Breeding hybrids

[Madame_Mermicorn]

There is one way to assess a cockerel's propensity to pass on to his daughters good egg laying ability.
As they approach maturity, compare all the cockerels of the same breed and exact same age by comparing the space between the keel bone and the pelvic bones. The ones with a larger gap will pass on good abdominal capacity.

 

[Madame_Mermicorn]

This is useful to know....

See Bruce, my younger by a few days rooster, has a very wide pelvis and is generally bulkier than his few days older brother Reginald, who is an all round leaner and narrower chap this surprised me. Reginald was always the more adventurous chick (I've had them since they were 2 weeks old, before that the primary school I work at hatched them) I always assumed Reginald would be the dominant roo as is older. But Bruce hit puberty and flourished. His crow is magnificent.

Both are very calm and non aggressive, I even let my 4 year old son in with me to help out with feeding and shutting them away at night. I wish i had room for more.
My hens currently have 15 x 8 feet to free range around in, and my 2 roo's have 10 x 8 feet of free range, separate to my hens.

I think the boys get on as have grown up together. Adding more boys in to their night shed of 2 foot square I think would lead to disaster...... ☹

 

[ChickenCanoe]

It is not the width of the pelvis but the vertical distance between the keel and the pointy pelvic bones. But unless one is comparing the same breed and exactly the same age, the comparisons are meaningless.

 

[Madame_Mermicorn]

Yes, they are the same breed, hatched 2 days apart. I think I would have to get rather hands on to compare that on them them

It is not the width of the pelvis but the vertical distance between the keel and the pointy pelvic bones. But unless is comparing the same breed and exactly the same age, the comparisons are meaningless.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Yes, they are the same breed, hatched 2 days apart. I think I would have to get rather hands on to compare that on them them

Just hold them tail forward supporting the abdomen with your hand and middle fingers between their legs, thumb and little finger on the outside of the legs, wings under your arm. Use the side of your index finger on the other hand to feel were the keel bone ends, then determine how many fingers fit between there and the pointy pelvic bones. It isn't too invasive

 

[Kris5902]

That is the sad thing about hatching eggs, or even getting straight run chicks. And the boys can turn crazy pretty much overnight... so use caution, especially with the kids around. Yes, I was also very “well everything is going ok so far” and now my cockerel group has turned into a pen of little white devils, and the knives are being sharpened.

You’re going to end up with boys, and lots of them... and they aren’t the easiest to get rid of without having them land in a freezer or stewpot. You could always look into local processors if you’re not willing to do it yourself. It depends on your area, but you can usually have them done for you for a fraction of the cost of a store bought chicken. Also it is less expensive here per bird if you bring in bulk numbers, over 50 is usually the threshold for up to $1 discount per bird.

 

[Kris5902]

Just hold them supporting the abdomen with your hand and middle fingers between their legs, wings under your arm. Use the side of your index finger on the other hand to feel were the keel bone ends, they how many fingers fit between there and the pointy pelvic bones. It isn't too invasive

Thanks for the info! I will grope my boys a bit before deciding who is spared the knife That’s the best description I’ve gotten on that means of judging a cockerel! I’ve heard about it, but not very well described and sometimes with conflicting info given on what to feel for, so I wasn’t planning on relying on it. I will also be selecting for size in my dual purpose boys, as we do eat chicken and are looking forward to having our own finally but it will be nice to have a yardstick to judge the skinny boys with!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Thanks for the info! I will grope my boys a bit before deciding who is spared the knife That’s the best description I’ve gotten on that means of judging a cockerel! I’ve heard about it, but not very well described and sometimes with conflicting info given on what to feel for, so I wasn’t planning on relying on it. I will also be selecting for size in my dual purpose boys, as we do eat chicken and are looking forward to having our own finally but it will be nice to have a yardstick to judge the skinny boys with!

A broad back and use the SOP of the breed to determine other feather, beak, earlobe and leg color as well as shape characteristics. It all comes into play. But if you are just going for producing good layers in future generations, the finger test is key.

 

[Madame_Mermicorn]

Looks like I need more land of I want to breed. So I don't have to kill any roosters. I don't eat meat, I couldn't imagine eating any of my flock, I don't even eat unknown chickens.

Bruce has had the odd moment of bossyness, he has done the odd wing dropped shuffle toward me. I just laugh and flap my arms or lunge at him. He instantly shrinks back down to size

That is the sad thing about hatching eggs, or even getting straight run chicks. And the boys can turn crazy pretty much overnight... so use caution, especially with the kids around. Yes, I was also very “well everything is going ok so far” and now my cockerel group has turned into a pen of little white devils, and the knives are being sharpened.

You’re going to end up with boys, and lots of them... and they aren’t the easiest to get rid of without having them land in a freezer or stewpot. You could always look into local processors if you’re not willing to do it yourself. It depends on your area, but you can usually have them done for you for a fraction of the cost of a store bought chicken. Also it is less expensive here per bird if you bring in bulk numbers, over 50 is usually the threshold for up to $1 discount per bird.

 

[Kris5902]

Looks like I need more land of I want to breed. So I don't have to kill any roosters. I don't eat meat, I couldn't imagine eating any of my flock, I don't even eat unknown chickens.

Bruce has had the odd moment of bossyness, he has done the odd wing dropped shuffle toward me. I just laugh and flap my arms or lunge at him. He instantly shrinks back down to size

Do you know for certain if that’s a territorial maneuver or maybe a flirtation? I’m trying to figure out what’s going on in my own problem child’s little brain, lol!