BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[dan26552]

Awe welcome to the world little one.

I have 11 other pips.

 

[DesertChic]

I have 11 other pips.

Woohoo!!! More ducklings too? Or just chicks?

 

[dan26552]

Woohoo!!! More ducklings too? Or just chicks? 

Just ducklings.

 

[dan26552]

So another one just hatched (that makes four out and 11 pips or zips, so 15 all together out of 20) and its identical to the first one Same arrow on the bill, half black half orange feet, it looks almost like the first.

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

OK, I was delayed in posting this because of my "Monkey's Paw" issue.

But here it is. 4 week weights and photos of the NN x GNH chicks. I'm pretty sure now that I have 3 pullets - one smaller than the others, but all three segregating early form the boys by weights (as I have seen with my NNs).

First the chart. The orange are boys, purple are girls, and the growth curve of their NN father (Tank) is in blue for reference (sort of buried in the middle). Sorry there's so much overlap, but they'll spread out more as they get older. (I wish I could figure out how to make bigger and less pixelated...)


For reference, here is Tank's growth compared to the rest of his hatchery cohort at 4 weeks:


- Ant Farm

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

Some photos - first the boys:

Biggest boy (18.06oz at 4 weeks):

Second biggest boy (17.64oz at 4 weeks):












All the boys are over a pound except two smaller boys (14.39 and 15.45oz) - they are definitely boys.

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

Now the girls - I think I really do have 3, hopefully.

This is the biggest (14.18oz) (am becoming more hopeful this is a girl):




Next biggest (12.73oz) - she has always been quite reserved when I interact with them, I'm watching her to see if it's her nature (or feeling overrun but he crazy boys), she was definitely much quieter this morning, I might give them a short course of Amprolium just in case.



This is the "runt" girl (11.15oz) - she'ss feathering out the slowest and she was also the last to hatch by a good many hours:


Overall I've been very pleased with this cross. The chicks are also very healthy and friendly - though quite rambunctious and messy. I need to get them outside very soon.

- Ant Farm

 

[DesertChic]

@Fire Ant Farm - REALLY nice birds!!! That first cockerel looks like he has perfect red coloring so far, and a nice comb, yellow leg....You may just have a show boy there.

I agree that the first pullet you posted a photo of is, in fact, a pullet.

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

@Fire Ant Farm - REALLY nice birds!!! That first cockerel looks like he has perfect red coloring so far, and a nice comb, yellow leg....You may just have a show boy there.

I agree that the first pullet you posted a photo of is, in fact, a pullet.

Woohoo!!!! You know, that means I have THREE pullets. And I was aiming for 3 to 5 pullets in this hatch.

The boys are fantastic - and I'm terrified about not having room for keeping them. Gears are grinding...

 

[dan26552]

Day 27, 15 ducklings are out there's still three pipped eggs and two unpipped eggs to go