DADixon
In the Brooder
I had an account on here YEARS ago asking about caponizing... Couldn't find a whole lot so I tried to teach myself, successfully I might add... Since then have done hundreds (hope that doesn't get me in trouble). I had to move and get rid of the layers and meat flocks but now an upcoming move is going to hopefully put me back in the game.
I had Buff's, RIRs and Barred Rocks, with a few OEG given to me, all layers (the latter was a wild ride but VERY impressive). I managed to get others unwanted cockerels and caponized literally hundreds of them of all breeds but mostly barred.
This time I intend to start a self sufficient flock that have 1. big enough cockerels to caponize the culls. 2. Good layers (250±) 3. Some broodies for hatching (possibly a sub flock of OEG as the broodies) 4. Breeding for foraging ability and all of this with a Clan/Spiral mating system.
I'm very familiar with raising chicks in brooders, Salatin style tractors, electric netting etc. My main questions are about breeds, strains, etc. This time i really dont want to buy from hatcheries constantly nor use an incubator. Harvey Ussery's revised book has me pumped! But I research to death before I get started so I can hit the ground running.
I'm leaning towards either mixing Barred and Delaware for a more of a meat bird that lays good or perhaps just breeding straight Thompson style Barred geared toward my region and needs.
I'm in Central Georgia (8b) and would love to know if there is anyone in my area that already has a head start on me in that area and I would gladly by breeding stock once I make my move... Just ideas to start the conversation. I appreciate the expertise on here and hope I can learn something.
Also as a side note - if anyone knows where I can get one of those caponizing chairs I see with the Chinese guys on YouTube PLEASE send it my way. If I had that I would have done thousands LOL!!!!
I had Buff's, RIRs and Barred Rocks, with a few OEG given to me, all layers (the latter was a wild ride but VERY impressive). I managed to get others unwanted cockerels and caponized literally hundreds of them of all breeds but mostly barred.
This time I intend to start a self sufficient flock that have 1. big enough cockerels to caponize the culls. 2. Good layers (250±) 3. Some broodies for hatching (possibly a sub flock of OEG as the broodies) 4. Breeding for foraging ability and all of this with a Clan/Spiral mating system.
I'm very familiar with raising chicks in brooders, Salatin style tractors, electric netting etc. My main questions are about breeds, strains, etc. This time i really dont want to buy from hatcheries constantly nor use an incubator. Harvey Ussery's revised book has me pumped! But I research to death before I get started so I can hit the ground running.
I'm leaning towards either mixing Barred and Delaware for a more of a meat bird that lays good or perhaps just breeding straight Thompson style Barred geared toward my region and needs.
I'm in Central Georgia (8b) and would love to know if there is anyone in my area that already has a head start on me in that area and I would gladly by breeding stock once I make my move... Just ideas to start the conversation. I appreciate the expertise on here and hope I can learn something.
Also as a side note - if anyone knows where I can get one of those caponizing chairs I see with the Chinese guys on YouTube PLEASE send it my way. If I had that I would have done thousands LOL!!!!
