Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

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TBH, Bee, the rabbit I own that makes me the happiest is my Otter Rex. Fancy shamncy girl from a local breeder complete with pedigree... She is one of the hardest working meat rabbits I have at only 8lbs! Her kits are amazing growers and outgrow my pure NZWs! But I never wanted a rex. She just happened to fall into my lap. It is hard to say no to a beautiful, breeding age pedigreed doe delivered to your doorstep for $30! She is a dream come true. And now if I ever get a rare breed rabbit like I want I will be well prepared for the experience! In the meantime I will take my mitts and white rabbits and run with them...! Even if I would prefer a New Zealand Red or a Castor Rex or some classic Silver Fox (our only local silver fox rabbit breeder does the blues and chocolates which I think are a little ugly) or even some Broken new zealands. I like what I have anyhow!
 
ChocolateMouse said:
TBH, Bee, the rabbit I own that makes me the happiest is my Otter Rex. Fancy shamncy girl from a local breeder complete with pedigree... She is one of the hardest working meat rabbits I have at only 8lbs! Her kits are amazing growers and outgrow my pure NZWs! But I never wanted a rex. She just happened to fall into my lap. It is hard to say no to a beautiful, breeding age pedigreed doe delivered to your doorstep for $30! She is a dream come true. And now if I ever get a rare breed rabbit like I want I will be well prepared for the experience! In the meantime I will take my mitts and white rabbits and run with them...! Even if I would prefer a New Zealand Red or a Castor Rex or some classic Silver Fox (our only local silver fox rabbit breeder does the blues and chocolates which I think are a little ugly) or even some Broken new zealands. I like what I have anyhow!
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I had a standard Rex fall into my lap one time...at the time we thought she was a mini but she had just had poor care at her last home. When she got to my place she blossomed and grew into a pretty large rabbit for that breed. She was a beautiful blue and my sis had bought her at a show but then didn't want her because she was too big for the mini breeding she was doing. I wound up giving her to someone for a house rabbit and she was perfect for the job...lived with them for 4 years and then bit into an electric cord.

I think they are the most beautiful breed out there but I wouldn't trade them for the the NZ for meat production.

I saw your pretty little Otter baby on your thread...and then hit the wall o' words from the geneticist that posted there. I got dizzy and had to lie down....
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LindaB220 said:
Bee, I've been thinking.   It seems that I'm trying to run before walking.   I had it all planned out to order White Dorkings and Light Sussex from Sandhill.  It seems that I might have to wait 6 mo for my order.  I love white birds and I really like yours.  White Plymouth Rocks?   The idea of a breeding program is so advanced from what I'm afraid I can handle.  Let's face it.  I'll be 67 next month and my health may not allow me to do a lot of puttering around.  What are you thoughts.  Just gets some chickens the first year and enjoy them?   :idunno   Everybody else, any thoughts?
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Linda, check these Dorkings out at Yellow House Farm. The owner seems to be a really nice guy.
http://www.yellowhousefarmnh.com/content/865

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Bee, I did too! I made an extreme study of dog coat color genetics a year or two back for a project I still want to create... An Internet art and breeding project based on canine evolution. At one point in time I could write out the genetic code for any dogs coat. I still barely understood what she was saying!

But something about my rex hybrids... They grow amazingly quick. I have a litter of those growing out next to a litter of NZWs. The rex crosses have been growing much quicker and are significantly larger than the pure NZWs at only two days older. Part of that may be that the NZW is a first time mom but it is still really impressive to watch these kits grow! I think they got a lot of hybrid vigor when I decided to cross the two breeds!
 
ChocolateMouse said:
Linda, I would get some chickens that fit what I wanted from chickens that I COULD get. The worst that happens is they weren't excatly what you wanted and you got valuable experience and some great chicken dinners out of them.
I wish I had a flock of Ayam Cemanis. Guess how much that isn't happening? Id like to raise white laced red Cornish crosses that are slow growth and breed true... No space for a 100 bird breeding project. I am happy with a bird that fits my needs and wants that is less ideal... My australorps became on of my favorite birds ever, and frankly I am quite fond of my cheapo production reds as well. I was really sad when the hawk killed Nugget!
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I wanted to raise Palomino rabbits but would have to get them from New York and they would be sub ideal meat rabbits, so I raise boring op New Zealand whites instead. They have become some of my favorite animals and Id suggest them to anyone.

You might be surprised by how happy the not really ideal animal makes you!
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Thanks ChocolateMouse, I think I will. I'm about 45 min from Ambrose Hatchery. A very small hatchery that supplies local Tractor Supply.
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Beekissed said:
I'm in the same boat as you...I really want to have heritage breed birds and you wouldn't believe the kind offers I have had and have even had birds sent to me! But...I'm not in a position to see a breeding program through to the end right now with my health. It's all up in the air right now and I cannot commit to long term projects at all.

I think if you could just get some breeds you like from wherever and just notice what you do or do not like about the breed, then you can decide how deeply you want to commit to breeding programs. Or if you just want to have some really nice birds in the time you have left.

That's where I am right now...I just want good birds in the time I have left but I don't want to waste the time of a good breeder who is wanting me to develop a line. I just can't right now, no matter how much I would love, love, love to get into heritage breed white rocks and take them all the way, I can't. No getting around that at all. And the bad part is I know I could do something great with the birds if given the right amount of time...that's the worst...knowing you could do it. I have a passion and an eye for that breed.

So, I bloom where I'm planted. If I lived closer to someone who had great birds I'd take some of their culls and live happily ever after. If I could only have one breed in my last flock on Earth, it would be the White Rocks. I have some of those and I have some BAs, which I also love, and I now have a completely ridiculous but oddly beautiful Cochin cockerel that I got in a roundabout way and was too skinny for eating. What a peasant to breed to those royal WRs!
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Oh, well...God has a funny bone and don't I know it!
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I say bloom where you are planted and just enjoy your birds!
Click to expand...

That's exactly what I will do. I'll buy some white rocks and caponize the extra roos. Maybe a few different kinds until I find one I want to raise. I really love BAs but wondered about our heat. In the summer it gets over 100 degrees and I worried about the fluffy feathers. But the coop will be in the shade most of the day. And I will baby them and take a fan out along with icy treats.
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