breeding

[saladin]

Quote:
lol. I am indeed that fellow. I didn't have article in the last Backyard Poultry, but I've been in most of them. Hopefully, if Elaine uses the last one I sent in I should have two articles in this next one.

I feel confident in the rolling mating method. I also come from a long line of farmers; most just happened to have been cockers too; lol.

 

[minister man]

So Flyingmonkeypoop, you basicly have two small rolling matings going on at the same time. Instead of just and old and young pen, you have two of each. That is a neat angle, and you don't have as many birds as craig russell recommends for a single rolling mating.

I am going to have to search out my copy of the Backyard poultry. I remember reading that article that was about a combination of rolling mating and clan mating where only one pen was changed per year, and thinking that would work for me. Question is, why did you decide ( recommend) combining the two methods together? I would have to think that you saw good qualities and advantages in both that worked....... but in your opinion how does combining them make them better?

 

[saladin]

I want longevity as part of my breeding program; thus, I only breed hens that are 2 years old and older. Now I do utilize 14 month old cocks, but a hen has to survive for at least two years to get to a breeding pen. No matter how good she looks or how tempted I am, they must exhibit the ability to survive.

 

[minister man]

I was thinking about your plan where you only breed in the second year you still only have 2 pens, ............ and I was thinking if there was some way that I could house the females seperately through thier pullet year............ like 5-8 pens, then I could keep track of egg counts from each hen............. then I could set a "acceptable laying rate" and only the good laying hens that are above that line, move on to the breeding pen................. Of course then I am into alot of differnt pens............... But then there is trap nesting................... So if I don't breed in the pullet year, I could make it a production test year.......... I am sure there is an idea in this babbling somewhere, I am just kind of thinking outload...............



One of the things that attracted me to hamburgs is their abilty to forage ( not that I graze them) I am looking down the road as the cost of living keeps increasing, I am seeing a market for cold tolerant birds that can pick most of thier living, so they would also need the ablity to survive............. so the second year breeding thing would make them a stronger bird, that wouldn't need replaced as often for laying. Got to re-read that article of yours when I get home from Church. They don't like me to read things during the service!

 

[minister man]

I read, and reread your article on selective breeding. It was so well written that everytime I read a point, I said to myself " I wonder if it means......................" Then the very next line or paragraph answered that question. It is a good author that can anticipate the readers questions before they ask them or have even met the reader. ......

I am thinking that it is the plan for me................ I know that the number game is totally dependant on the quality of the hatch. I see now that it is better to have samller groups of the best birds instead of a group of a certain size that contains a bunch of birds that shouldn't be there just to fill the pen. The only question that I have is: you try to keep 3 males per family, do you use them all or, use the best and the other 2 are backups? do you use them one at a time, to see which one fathers the best birds? Are the males all replaced each year, or are they culled down to the best with thier fathers?


I think if I knew how to handle the male side situation, I could decide on this plan, and finally after 2-3 years just start instead of worrying about doing it right.


thanks MM

 

[saladin]

Sometimes I use them all (the cocks) sometimes I don't. If they are as good or better than as the original cock: yes. If not then they are just backups.

By the way, you do know that my doctorate is in Theology, right? (I earned it too!lol.)

 

[minister man]

I knew that you and I are both Baptist ministers, After I knew that you wrote the article so that I knew who you are. You and I have talked together on Ultimate fowl, and by email before it. It was acutaly your explaination of the breeding from 1 yard a year that let me know it is you. Then I relaized that you are the one that wrote the article that I reffered to in the begining about how people with a rolling mating use side matings. Your article reads like it was written by a public speaker- one who anticapates and answers the listeners questions even though they don't have to oportunity to ask.

It is a small world. Thanks for all your help, I now just have to find a copy of the hamburg standard so I can nail down my selection line. Those above are in, those below are out.

 

[minister man]

I enjoyed our conversation so much these last couple of days, that I finally broke down and bought a 2 year membership to the SPPA. I look forward to the newletters and more learning.

 

[saladin]

I'll do my best to get the information to you with a couple of weeks of receiving the check. Welcome aboard!

 

[minister man]

Actually I signed up on line, through poultrybookstore.com, from Christine Hendricks website. So I am not sure how long it takes to get to you.

thanks for the help, MM