BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[Rye]

That's very informing and neat. Seeing remarkable improvement of females in 3 gens is pretty exciting. The males will come along as the female side genes get better. It's an honest crap shoot when doing what you are doing. But you've done well and have followed your vision it seems.

You can't go anywhere without a goal in mind and moving backwards is easy. If you ever decide to ship fertile eggs, I'd be glad to buy a couple dozen.

 

[DesertChic]

That's very informing and neat. Seeing remarkable improvement of females in 3 gens is pretty exciting. The males will come along as the female side genes get better. It's an honest crap shoot when doing what you are doing. But you've done well and have followed your vision it seems.

You can't go anywhere without a goal in mind and moving backwards is easy. If you ever decide to ship fertile eggs, I'd be glad to buy a couple dozen.

I do ship eggs, and so far all of my customers have reported high fertility rates (even the ones I shipped from here in AZ all the way to Maine). This time of year isn't good for fertility though. Right now nearly all of my chickens are in heavy molt. Out of over 70 hens/pullets, I'm lucky right now to get even one dozen eggs per day. I just set up my breeding pen with my next group of girls, but some of them are still molting. I'm adjusting their diet to try to help them through the process, but it's slow going. Once I'm confident that all of my girls are where they need to be, I'll place my chosen roosters accordingly.

 

[aliciaplus3]

I do ship eggs, and so far all of my customers have reported high fertility rates (even the ones I shipped from here in AZ all the way to Maine). This time of year isn't good for fertility though. Right now nearly all of my chickens are in heavy molt. Out of over 70 hens/pullets, I'm lucky right now to get even one dozen eggs per day. I just set up my breeding pen with my next group of girls, but some of them are still molting. I'm adjusting their diet to try to help them through the process, but it's slow going. Once I'm confident that all of my girls are where they need to be, I'll place my chosen roosters accordingly.

Yes now seems to be a logical time to get spring breeding pens set up and make decisions on who goes where. .... I am still in the starting up faze of breeding I have only been at it for a year. Always before I would just buy replacements every spring. I got tired of feeling like I was at the mercy of the hatchery or what the local feed store brought in that year, and I am trying to work t word's being self sufficient. Lol

 

[DesertChic]

Well, what d'ya know? I finally figured out how to find this thread when it's been inactive so I can actually post on it. *Sigh* My learning curve for the "new" BYC has been slow to say the least.

Anyway....on the topic of egg production, I was thrilled to discover upon running the numbers that one of my first flock NN hens laid an average of 250 eggs per year for her first two years (269 in year 1 and 231 in year 2). I'm really curious to see how year 3 turns out.

In my meat line of NNs, my number one breeding hen and mother to roughly half of my existing flock laid 290 eggs her first year and 186 her second while going broody twice.

And thankfully, their offspring are keeping pace with their egg production numbers while showing faster and larger growth, with some of my meat hens reaching 8 lbs by the end of their first year. I simply couldn't be more thrilled with this breed!

 

[aliciaplus3]

Well, what d'ya know? I finally figured out how to find this thread when it's been inactive so I can actually post on it. *Sigh* My learning curve for the "new" BYC has been slow to say the least.

Anyway....on the topic of egg production, I was thrilled to discover upon running the numbers that one of my first flock NN hens laid an average of 250 eggs per year for her first two years (269 in year 1 and 231 in year 2). I'm really curious to see how year 3 turns out.

In my meat line of NNs, my number one breeding hen and mother to roughly half of my existing flock laid 290 eggs her first year and 186 her second while going broody twice.

And thankfully, their offspring are keeping pace with their egg production numbers while showing faster and larger growth, with some of my meat hens reaching 8 lbs by the end of their first year. I simply couldn't be more thrilled with this breed!

I truly admire your ability to keep records! Sigh I have kept a few notes but it seems like I never write down the things I want to know later lol

 

[3riverschick]

Hi ,
I am desolate tonight. I had to write Turk and tell him I can't take the chanteclers and the rabbits . I'm heartbroken. I just haven't been the same since I fell in February . my back is healed but pretty much ,but when I come home from the end of the day from work, I'm just tired and I want to rest . I have my few Sussex here. but I just don't have what it takes to bring in another breed and the rabbits . I'm so sad (tears). I was so looking forward to them. I was supposed to get them in August and I waited several months hoping that maybe things might turn around but it's just not going to happen. Turk went to so much trouble to raise them for me and everything . I feel so bad about this. I had so many plans for them I made during the months I was waiting for them. well life happens sometimes I guess . I just don't have enough energy for 2 more species after I've been working full-time. but I'll see you around from now and then with some little Sussex news .lot of tears for broken dreams and plans.
Best Regards,
Karen

 

[DesertChic]

Hi ,
I am desolate tonight. I had to write Turk and tell him I can't take the chanteclers and the rabbits . I'm heartbroken. I just haven't been the same since I fell in February . my back is healed but pretty much ,but when I come home from the end of the day from work, I'm just tired and I want to rest . I have my few Sussex here. but I just don't have what it takes to bring in another breed and the rabbits . I'm so sad (tears). I was so looking forward to them. I was supposed to get them in August and I waited several months hoping that maybe things might turn around but it's just not going to happen. Turk went to so much trouble to raise them for me and everything . I feel so bad about this. I had so many plans for them I made during the months I was waiting for them. well life happens sometimes I guess . I just don't have enough energy for 2 more species after I've been working full-time. but I'll see you around from now and then with some little Sussex news .lot of tears for broken dreams and plans.
Best Regards,
Karen

I'm so sorry to hear you've been having such a tough time. I hate when life throws us those negative curve balls, but Turk's a really good guy. I'm sure he'll understand. Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and focus on doing what's right for you. I hope as time progresses you will heal more quickly and find your vigor again. Hang in there!

 

[3riverschick]

Vigor. yeah, that's what's missing, vigor. I get up. I go to work. I come home and I'm just worn out . used to be we would do things in the evening but now I'm just worn out and I just want to rest . I have the two Sussex pullets here , just started laying 3 weeks ago. this winter I'll pick up a cockerel. hatch out some chicks next year. but I doubt I'll be raising each hatch for the two-3 months I used to before I cull for quality .
thanks a lot for the warm words. that helps .
Best,
Karen

 

[NanaKat]

Easiest way is to tap you screen name and check your postings. Click on the thread you want.

 

[NanaKat]

Beginning to decide who goes into the breeding pens. Thirty five Columbian Wyandotte are going into spring. I have a few photos on the iPad. Will have to get on the computer to load a few more photos.