Catskill Homesteader Breeding Project

[myfivegirls]

Last night, I moved "Daniel" and a whole bunch of young cockerels into a separate coop/run area.
That way the young cocks can get "fattened up" and with all the broody hens I have right now,
I don't need two roosters in the the PA/DC "main flock area".

More chicks hatched in the incubator. Need to be wing-banded and be put under "Lydia" (broody 2nd time this year) while they wait for their new homes.

It's been raining nearly every day, but we're supposed to have a few dry days, except today they're now calling for 60% chance of showers.
As a result, the compost areas in the chicken areas have been in desperate need of more mulch hay, and our one source we can no longer is no longer available.
So, the last Saturday and today, we're "cleaning up" people's barns of the loose mulch hay, so we have something to keep the chickens happy & working!

 

[myfivegirls]

Catskill Homesteader Chickens - Breeding Goals:



5. Colorful feathers

• A. CURRENT: Variety of Solid Colors, Patterned, etc -
  
  • Adult Hens: mostly browns, black, black & white barred, blue, white; some multicolored patterns
  • Adult Roosters: red, red/white, black, brown, black & white barred, white, blue;

generally more colorful than hens w/ two or more contrasting colors

• 2015 Chicks - Much wider variety than previous year's hatches, with lots of chipmunks, blues,

blacks, and then some unique multi-colored chicks with or without headspots

• UPDATE 8/2/15: As the 2015 chicks have feathered out, I've noticed that some with "solid" down colors are actually hiding

very unique or multi-colored patterns underneath. I'm liking the progress we've made this year, and look forward to as they mature.


7. Productive Layers

• A. Late winter/early spring 2015: (With supplemental winter light) - Lay pretty much year-round, except for when molting and broody; Each hen varies, but I’d estimate young pullets & hens lay every 1-2 days, until they’re 18 months old, then it’s every

2-3 days, with occasional several days in a row, with a day or two break in between.
Don’t know yet how they’ll do once they’re 2 - 2 ½ year old & older. Size wise, they vary from
Medium to Jumbo, but majority are large to extra large. Pullets from 2014 laid laying pretty large,
often Jumbo double-yolkers, for awhile, but by spring they were mostly large to extra large eggs.
Shell quality - both genetic and feed-based; mostly nice, thick shells; older hens tend to have
“bumps” or thinner shells. There’s some who have laid shell-less or thin eggs, but those obviously
can't be hatched, so there's no chance of getting chicks from them. I have yet to identify which
hen(s) are laying them.

UPDATE 8/2/15: Not factoring the many broody hens, a few molting here & there, we had a drop in production in June, which was quickly corrected
with increase in food & free-choice dry layer mash in addition to their daily fermented feed. Some of the smaller groups of only 3 hens & 1 rooster
averaged for awhile 2-3 eggs a day, with an occasional only 1. Some weeks when it's been hot (high 80's & low 90's), production has dropped for a short time, but also only two of the groups (DC & SFH) currently have lights on timers - all the rest are on natural "sunlight" hours.
Out of 38 hens (including those who are or have been broody) of ages varying from 2+ years to under a year (plus 2 hens who are 3 & 4 years old),
we've gotten an average of 15 - 20 eggs per day. Back in the late winter/ early spring, I think the "record" # was around 28 eggs in one day. Now that may seem like not very good, but I've closely monitored each group, writing down each day's production. They've all had highs and lows, but in many of the smaller groups, I've recorded many of the individual hens as laying 5-7 eggs per week.Others, are more like 3-5 eggs per week.
That also includes the Swedish Flower Hens, which sometimes I'd say don't lay as frequently as the majority of the Catskill Homesteaders.
Plus, the Freedom Ranger cross hens are very large hens, are over 2 years old, but are still laying, though less frequently.
Without trap nesting & putting food coloring in vents, it'd be hard to track which hens are the most productive.
The easiest way I've kept track is when collecting hatching eggs, I try to match up the colors, shapes, sizes & any distinctive "markings" particular to that hen's egg. While I didn't hatch out only the eggs from the most productive hens, I did many batches where I selected those that laid the most eggs that week.




