Chickens for 10-20 years or more? Pull up a rockin' chair and lay some wisdom on us!

[Fred's Hens]

As long as you are working on RIR..Can you tell me what you know about Gary Underwoods lines..please

Some of the best on the planet. That's all they are.

 

[al6517]

I keep reading of this short breeding season. Someone forgot to tell my roosters the breeding season was short

The term Breeding season is primarily defined as the months of optimal performance of both the hen and the rooster, the natural time when all molts are over and the general conditions of the birds is improving from the winter and transitioning into their summer feathering. The roosters fertility is on the rise and more potent due to the full sun on their backs producing copious amounts of Vital Vitamin D. The time when the natural cycle of breeding for the birds comes to fruition, the time when chicks can survive in the open weather and still be grown enough to survive the winter. That is the breeding season in short...................... closely resembling the cyle of things on the farm from day's gone bye till now, still the same.

 

[Beekissed]

Amen and amen.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Remember also that penning for breeding doesn' take all that long. If the rooster is a bachelor and the hens are kept separate during the fall moulting season, when they want zero attention from a male suitor nor laying anyway, they come out of moult in January, let us say. In January, one might be feeding them well, helping them regain the form and feathering. Then, in February, the days are now long and finally, the hens are laying again.

After four or five days in the breeding pen, she'll likely laying fertile eggs, the very eggs, from the precise matchup you desire. Let's say you have 4 breeding hutches set up. Each with the trio from your example. If the hens are laying 5 eggs per week each and you have 8 hens in 4 breeding pens or hutches, you'll easily fill your incubator in a week. You might then leave you pens together, or you might use the 3 week incubation time to do some re-arranging of mating pairs/trios.

After you hatched two or three incubators of live chicks? It is likely April and you're about done hatching for season. You can then break up those breeding pens.

The point is simply this. You're not keeping your small breeding pairings together for all that long. Hope that helps.

The term Breeding season is primarily defined as the months of optimal performance of both the hen and the rooster, the natural time when all molts are over and the general conditions of the birds is improving from the winter and transitioning into their summer feathering. The time when the natural cycle of breeding for the birds comes to fruition, the time when chicks can survive in the open weather and still be grown enough to survive the winter. That is the breeding season in short...................... closely resembling the cyle of things on the farm from day's gone bye till now, still the same.

 

[stonykill]

The term Breeding season is primarily defined as the months of optimal performance of both the hen and the rooster, the natural time when all molts are over and the general conditions of the birds is improving from the winter and transitioning into their summer feathering. The time when the natural cycle of breeding for the birds comes to fruition, the time when chicks can survive in the open weather and still be grown enough to survive the winter. That is the breeding season in short...................... closely resembling the cyle of things on the farm from day's gone bye till now, still the same.

makes sense. I call that peak breeding season around here. Maybe I'm just used to broody raised chicks, but 3 day old chicks go out in snow with mama hen and survive just fine. I get what you are saying. breeding season is the time we humans think chickens should breed, not when they think they should . All said without sarcasm. Simply saying chickens mate and sit on eggs 10 to 11 months a year here. Successfully btw

 

[NanaKat]

Nana................... your dropping some serious names there, Bo's stuff is always on the upper echelon of his breeds, Carl knows his Cochins and his advice should be heeded, he is also a fan of pulling butt feathers on the Vents of cochin roo's and pullets.

yes, I'm familiar with the half circle plucking yet leaving the semen feathers around the vent. Since Samson and Delilah are from his line, we did that last season and got some improvement in fertility. Samson is now three years of age and Ai will work better. He is a great flock rooster and patrols the layer flock most of the time. The girls follow him like little calves after an udder.
I have four great cockerels hatched from Bo's blue pen eggs. He has given advice on which ones to use first. He had some gorgeous bird at Shawnee.

 

[delisha]

Thank you..I have a few eggs from his stock in the incubator now. I was told if I wanted real APA RIR to show instead of what I have..those were the eggs to purchase.

 

[Pozees]

Well, freezing water is an issue here in Co this winter. I tried a heated dog house matt...because I already had it and it did nothing. The bucket still froze solid. We have had very cold temps and I am hauling hot water from the house and it still freezes by early evening.
I'm rotating buckets in and out of the house and my rain barrel is still bone dry.
I'm probably gonna have to break down and get a heated dog water bowl. Out here they are over 30.00 bucks though and
I think its too high. Might swing by Goodwill and see if I can find an old crock pot first.

Also note that I'm doing deep litter and its been 10 degrees below every night since Sat and none of my birds have frost bite. Today its 20 and the chickens are acting like its spring! Went outside and everything.

FYI: for anyone you know with epilepsy or any kind of electrical brain issue the 21st is the moment when some kind of magnetic shift happens world wide. I have a friend who has micro siezures all the time and her DH will be home with her that whole day. I dont really know what the implications are if any but thought it was interesting.-L

I know once I read through to current this will probably have been addressed about 100 times, but wanted to ask whether you have a Big R near you. I bought a 3 gallon plug-in waterer this fall when it was on sale, think I paid < $30 for it, and so far it's worked to perfection. The additional cost of the outdoor rated extension cord made it more, but should last years. Might put it on your Christmas list If you don't have a Big R nearby, I can mail you one from Pueblo if you want. The waterer, not a Big R LOL

 

[al6517]

Quote:

Actualy prime breeding season is when the chickens find it the best time for them, as far as Broodies doing their thing and hatching and sitting year round is mainly found in sub par hatchery stock who's internal body workings don't know whether they're coming or going they just do whenever. Heritage birds rarely do such untimely antics.

 

[stonykill]

Actualy prime breeding season is when the chickens find it the best time for them, as far as Broodies doing their thing and hatching and sitting year round is mainly found in sub par hatchery stock who's internal body workings don't know whether they're coming or going they just do whenever. Heritage birds rarely do such untimely antics.

depends on your definition of sub par. See for me a hen who lays 5 to 6 days a week, raises chicks at least once a year, can survive free ranging for years, and still lay well at 6 years old, I don't care if it is from a hatchery. THAT is a good hen. Chicken snob I'm not

edited by staff