Crossing my Red Ranger Hens.

[Molpet]

I am actually starting to like raising them as regular birds, They have adorable personalities when they are mobile. Mine even breaks into a sprint when I break out the feed.

watch it...they are easy to get attached to because they are so sweet... broke my heart to lop off their heads..they were so trusting, pulling on my pant leg wanting attention
I do not play with my food any more... harder to catch, but by the time I get them I don't mind lopping off their heads LOL

 

[Compost King]

I won't be eating this girl, she is for breeding only. When I plan to eat them I just name them Lunch and or Dinner and avoid contact with them.

 

[Compost King]

Sunday night weigh in, I picked what I believe to be the largest male in the 15 week old flock of Silver Grey Dorking X Red Rangers. 4.2 pounds. Thats up from 3.5 pounds (although I may have weighed the other Male from that group last week)... there is one in the next younger flock that is larger yet 3 weeks younger.

I also hatched out a few Naked Neck X Red Ranger over the weekend. I forgot how many I hatched out. I am debating what Heritage Rooster to put over the Red Rangers Next. I will hatch out one more batch of NN/RR and if I get the Incubator cleaned tonight they will hatch on Easter day.

 

[BlueBaby]

Did you take pic's of the chick's from your new hatch yet?

 

[Compost King]

I will try to get pictures tomorrow, its a very busy day... if not tomorrow then Tuesday.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Sunday night weigh in, I picked what I believe to be the largest male in the 15 week old flock of Silver Grey Dorking X Red Rangers. 4.2 pounds. Thats up from 3.5 pounds (although I may have weighed the other Male from that group last week)... there is one in the next younger flock that is larger yet 3 weeks younger.

Interesting. Dorking are not the heaviest breed you could have used but I'd still have expected the weight to be a bit better with that red ranger in the mix. Have you weighed that younger one that looks larger? Do you know how much the daddy weighs?

If that younger one really is that much bigger I think it demonstrates a few things. One is that hybrids or mixes don't breed true and your red ranger is a hybrid/mix. Not really sure how to classify her in that regard. Even when breeding purebreds you can get a wide variety in size/early maturity so a substantial difference isn't that surprising. The other is that to get your best birds to breed you need to breed a lot to have a better selection.

Interesting experiments and it seems like you are having fun with it. The thread is enjoyable to read.

 

[Compost King]

a couple of Naked Neck X Red Rangers front and center and Front right (as you view the picture) there are a few more in their. its only 40 degrees outside (30 for a low last night) and this brooder is outside so they are tightly packed under the heat lamp. After seeing the sliding glass door from the inside I just added Windex to my shopping list.

 

[BlueBaby]

@Compost King It look's like they are coming right along for you!

 

[Chickenheadmate]

Did this project ever get going?

I will be breeding him with the Red Ranger first but he seems like the best candidate to cross with the CX female I plan to get in February. All white feathers. I may even breed him with some of the Ayam Cemani meat crosses I made, just to get a good look at what Fibro trait looks like on a naked neck. Thats the advantage of having a Rooster, I can cross him with multiple hens at once. With a single hen I can only breed her with one Rooster per month, and to get a good batch of hatching eggs it takes up 2 months.

 

[Compost King]

Did this project ever get going?

I have bred him (Naked Neck) with the Red Rangers, the oldest offspring from that is running around with my CX hen right now but they are a long way away from laying I believe they are 6 and 7 weeks old. I Crossed the Naked Neck with some of my Fibro (black meat) birds but they were the culls and ones already mixed and out of about half a dozen chicks only one had the Fibro trait.