"Dad's Coop" Group -



UPDATE 8/2/15: PA & DC Groups are now all one with "Joshua" being the only top rooster,
as several of the hens were split up into smaller breeding groups, plus many went broody.

CH Hens & Pullets - includes ones with Freedom Ranger lineage;

single combs, rose, pea, cushion or mixed small combs

Laying various shades of light brown, medium brown, "pink", blue/green, light sage.

Hen's feather colors/patterns include 2 black, 2 black/white barred, 2 "bluish lavender",

1 orange/brown/black patterned, 2 blue/gray/gold patterened, etc





"PA Coop" - Currently housing two broody hens with 3 hatches of chicks

1 "Andrew" - EE-based "Gold Duckwing*" CH Roo - pea comb - current rooster died

1 "Daniel" - Blue Wheaten*" CH - rose comb - fathered some of the earlier hatches - back with young roosters/not breeding




1 Partridge Chantecler - cushion comb (breeder or broody - raising chicks now)


2 CH Pullets from Oct 2014 - "Snowdrop" (laying) & "Crocus" (was raising ducklings, but I think she might be thinking of laying.)





SFH Group - SFH Rooster over 3 CH hens - green egg layers + 1 Bantam Cochin


Biel Group - Bielefelder Rooster over 1 CH green layer "Susan"
+ 2 CH brown layers (blk/white barred; gold/brown/black patterned - carries barring gene)


Blue Copper Maran MIX (BCMx) - unrelated rooster from Blue Copper Marans(R) x (? hen) parantage;
blue, black, gold; single comb
(not yet with hens)
UPDATE: known as the "IGLOO" group, as their first coop was a dog igloo.
Paired with 3 hens & several batches of chicks hatched summer of 2015 ,
They've since moved to a pallet coop, where they are happier.
Hens: 1 black FRx "Blackberry", 1 SFHxCH, 1 brown/gold/charcoal gray patterened CH - all brown egg layers

Recently acquired another unrelated rooster from another local chicken lover, who was sired by
Buckeye/Buff Orp rooster and unknown hen, possibly an Easter Egger.
As of this post I have yet to pair him with any hens, as he's still in quarantine.
UPDATE: known as the "GARDEN" group, as they're in a movable chicken tractor in the garden's grassy isle.
Paired with 3 Catskill Homesteader Hens: "Huckleberry" - blue CH green egg layer, "Bearded Iris" - barred FR/DOMx, "Primrose" - PR/GLWx

 

[myfivegirls]

A collection of recent photos of the pullets and cockerel growing out:







"Crocus" - Oct 2014 pullet who's just finished hatching & co-raising some
Muscovy ducklings, along with "Blackie" the duck.












Now, these are another little "side-project", not really part of the "Catskill Homesteader" project,
except that these will be hopefully great broody hens, who will help raise future generations of
the Catskill Homesteaders.
I'm calling them "Mini Flower Hens" as so far, they look to be 1/2 way between
the bantam size and a small-sized "large fowl".
I also like their personality, sweet, gentle, yet spunky and active foragers.
1/2 Swedish Flower Hen and 1/2 bantam Millie Fleur Cochin.

That little rooster in the background of the 1st photo is a little "stud" already,
and has been practicing his technique on unwilling subjects.
He's still pretty young, just started crowing, but has the prance,
dance & "treading" down pretty well. I laugh ever time I see
him try to woo the young pullets who are like, "are you kidding?"



I love all their "flowers" and hope they keep them as they
mature, especially this pretty little pullet.

 

[myfivegirls]

The Catskill Homesteaders are doing great, and many of this year's pullets and roosters are looking great!
There are some out of this year's hatches that I don't think I've ever seen in that color combination before. So, it's very exciting to see how each one develops. I continue to be very intrigued by how the "blue" genetics are playing out when mixed with other colors. And I know that there are other people out there that love "eye candy" as well, and to have that in a "productive" chicken is an added bonus. Most of the "ornamental" breeds tend to be less productive, especially the more "show quality" the are, because they're focusing on a perfect pattern or color. Here, there's no standard color, except I prefer non-solid colors, though I've found that a few solid black hens are beneficial to keep the "blue" genes going.
Sorry, for "rambling", but even though I don't really understand the whole genetics "philosophy" and "lingo", I enjoy watching the variety unfold before my eyes.
Some of the Bielefelder/CH pullets like this gal are laying khaki/olive eggs.
(Photo taken before she started laying.)



