Chronicles of Raising Meat Birds - Modern Broilers, Heritage and Hybrids

[Parront]

I was interested in the Robust White so I did a little googel-ing and came across this article:https://www.poultryworld.net/Breede...en-could-hold-key-to-robust-health-WP008850W/
The Danish breed they refer to is a cross between and old time New Hampshire Red and a local strain of White Leghorn for a sex-link layer. Makes me interested in the New Hampshires on Moyer's site.

 

[jolenesdad]

I was interested in the Robust White so I did a little googel-ing and came across this article:https://www.poultryworld.net/Breede...en-could-hold-key-to-robust-health-WP008850W/
The Danish breed they refer to is a cross between and old time New Hampshire Red and a local strain of White Leghorn for a sex-link layer. Makes me interested in the New Hampshires on Moyer's site.

There are so many things in that article that make me go

 

[Parront]

There are so many things in that article that make me go

It is interesting. Lots of stuff on the inter-webs!

 

[Parront]

Cobb knows that their birds have immune deficiencies, and they are working on it. But, only under pressure from guys like you!

 

[Newyorkrita]

I like the new title of this thread. Have learned so much about raising meat birds by following along on this thread along with afew others here.

Glad that the Robust White hens are getting held back. You say they may end up having short lives but they would have ended up with shorter lives if processed. So I see it as good for them if they can become breeders.

Any besides I am interested in what you will get from your crosses!!

 

[jolenesdad]

The two has turned into three. Lol. I’m out refilling water and I realize I can’t find the two I tagged this morning. I go searching and forget about it but hear clucking later and find them with another robust white and several layers in the wellhouse building playing in cool mud.

I figured since I’m handing out passes today anyway, this third Robust in the wellhouse gets one too.

 

[Bookworm0124]

Yes. Schedule the processing around the pin feathers.

Last batch was during a drought. At 5 weeks it rained. The mosquitos ravaged the bare skin spots on the CX. One of the good (?) things about living in a neighborhood, the county sprays poison in the air to knock back the mosquitos. I skinned a couple of the worse, unappetizing CX. Meat was fine. Skin wasn't happening.

Expect the chest to be bare. Even the professionally raise birds are sparse feathered.

Thanks!

 

[Bookworm0124]

Nope. Not at all!

They’re 12 weeks old.

When I asked Moyers they said I would get various barnyard chicks with no traceable traits if I bred them together.

I’m going to try and start officially working with the Delaware breed. I’ve sourced one line, and working on two more. And I’ve still got two SLOW growing Delawares, that are from a great line but I probably won’t include in the program. My plan is three or four clans and spiral mating of my own Delaware flock to where I don’t have to bring in outside blood. Since I’ll have those pens, I think I may setup one with hybrid meat birds.

I think you’re the one that always says “you can eat ANY chicken” so I may be making a lot of stew, but we will see. The Robust whites are still a 4 way hybrid from corporate genetic stock, so I may never find a way to get anything consistent, but I am curious to play along with it while working on the Delawares.

I'm looking forward to hearing about your Delaware adventures. If I don't like these bielefelder's I'd like to get some from the breeder you posted. Financially, I'd be ordering eggs to hatch rather than ordering the chicks. But since at our current property I am at max capacity I can't start them yet. Few more years until we move!

 

[Bookworm0124]

We decided to go with wing bands jiffy brand to make it easy because they dont need changing and the birds are identified for life.

Great notes thanks! Question about the wing bands, how do they work?

 

[aliciaplus3]

Great notes thanks! Question about the wing bands, how do they work?

Just a small metal clip looking thing that is applied with an applicator, that is specific to the style, and stays on for life.... I like to wait till they are a week or 2 old before banding.... going on s year now and Wow it is awesome to be able to Know when a bird was hatched and any other info i remember to record.... i try to list death dates too. I do not band everything but for specific batches, or chicks that I wish to track they are invaluable..
We used them for the kids 4h birds and it worked well