Choose the right Cockerels

[Duckfarmer1]

Once I do it, I plan to just do flock breeding, since, my chickens are not exactly beautiful nor for meat

It’s all just a hobby

 

[Gerleon]

Thanks everyone for the comments and I read all and I think I keep this two,
They are the more active and the one accept the adult hens scratch and call the hens to eat werever they find and again thanks for everything I try to upload a video but i can’t do it
So again thanks

 

[Folly's place]

Very handsome boys!
Mary

 

[Duckfarmer1]

You’re an inspiration..perhaps I can take a video tomorrow..does video upload the same as pictures? Ok. Wish me luck

 

[Shezadandy]

Thanks everyone for the comments and I read all and I think I keep this two,
They are the more active and the one accept the adult hens scratch and call the hens to eat werever they find and again thanks for everything View attachment 1949625View attachment 1949626View attachment 1949627I try to upload a video but i can’t do it
So again thanks

Very pretty! You'll end up with some fun looking chicks … each one will be like a Christmas present!

 

[Shezadandy]

Thanks everyone for the comments and I read all and I think I keep this two,
They are the more active and the one accept the adult hens scratch and call the hens to eat werever they find and again thanks for everything View attachment 1949625View attachment 1949626View attachment 1949627I try to upload a video but i can’t do it
So again thanks

P.S. To upload a video, post it to youtube first. Then copy the link to the video into your reply.

 

[Shezadandy]

Oh geez, that’s great info..I do keep charts onmy rabbits, for size and not broken pairs, etc.. but, we are not letting my existing hens go broody till spring, I already I have two goats due in Jan and 100 more animals...but.. I will definitely need to ask you how to keep track and chart those eggs...

It helps quite a bit if you can identify what hen lays what egg. This time of year, doing a quick check of the vent can give you a good idea which hens are laying and which ones are on their fall/winter hiatus. Even within the same breed, each hen lays something of a distinct egg. The color is usually different enough - some add speckles, others might do a little extra calcium deposit on the wide end or at the top of the egg - it's worth spending some time figuring out.

I'm sure there's "an app for that" and/or a multitude of programs when it comes to tracking and charting- but I just do pen and paper at the end of each day, writing the hen's name, and weigh the egg, and later add it to Excel - date, hen's name, weight of egg. I used to record the circumference and the length but once you get to a certain volume of eggs- ugh. I separate my eggs by size anyway when I go to package them up for my egg customers, so the egg is getting weighed either way.

I also write down on that same paper if a hen has gone (newly) broody - if she quits early- if a "first" egg got laid that day from a pullet - if eggs hatched that day - if someone is molting - when someone dies - it all goes on that day's egg list and into Excel where I can organize things my own way.

 

[Duckfarmer1]

It helps quite a bit if you can identify what hen lays what egg. This time of year, doing a quick check of the vent can give you a good idea which hens are laying and which ones are on their fall/winter hiatus. Even within the same breed, each hen lays something of a distinct egg. The color is usually different enough - some add speckles, others might do a little extra calcium deposit on the wide end or at the top of the egg - it's worth spending some time figuring out.

I'm sure there's "an app for that" and/or a multitude of programs when it comes to tracking and charting- but I just do pen and paper at the end of each day, writing the hen's name, and weigh the egg, and later add it to Excel - date, hen's name, weight of egg. I used to record the circumference and the length but once you get to a certain volume of eggs- ugh. I separate my eggs by size anyway when I go to package them up for my egg customers, so the egg is getting weighed either way.

I also write down on that same paper if a hen has gone (newly) broody - if she quits early- if a "first" egg got laid that day from a pullet - if eggs hatched that day - if someone is molting - when someone dies - it all goes on that day's egg list and into Excel where I can organize things my own way.

You really do all that? So I’m guessing you have a lot of customers and a lot of hens. For us it’s always going to be a hobby. Now I am interested in tracking the hens for egg colors and how much they lay but I don’t think I’ll weigh them. I love the charting idea. We just give our eggs away. Perhaps down the road.

 

[Gerleon]

I take a video is little bad takin

 

[Duckfarmer1]

I take a video is little bad takin

Ok, very nice set up..I have 43 Ducksand everyone always asks how do you keep them straight..we’ll I do..but you have many more chickens..but the egg factor..and keeping track of who lays them..because you can’t be there...and then to weigh them all..obviously this is a full time job...lol.