Enjoy the "eye-candy"!

Here's updated photos of the above two pullets:




This little cockerel we named "Penguin", because of his white face/beard, and dark body.
Cute little fellow, but his huge comb isn't the best for cold winters.

This cockerel was on the "processing" list, but I'm not so sure anymore.
He's turned out to be quite a beauty.



One of the "Mini Flower Hens" - love her "flowers" and patterns.

This is a pure Barnevelder cockerel, which I hope to use over some of the Catskill Homesteaders
next year. Another source of the "blue" genetics, but totally unrelated to the ones I already have.

 

[myfivegirls]

More Photos! Mostly from September.

First up is the new "khaki" eggs alongside the other eggs.



The rest are Catskill Homesteader pullets & cockerels hatched in 2015



I'm especially intrigued by this young pullet. She looks blue, then gray, then brown, depending
on the lighting. Very unique color, not sure what you'd call it.

 

[myfivegirls]

Another photo update on the Catskill Homesteaders:



Pullet



Ellie & Elly May's "foster" chicks


Cockerel


Cockerel - "Penguin" has changed since last time

 

[myfivegirls]

Shared this on the NY Chicken Lover thread, but here's the latest batch of Catskill Homesteaders.
57 chicks hatched (with a few being SFH & Biel) Jan 11-13, 2016

At 3 weeks old, I sorted them & found
32 Roosters
16 Pullets
and 9 who could go either way, not 100% sure which gender they are.

As far as the roosters, I've never been able to tell who's who @ such a young age. Usually, I wait until they're 8 - 10 weeks old, but this time it seems to be very obvious.

Warning: PHOTO OVERLOAD!

Quite a few have head-spots, b/c of the barring gene,
and I'd say at least 95% of those with head-spots are roosters.



Some are already bright pink, and it was that
way before I picked them up.


This single comb is much smaller,
and pale yellow

Same chick - see how can't even see comb or wattles
from the side - most likely a pullet.


Even the pea/single comb crosses were pretty easy
Pullet

Cockerel

Cockerel side view

It was also interesting the color difference
in the little cockerels vs the pullets


Very small single comb of a pullet


While sorting them out, I put all the cockerels & pullets in
a separate bin, so I'd make it easier to catch the last ones.

And here's the bin full of cockerels!

vs the "empty" bin of pullets


Warming back up under the hover brooder

 

[Sally Sunshine]

great project!!! following!

 

[myfivegirls]

I've been Looking through some photos, and need to update this thread for 2016's breeding goals. Many of 2015's pullets have been laying for some time now, and some of the ones hatched in Sept are starting to lay also.
It's exciting to see the progress & I can't wait to see what the new cockerels & pullets produce for offspring!

I love the color & delicate pattern on this pullet:

We hatched one batch of chicks in Jan, a 2nd in Feb, which was a much smaller hatch & are being raised by two broodies, Lydia & newbie Gracie, a "Mini Flower" SFH/bantam Cochin.

A 3rd hatch is due this week around the 11th.
And a just set on 3/7, a huge batch of eggs (100) including 36 from the SFH Coop.

This handsome rooster, "Muffy" turned 1 year old today, and last week, I gave him a small group of hens.

He was the very outgoing from just a little chick & was pegged as a rooster at just a few weeks old, because he'd come right up to the camera, not afraid at all! He's grown up & is a nice gentleman, and I'm excited to see what he & his girls produce.

Not to draw anyone away from BYC, but I did make a Facebook page for the Catskill Homesteaders. What's nice is I've been able to get feedback & photos from those I've sold eggs, chicks or pullets to.
https://m.facebook.com/Catskill-Homesteader-Chickens-539732722874238/

 

[myfivegirls]

I haven't updated in a LOOONG time, due to the busy year of hatching chicks & mostly uploading photos on my Facebook pages. But, we're still going strong & have lots & lots of beautiful Catskill Homesteader Chickens that are making wonderful strides in the long list of breeding goals. Here's just one photo of the many hatches we had in 2016 and are looking forward to the 2017 hatching season.