Cream Legbars

[BuffyBugSlayer]

I have 4 CL eggs going into lock down today! One has the most hideous saddle shaped air cell that I have not been able to correct. Fingers crossed for healthy, hatching chicks.

 

[chicken pickin]

I have 4 CL eggs going into lock down today! One has the most hideous saddle shaped air cell that I have not been able to correct. Fingers crossed for healthy, hatching chicks.

I hope they hatch for you

 

[ChicKat]

I hope they hatch for you

X2

keep us posted please!

 

[BuffyBugSlayer]

Thanks!

 

[nadrojsack]

I have a 28week old cl roo in with my hens, i havnt ever seen him mate in the two months ive had him, does anyone know why this is? I see my quail roo mate all the time...
My cl roo has a no crow collar on, might this be affecting him? I have some eggs incubating but im pretty sure they arent fertile. From two weeks after he was in with the hens. After this lockdown ill pop more in.

Anything i can do to increase his drive? While im on what food would be good for my roo i currently provide high protein game feed and barley in small amounts in addition to layers pellets, i hear layers pellets arent too good for roosters?

 

[ChicKat]

I have a 28week old cl roo in with my hens, i havnt ever seen him mate in the two months ive had him, does anyone know why this is? I see my quail roo mate all the time...
My cl roo has a no crow collar on, might this be affecting him? I have some eggs incubating but im pretty sure they arent fertile. From two weeks after he was in with the hens. After this lockdown ill pop more in.

Anything i can do to increase his drive? While im on what food would be good for my roo i currently provide high protein game feed and barley in small amounts in addition to layers pellets, i hear layers pellets arent too good for roosters?

Hi nadrojsack,

Can't help but suggest - just maybe your rooster is very discrete.

You could candle the eggs to look for development inside - that would answer your question immediately....if you see development inside your incubated eggs --then he has done his job of roostering.

I have also heard that layer feed has too much calcium for optimum rooster health.
also that game bird feed may be too high in protein. What is the percentage of protein that you are feeding him? Seems like game feed is 24 percent to 28% and that also isn't supposed to be too good for them long term. Here in the states - layer feed is 16% protein -- which I think is a bit too low. We have a feed 'All Flock' or 'Flock raiser' that is 20% protein -- but lacks any calcium.
I wish I could get a 19% protein with calcium in it --

 

[chicken pickin]

Hi nadrojsack,

Can't help but suggest - just maybe your rooster is very discrete.

You could candle the eggs to look for development inside - that would answer your question immediately....if you see development inside your incubated eggs --then he has done his job of roostering.

I have also heard that layer feed has too much calcium for optimum rooster health.
also that game bird feed may be too high in protein. What is the percentage of protein that you are feeding him? Seems like game feed is 24 percent to 28% and that also isn't supposed to be too good for them long term. Here in the states - layer feed is 16% protein -- which I think is a bit too low. We have a feed 'All Flock' or 'Flock raiser' that is 20% protein -- but lacks any calcium.
I wish I could get a 19% protein with calcium in it --

So you feed your whole flock males included layer feed as well? I do also but know calcium is not good for the males, I always consider switching over to the flock raiser and offering free choice oyster shell for the females but I just never make the switch, layer feed is easier

Ive been contemplating the switch again but we will see.

I agree also that he is likely just discrete, I have had males that I never saw mate but fertility was great like my male Silkie I have now, never seen it happen and he is 1.5years but his hens eggs are always fertile. My other 2 males right now chase the ladies and try to drag them down while the ladies yell at them, they have no worries mating 2 feet away from me which I do not like I find it bad male behavior. Today is processing day so I am saying goodbye to 2 of my 3 lovely boys today, as well as my entire turkey flock. Its time to downsize just a bit.

 

[ChicKat]

So you feed your whole flock males included layer feed as well? I do also but know calcium is not good for the males, I always consider switching over to the flock raiser and offering free choice oyster shell for the females but I just never make the switch, layer feed is easier

Ive been contemplating the switch again but we will see.

I agree also that he is likely just discrete, I have had males that I never saw mate but fertility was great like my male Silkie I have now, never seen it happen and he is 1.5years but his hens eggs are always fertile. My other 2 males right now chase the ladies and try to drag them down while the ladies yell at them, they have no worries mating 2 feet away from me which I do not like I find it bad male behavior. Today is processing day so I am saying goodbye to 2 of my 3 lovely boys today, as well as my entire turkey flock. Its time to downsize just a bit.

