Cubalaya Thread For Sharing Pics and Discussing Our Birds

[troyer]

Culled , predation, disease, or unknown causes ? If you don't mind me asking.

They just got sick and died.

 

[wood&feathers]

Man that's rough. It really is the ugly shadow we all fear when dealing with rare breeds, even after the number of birds rebounds. I ran into lack of vigor in Marans. They're a popular breed, but the pool of foundation stock is small.

I suppose that is why so many of you are breeding out to Asian games. Given the history of the breed that seems the logical choice.

 

[Oldhound]

They just got sick and died.

Well that ends that for sure . That is the risk with dealing with living things . Sooner or later they all die even with the best of precautions. I started with Sandhill birds. which"knock wood" have survived even when some of my birds of other breeds died . A bag of feed that I did not realize was moldy until 2/3 empty killed a bunch last year. All you can do is the best you can do.

 

[Jungleexplorer]

I am in a quandary about how to breed my birds. I have three Blue Red cockerels and one pullet I got from Ideal hatchery, and one BBR Rooster, One BBR Hen and one Blue Red hen I got from Jim Zook. I know that I am going to breed the BBR roo and the hen from Zook, but my question is what to breed with the two Blue Red hens (one from Ideal and one from Zook). Should I choose the best BR rooster from Ideal to breed them with, or breed them both with the BBR roo from Zook?

 

[Oldhound]

Personally I would use the Zook cock with both Zook hens and keep the line seperate . I would try to build the numbers of the Zook line before outcrossing them as they are not as easy to replace and of superior quality. Black and Blue are compatible colors,try to mark the chicks to tell which hen is the mother of which chicks because the Blue/R hen will have Both BBR & Blue/R.That way you should be able to breed the sons of one to the daughters of the other and know which birds are producing what. If I recall Saladin gave some very sound advice on this subject further back in the thread, he does have decades of experience with Cubalayas. Before you know it you will have more Cubalaya chicks than you know what to do with. Best of Luck, & be sure to post pics of the next generation.

 

[Jungleexplorer]

Personally I would use the Zook cock with both Zook hens and keep the line seperate . I would try to build the numbers of the Zook line before outcrossing them as they are not as easy to replace and of superior quality. Black and Blue are compatible colors,try to mark the chicks to tell which hen is the mother of which chicks because the Blue/R hen will have Both BBR & Blue/R.That way you should be able to breed the sons of one to the daughters of the other and know which birds are producing what. If I recall Saladin gave some very sound advice on this subject further back in the thread, he does have decades of experience with Cubalayas. Before you know it you will have more Cubalaya chicks than you know what to do with. Best of Luck, & be sure to post pics of the next generation.

So you are saying to keep the Ideal and Zook birds separate, right? Are the Ideal birds of any use at all or should I just give up on improving them, get rid of them and work on my Zooks and maybe trade some of my Zook BBR stock for a quality B/R rooster next year to go with my hen?

My understanding of genetics is very limited. Am I right in thinking that I will get BBR+B/R roosters and B/R hens from a cross between the BBR rooster and the B/R hen, in the same way that (as I was told) you will get Golden Duckwing roosters and Sliver Duckwing hens from a cross between a BBR rooster and Silver Duckwing hens?

I am building separate breeding pens to keep all the hens separate and introduced the rooster I want each hen to mate with and keep the eggs separate. Now I am trying to figure out how to mark the chicks when the eggs hatch. What is the best way to mark the chicks so I can identify them when I put them in the brooder ( I only have one brooder)? I was thinking about just using different color paint to put a spot on them and then use tiny colored zip ties after that until they get big enough for leg bands.

Sorry for all the questions. I just want to learn all I can before spring, so I can know where I am going and do it right the first time. Thanks

 

[Oldhound]

First, Don't make yourself crazy. Yes I am saying to keep the lines seperate . Hatch from both, select the best etc etc. Blue is not sex linked , you will get both sexes in all of the colors if you hatch enough. Black to Blue = blacks and blues. Blue to Blue = black, blue, and splash. Black to Splash =blue.

Many people use a toe punch , but you can use what ever works for you.
There are some very helpful information on the Heritage Fowl, Leghorn , Plymouth Rock,& Rhode Island Red threads. Some of the contributors are very experienced, breeders and exhibitors, judges, and authors, When you get the time to read them you can gain a world of knowledge.

Even though I have raised farm flocks for decades I am new to Cubalayas and find choosing the next years breeders the most troublesome. Doc ( Saladin) is right about picking your breeders from mature 2+ year old stock, They Change. .

I read somewhere that one person used those net onion bags to keep eggs seperate in the incubator. Good Luck

 

[bruceha2000]

Yay! I just got my BBRs that I bought from Jim Zook. Oh Man! Are they pretty!

I have to agree. That is one beautiful cock.

Bruce

 

[Jungleexplorer]

I have to agree. That is one beautiful cock.

Bruce

Thanks. I am really please to start off with such a good bird.

 

[Jungleexplorer]

First, Don't make yourself crazy. Yes I am saying to keep the lines seperate . Hatch from both, select the best etc etc. Blue is not sex linked , you will get both sexes in all of the colors if you hatch enough. Black to Blue = blacks and blues. Blue to Blue = black, blue, and splash. Black to Splash =blue.

Many people use a toe punch , but you can use what ever works for you.
There are some very helpful information on the Heritage Fowl, Leghorn , Plymouth Rock,& Rhode Island Red threads. Some of the contributors are very experienced, breeders and exhibitors, judges, and authors, When you get the time to read them you can gain a world of knowledge.

Even though I have raised farm flocks for decades I am new to Cubalayas and find choosing the next years breeders the most troublesome. Doc ( Saladin) is right about picking your breeders from mature 2+ year old stock, They Change. .

I read somewhere that one person used those net onion bags to keep eggs seperate in the incubator. Good Luck

Thanks for the advice. I promise not to go crazy.

I was not really worried when all I had was the Ideal birds; I figured the only way was up with them. But now with these Zook birds, there is a down and I just want to make sure I don't go there. I am in it for the long haul, so I think my next step is to get an APA standards book. They are a little pricey (60), but I will save the money and get one. I think it will give me a base line to judge against for choosing breeders over the next few years. I will check out those threads you mentioned as well.

I know about the changing thing. My golden duckwing AG was an ugly ducking when he was young, but he gets prettier ever day. Check out this change, and he is only eight months old now. I can't wait to see him at two years.