Eggs for food vs eggs for chicks...sound off please

[cmom]

Yes, they are good layers.

 

[featherhead007]

Sucky. I wish I had room to have a coop for each roo I end up with to have their own flock. I would have acres of coops lmbo! Maybe I should do just that and start a RescRoo!

RescRoo! I'm all in for that!
Roos need love too.

 

[aart]

a RescRoo!

Great wordplay!

 

[ncymst]

Thank you! Haha well MOM here knows we can eat them but try telling the kids or the hubby. Those were some truly special facial expressions A year would be good. That would be spring of next year and actual decent weather in my area lol

I’ve never heard of putting roosters in temporarily when you put a rooster in he’s part of the pecking order. I just got rid of my second rooster because he became a year old and decided to fight for the girls as top roo. And I hatched a rooster I just re homed also. One too for every 10 hens. If you keep one rooster in with the girls all the time he will make sure your eggs get fertilized

 

[GeekyGram]

I am curious to hear from those who have chickens they intend to or have used for eggs AND chicks. Mine have just started laying. Like just yesterday. I have 7 gals and 3 cockerels. The boys are in a separate pen.

I would like to try raising some chicks of our own after the hens are all in a pattern of laying steadily. I would like advice and wisdom as to what age is best for mating (all are 4 months now), what season is best for it, should I allow one or both nice roos at a time to rejoin the flock of hens for a time, if so how long? How long after mating should I allow for possible fertilized eggs? Is there a best time to remove roos when I want to go back to egg production solely for eating?

Please give info, ask me questions, I would like to research the thoughts and ideas and options prior to deciding I want to try for chicks.

Thanx guys!

 

[member 158781]

We have used our chickens for both. Eggs and chicks. Changing out the rooster may become a necessity for us. Not because he isn't good. Actually a great rooster. Polite, gentle etc. BUT: We've had different kinds of predators here. So the older generation was gone and he can only mate with his daughters. Now for eggs that doesn't matter. But I do wonder about the health of offspring. They might not be healthy if they're too inbred. it would be great if you can swap your rooster with someone else's rooster every other generation. I don't consider myself the expert on this so other members might have completely different ideas about this. So please correct me if you feel I'm wrong.

 

[chkncrazy]

We have used our chickens for both. Eggs and chicks. Changing out the rooster may become a necessity for us. Not because he isn't good. Actually a great rooster. Polite, gentle etc. BUT: We've had different kinds of predators here. So the older generation was gone and he can only mate with his daughters. Now for eggs that doesn't matter. But I do wonder about the health of offspring. They might not be healthy if they're too inbred. it would be great if you can swap your rooster with someone else's rooster every other generation. I don't consider myself the expert on this so other members might have completely different ideas about this. So please correct me if you feel I'm wrong.

I think an animals that aren't as complicated as birds it doesn't matter.... Most breeders breed the daughters back to the father's anyway to insure certain qualities which is called line breeding.... But I've never bred chickens, I've kept them for over 20 years never had any use for a rooster, lolmy friends who have roosters their girls look all beat up ... From breeding and they only have one rooster per 20 chickens..and every rooster I tried raising by the time they hit almost a year they chased me around the pain trying to protect their girls, and I'm like can't have this... So it's only girls now with beautiful feathers and columns that are unpacked and don't flinch every time you try to pet them... I'm being comic about the experience I'm sure this it only makes up 2% of what really goes on with roosters. I think individually we all have to find what works for us and stick with it.... The father breeding the daughters isn't too bad at all and I don't think about have any effect on there resistance to diseases or egg laying capabilities.. good luck

 

[kubotafoot]

I do breeding AND eggs, and in fact, like father to daughter.....line breeding.... Never had a problem so far, but that doesn't mean it can't happen.

My problem is when the young roosters come into age.....crowing and strutting....they think they are just the greatest and so far, my girls have put them in their place. Not to say they don't like having a rooster around, but we like kind and understanding roosters who protect and love. Right now the 2 we have are in the raging hormone state and we are attempting to guide them through it...."Do the dance! When she says no she means no! I have a crock pot waiting for you if you can't control yourself!" This intermediate month is difficult to get through for us all, and not every rooster has the greatness to lead as well as care. If they are too "wild" with the girls and/or us....like I said, I have a crock pot waiting. For those that do overcome the new raging hormones....like it good for all. We are protected, secure and loved and the chicks from broody's can't be beat with common sense and knowledge and respect. There is no replacement for a birth/hatch and a mom and dad. Good luck to you in your endeavors. I find the complete breeding, hatching and raising to be a big comfort to our farm in the later years of our life.

 

[Desertmountainfarm]

Temperament is definitely a factor. Chicks take after their dads. Color and attitude. The rooster is so much more than just a dad as well. He will care for his girls in many ways. He will call them for food, let's them eat first, calls for predator alert and just keeps an eye out. If a bird of prey swoops through he will warn the hens to run for cover and they will hide. A good rooster is so important. Its typically 15 hens to one roo. Give or take a few hens. If there are to few hens they can get torn up a bit. Each flock is a little different, watch your guys and you will know what to do. We have had our flock for 3 years and this is the first year anyone went broody. So remember you are on their schedule Enjoy!

 

[LostKjun]

I am curious to hear from those who have chickens they intend to or have used for eggs AND chicks. Mine have just started laying. Like just yesterday. I have 7 gals and 3 cockerels. The boys are in a separate pen.

I would like to try raising some chicks of our own after the hens are all in a pattern of laying steadily. I would like advice and wisdom as to what age is best for mating (all are 4 months now), what season is best for it, should I allow one or both nice roos at a time to rejoin the flock of hens for a time, if so how long? How long after mating should I allow for possible fertilized eggs? Is there a best time to remove roos when I want to go back to egg production solely for eating?

Please give info, ask me questions, I would like to research the thoughts and ideas and options prior to deciding I want to try for chicks.

Thanx guys!

Hi, I can understand you might want to raise chicks but I question why you have 3 cockerels unless you have lots of hens. One rooster to 7 hens should be fine. Fatten up those cockerels and put 2 in the freezer. You're feeding two more chickens than you need to. I don't have chickens now but do have 2 degrees in AG and was raised with chickens. Good luck.