the only hatchery I've seen offer decent price hatching eggs and have Turkens available as hatching eggs.

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

Quote:
Thank you - and sorry - that's ok, it saved as a photo kinda blurry anyway. I didn't get weights for the NNs beyond 15 weeks for some reason. Here are the weights in table form (I hesitate to average the NNs as they were so different, but the GNHs are very close/similar). I hope this comes through... Ounces on top, conversion to pounds on bottom. (The Splash CM cockerel and the Lavender Ameraucana cockerel are in there as well)

Name Date Weight 9w Weight 10w Weight 11w Weight 12w Weight 13w Weight 14w Weight 15w Weight 16w Weight 17w Weight 18w Weight 19w Weight 20w Weight 21w
GNH Blue 42 50.9 56.7 61.1 68.8 71.9 75.3 81.8 82.6 85.4 91.1 96.3 102
GNH Black 40.5 52.5 58.3 63.1 71.9 75.4 79.3 84.6 84.3 88.1 94.7 97.9 101.8
GNH Grey 43 52.9 58.8 63.3 70.6 75.5 80.7 86.4 87.3 90.6 96.7 100.6 104.3
Splash CM 39 48.9 54.7 60.3 68.4 73.6 77.6 84.5 87.1 90.6 94.2 96.4 99.8
Lav Amer 33 48.2 52.6 56.9 64 68 69.7 71.1 73.4

GNH pullet yellow 44.5 48.1 50.3 55.5 58.10 60.10 62.90 64.40
GNH pullet black 42.2 45 46.4 50.8 54.00 54.30 56.90 58.30
GNH pullet blue 44.3 47.5 50.4 54.8 56.80 58.90 61.60 62.70

NN Tank 49.5 57 63.7 68.9 72 80.91 86.99
NN Apoc 42.8 49.3 57.5 65.4 72.8 81.74 87.38
NN Dozer 45.1 52.4 60.8 69.3 74.1
NN Snape 46.9 56.1 64.8 74.3 79.2 89.23 95.12

Name Date Weight 9w Weight 10w Weight 11w Weight 12w Weight 13w Weight 14w Weight 15w Weight 16w Weight 17w Weight 18w Weight 19w Weight 20w Weight 20w
GNH Blue 2.625 3.181 3.544 3.819 4.300 4.494 4.706 5.113 5.163 5.338 5.694 6.019 6.375
GNH Black 2.531 3.281 3.644 3.944 4.494 4.713 4.956 5.288 5.269 5.506 5.919 6.119 6.363
GNH Grey 2.688 3.306 3.675 3.956 4.413 4.719 5.044 5.400 5.456 5.663 6.044 6.288 6.519
Splash CM 2.438 3.056 3.419 3.769 4.275 4.600 4.850 5.281 5.444 5.663 5.888 6.025 6.238
Lav Amer 2.063 3.013 3.288 3.556 4.000 4.250 4.356 4.444 4.588

GNH pullet yellow 2.781 3.006 3.144 3.469 3.631 3.756 3.931 4.025
GNH pullet black 2.638 2.813 2.900 3.175 3.375 3.394 3.556 3.644
GNH pullet blue 2.769 2.969 3.150 3.425 3.550 3.681 3.850 3.919

NN Tank 3.094 3.563 3.981 4.306 4.500 5.057 5.437
NN Apoc 2.675 3.081 3.594 4.088 4.550 5.109 5.461
NN Dozer 2.819 3.275 3.800 4.331 4.631
NN Snape 2.931 3.506 4.050 4.644 4.950 5.577 5.945

Quote:
What I do is soak the pellets until they are like pudding(not too thin) or wet oatmeal- takes just a couple mins, then simply break the raw eggs right on top and stir. I often add BOSS and/or animal protein based cat food but they will eat those 'dry' so that's not necessary.

It seems better to wet the mash/pellets because this mix is "so delicious" they literally try to gobble it down, I don't dare try breaking raw eggs over dry pellets for this reason. Choking risk would be rather high.
Thanks! And thanks to @CanadianBuckeye , too!

And I'm like you - as soon as I find out who has S&G blood, I'm all over it!!! Please let me know!!!!!!! The INSTANT you know!!!! I want them for the GNH cross project...

- Ant Farm

 

[draye]

I believe that Hoover's Hatchery has the Golden Nuggets.