I used to use the Purina green bag is it 'flock raiser' (the dyslexia kicks in and I can see the bag in my mind but not the name)--- 100% of the time, with free choice calcium in oyster shells and the shells from their own eggs fed back to them. Then it seemed that the quality of some of the egg shells was diminishing - in my Isbars - who are little birds and heavy layers.....so I switched to a layer ration. It would be impossible to keep the roosters feed separate - " Here - you eat from this feeder, and you guys only eat from THIS feeder" I can just see my hooligans laughing at me with that one.... I do keep my juveniles on chick starter, and then flock raiser until the pullets begin to lay -- than that pen/family (rooster and all) gets switched now to layer. I do switch it out from time to time -- or mix the remainder of a flock raiser bag into the layer bag -- but there isn't easy answer to that one IMO.

Funny thing - I'm thinking of reducing my number also -- but cp -- you do have eggs in the incubator right now don't you?

 

[nadrojsack]

Hi nadrojsack, 

Can't help but suggest - just maybe your rooster is very discrete.


You could candle the eggs to look for development inside - that would answer your question immediately....if you see development inside your incubated eggs --then he has done his job of roostering.  

I have also heard that layer feed has too much calcium for optimum rooster health.  
also that game bird feed may be too high in protein.  What is the percentage of protein that you are feeding him?  Seems like game feed is 24 percent to 28% and that also isn't supposed to be too good for them long term.  Here in the states - layer feed is 16% protein -- which I think is a bit too low.  We have a feed 'All Flock' or 'Flock raiser' that is 20% protein -- but lacks any calcium.  
 I wish I could get a 19% protein with calcium in it -- 

Maybe he is discrete, however i have eggcam and watch alot... never seen it. Well i candled and expected to see big dark patch but saw only the yolk a bit denser than other non incubated eggs where i could hardly see the yolk maybe i was too keen incubating after two weeks of discrete action. Regarding food, im tied to buying layers at my local pet shop, they dont stock flocl raiser. I do have goose feed for my wee gosling

but keeping feed seperate is impossible. So is everyone sure the collar or age isnt stopping him mating?

 

[chicken pickin]

I used to use the Purina green bag is it 'flock raiser' (the dyslexia kicks in and I can see the bag in my mind but not the name)--- 100% of the time, with free choice calcium in oyster shells and the shells from their own eggs fed back to them. Then it seemed that the quality of some of the egg shells was diminishing - in my Isbars - who are little birds and heavy layers.....so I switched to a layer ration. It would be impossible to keep the roosters feed separate - " Here - you eat from this feeder, and you guys only eat from THIS feeder" I can just see my hooligans laughing at me with that one.... I do keep my juveniles on chick starter, and then flock raiser until the pullets begin to lay -- than that pen/family (rooster and all) gets switched now to layer. I do switch it out from time to time -- or mix the remainder of a flock raiser bag into the layer bag -- but there isn't easy answer to that one IMO.

Funny thing - I'm thinking of reducing my number also -- but cp -- you do have eggs in the incubator right now don't you?

I do have eggs in the incubator lol CL and Barred Plymouth Rocks and a brooder full of CL chicks.

Im processing my Marans male and my Silkie male, in hopes it will keep me from hatching everything from everyone. And also all the turkeys, so that will be eliminating one whole flock. I will also be rehoming some hens this summer as well.

Its always hard to decide what to do. I don't want to have too many chickens or too much going on with males, hatching and chicks(sometimes Igo over board) but I love all the different breeds and egg colors so its hard to let go. Im working on it. Id like to work with jst a small CL flock and I have 2 dozen quality Barred Plymouth Rock eggs due to hatch in the next 2 days so I would like to keep a small flock of those as well to work with. And then maybe a small layer flock with no male just for a few other egg colors.

Regarding feed again, I also have considered housing my males in a separate coop and pen from my females most of the year. That way hens are not over mated and can get a break and also feed can be kept separate and proper for each group, male and female. And then come breeding season pen the males with the females long enough to collect enough fertile eggs and then put the males back in the bachelor pen.