Faverolles Thread

[elizmartin]

HI, my question is how long can eggs continue to be fine/hatchable if not collected right away and its 20-30 degrees outside.

The Favacauna is kinda fun looking, saw the link earlier in the year...most with tails.....It all comes down to what you hope for ....purebreds are a responsibility when breeding, but the beauty that can be created with a variety group can be fun too.....I visited a most wonderful chicken appreciator this evening....She had several EE crosses that were absolutely stunning.
eliz

 

[ashandvine]

Adequate coop ventilation is the best way to avoid frostbite. The cold isn't the biggest factor, moisture is. Oh, and down the line you can select for smaller combs on your birds.

Right now I don't have a male. But I do have pretty good ventilation in the coop so I haven't had a problem with the hens really getting frostbite yet. I dont't currently have a male though so haven't had to much of a problem. We will see when I pick up my male in a couple weeks.

My birds are in two places. The birds out in the cottage are in a building that has more than adequate ventilation. It was a board and batton shed that had no use for anything other than tools till a few years ago. There are cracks and openings everywhere! Plus the single pane antique mullioned windows. I put some insulation in there. They are the are the ones with the frostbite, not the ones who are significantly more enclosed in barn basement with water spilling all the time and lots more of it than in the cottage so while everyone says ventilation is the issue it isn't this time. The cockerels comb is large and distant from his body. I need to increase the warmth in there. The moisture is from their breathing and poops. I can't do much more than I have and its very frustrating. I believe ventilation is the key when talking about keeping down health issues like colds and disease but I am not buying it with regard to the frostbite. (no offense)

Is there such a thing as a rosecomb Fav?

 

[sandiklaws]

My birds are in two places. The birds out in the cottage are in a building that has more than adequate ventilation. It was a board and batton shed that had no use for anything other than tools till a few years ago. There are cracks and openings everywhere! Plus the single pane antique mullioned windows. I put some insulation in there. They are the are the ones with the frostbite, not the ones who are significantly more enclosed in barn basement with water spilling all the time and lots more of it than in the cottage so while everyone says ventilation is the issue it isn't this time. The cockerels comb is large and distant from his body. I need to increase the warmth in there. The moisture is from their breathing and poops. I can't do much more than I have and its very frustrating. I believe ventilation is the key when talking about keeping down health issues like colds and disease but I am not buying it with regard to the frostbite. (no offense)

Is there such a thing as a rosecomb Fav?

Use some type of grease (I like Bag Balm or Badger Paw hand salve) on the combs to avoid frostbite, remove the insulation (traps moisture), select your breeding stock with an eye for who does best and make your bedding deeper. These 4 things should eliminate all issues if maintained throughout the winter (breeding stock excepted) regardless of location... and I had birds in NH where it was 20 below at night and with the grease on their combs they free ranged and slept in a hay barn that was pretty open, everyone did fine.

 

[sandiklaws]

Use some type of grease (I like Bag Balm or Badger Paw hand salve) on the combs to avoid frostbite, remove the insulation (traps moisture), select your breeding stock with an eye for who does best and make your bedding deeper. These 4 things should eliminate all issues if maintained throughout the winter (breeding stock excepted) regardless of location... and I had birds in NH where it was 20 below at night and with the grease on their combs they free ranged and slept in a hay barn that was pretty open, everyone did fine.

...also make sure they have enough space to move around during the day, crowding can cause them to become lethargic which aggravates the issue

 

[ashandvine]

I do use the balm. Its not a fav in there but a Delaware. Still. I have been trying deep litter and find its not really doing its job because all the little poops just freeze into nuggets, like rocks. I will put some more shavings in there just to see if that won't wick out the moisture. The insulation isn't all though, its across most of the ceiling and the north wall. The rest is covered with opened grain bags which are a lot like tarps. I chose them because they were breathable. I do have a few paper bags in there too because I was having money and time issues at the same time I felt the need to address the severe drafts in there. Lots of shavings could be an easy fix and I hope it is. Thanks.

 

[keesmom]

My birds are in two places. The birds out in the cottage are in a building that has more than adequate ventilation. It was a board and batton shed that had no use for anything other than tools till a few years ago. There are cracks and openings everywhere! Plus the single pane antique mullioned windows. I put some insulation in there. They are the are the ones with the frostbite, not the ones who are significantly more enclosed in barn basement with water spilling all the time and lots more of it than in the cottage so while everyone says ventilation is the issue it isn't this time. The cockerels comb is large and distant from his body. I need to increase the warmth in there. The moisture is from their breathing and poops. I can't do much more than I have and its very frustrating. I believe ventilation is the key when talking about keeping down health issues like colds and disease but I am not buying it with regard to the frostbite. (no offense)

Is there such a thing as a rosecomb Fav?

No offense taken. I was just mentioning my experience with the buildings I have here. The only birds I ever had that lost their comb tips were in my coop that is actually a shed (I took it over when no one was looking). It's almost too enclosed and it doesn't allow for enough of their respiration moisture to escape (it was condensing on the windows). I have to make sure the windows are cracked open to let some of that moisture out, and as long as I do there's no comb issues. The main coop on the other hand, is actually designed for birds. It has great ventilation up high. As a result I've never had a problem with any combs in there. Not even down to -18.

 

[Sahwithchicks]

Anyone have a salmon fav they would be willing to sell/ship? I have two POL fav hens. I could get hatching eggs, but I really want to get a young rooster or older cockerel for the girls.

 

[bruceha2000]

The insulation isn't all through, its across most of the ceiling and the north wall. The rest is covered with opened grain bags which are a lot like tarps.

I think the LAST place you want insulation is on the ceiling unless you have really good ventilation up high. Heat rises and with it goes some moisture. If it gets trapped at the ceiling, it is still in the coop.

Use some type of grease (I like Bag Balm or Badger Paw hand salve) on the combs to avoid frostbite

I might need to do that for the Anconas' wattles. Their combs seem fine but I think they are getting occasional frostbite from drinking from the nipple waterer.

Did Santa bring that new camera Sandra?

Bruce

 

[choptank330]

Hello Everyone!!

I am so excited! I just got a trio of Faverolles today. Here is a picture. I will try and get a picture of the rooster tomorrow!

 

[faverolles]

Can't wait for the Congress show. In my years of showing birds around New England I was usually the only person showing large Faverolles. In the bantams my friend Eddie and I would compete. Sorry to say Eddie doesn't have them anymore. It's possible we could have five exhibitors showing large Faverolles. For years I have been breeding bantams in all kinds of colors. I don't have these anymore and starting this breeding season I will be concentrating on salmon bantams and salmon large. This is where my focus will be. I'm excited to start this breeding season. By right I should be hatching now. Reason being is to have your cockerels and pullets ready for the fall shows. By that time they should be through their first moult. By me hatching later, come the fall shows, a lot of my birds are going through their moult so it's impossible to show them.
Reason I don't hatch early is because it gets so cold up here and I feel you need to be their to pick up eggs right away so they don't freeze. One year I did try to hatch early but I had a lot of chicks die in the shell. I attributed that to picking up eggs that were to cold. I should be retiring in November so hopefully next year I can start to hatch early. My coops are old and need a lot of work. For the past 4 to 5 years I've just been raising my birds for my own enjoyment. I let a lot of things go on my coops, so now I need to apply myself to get things fixed. I have the bug to show again. Can't wait for the Congress show and I can't wait for the breeding season. I still have a ton of work to do with my birds. I feel the fun is in the journey of trying to get that perfect bird. But, as we all know there is no such thing.
Dick