Future plans for 2025! Breeding for large meaties, barring, lacing and EE

[DemeterAD9]

2 weeks old and they got an upgrade. I’m taking out the heat plate seeing as they either sleep on top of it or in the opposite corner now. They’ll have plenty of room to test their wings, at least for another week or two then they should get booted outside.

There are some notable differences in tail growth on some of the chick. I’m starting to put in my guesses on gender for those who have very little tail feather growth.

SLW chick, guessing male.

The two OE chicks, guessing left is male

Two of the bresse chicks, the third I get mixed up with a LF chick. Guessing the front one is male, chunky legs.

The two EE chicks from the brown hen. Guessing left is male.

The 3 brahma chicks. Again guessing left is a male.

3 LF babies.

The poor Cochin died the night before, no idea why but sometimes you just don’t get an answer. So to soothe my heart I bought some more chicks… what’s a few more right? Adding a white leghorn, cream legbar, barred rock, gold laced Wyandotte, a barred OE (diamond something or other), another sapphire OE (blue barred like the other I have) and a mystery bantam who is straight run. The barred pullets will be used for sex linked chicks next spring. If things go as I want them to the SLW and/or one of the dark brahma chicks will be a good cockerel and help me create some pretty patterned birds at some point, preferably with meaty bodies.

 

[DemeterAD9]

Almost 3 weeks and I’m becoming more certain of a few possible cockerels. I gave the brooder a cleaning and snapped a few photos. Red bowl has some dirt/sand in it for grit and/or dust bathing. Most the chicks are spastic but the SLW and black spotted chick are very curious.

The buckeye seems to be having issues passing stool. It chirps loudly when it goes and doesn’t seem to be able to pass a complete dropping. Still eating and drinks and seems energetic so I’ll wait and see. Its vent was pretty swollen but I think it’s looking better now. The 10 younger chicks are still separate, I don’t want to put them together until they all are more feathered. Don’t want the little bantam getting trampled either.

As for the meaties, largest are over 1lb and growing fast. They other cockerels with them are looking well aside from one who I think may have a touch of wry neck. I’ve added vitamins and electrolytes to their and the other chicks’ water. The cornishX are just getting wing feathers so it may be another couple weeks before they can go outside.

 

[DemeterAD9]

Chunky babies and their less chunky counterparts. The RIR who is the same age is so tiny in comparison.

Today they went outside for the first time, I cleaned the brooder out and will be putting them back in for the night.

Been letting them run out of feed overnight, that way I can sleep in and not worry about waking up early to keep up with the 12hr on 12 off. I culled the cockerel chick that couldn’t walk, it seemed to be suffering and I hate seeing that.

 

[DemeterAD9]

I plan to move the fully feathered chicks outside this week, it will be a process though so we’ll see how it goes. There are about 10-12 younger chicks that will stay inside for another week or two, should be less upkeep (and smell) compared to 31.

Meat birds are 2lbs+ now, they and all the likely cockerels will also be kicked out to the growout pen this week. So far I moved another 6 cockerels in with them already, 3 white ones, the SLW, an EE and a brahma. I think another EE and an OE will join them soon.

Now for some photos! As far as patterns go there are only a few of interest. The two OE chicks look to be a female who looks nearly identical to their mom and a male(?) who has silver penciling(?) on the breast feathers. Curious to see how the possible male turns out.

Then there’s the two female chicks from the barred/laced hen, if there is lacing it is muddied and not terribly impressive so far. The blue one has a crook it a toe I just noticed today.

The large fowl mix that I helped hatch is getting some white on the breast feathers. I hope it is a pullet.

And here’s the likely male EE that will be moved out soon.

Been trying to get them used to me and they are slowly warming up. About half of them will come over to my hand and let me touch them. The rest are still skittish.

 

[DemeterAD9]

Everyone is outside now! The new layers will stay under the lean-to for another day before I let them out into the run. I want them to know where the safe zone is first.

Cockerels and meat birds are staying out for good this time, the brooder they were in just gets too nasty with the constant giant poops from the Cornish cross. Largest cockerel weighs almost 1lb. Meat birds are 2-2.5lbs and I’ve only just opened up the second bag of feed. The 11 younger chicks took their place in the shed brooder.

Bantam EE seems to be broody, I gave her 2 BJG, 2 light brahma, 1 OE, 1 SLW, and 1 of her own eggs. It may be too much for her to cover, if so I’ll remove a couple.

The blue copper maran rooster is looking funky. All the frost bitten tips of his comb have fallen off so he has a slicked back look. His toes are looking weird as well. I think they are still healing from frostbite. Hopefully he is recovered fully in a few months, otherwise I may end up culling him.

 

[DemeterAD9]

Chick update, they survived a chilly 33F night just fine. Cornish X are weighing in at 2.5-3.5lbs while the cockerels only weigh a bit over 1lb at most. They are so relaxed compared to the laying chicks, one wanted to nap on my foot.

Layer chicks are looking good, I suspect a few more are cockerels. You can see the copper coming in on a couple from the rooster.

I really like this one but I’m still not sure on gender.

And here is the chosen meat birds I plan to raise for longer. It is on the smaller end but has the best mobility. I’m thinking it is a pullet.

 

[DemeterAD9]

Beginning to sort through the adult flock and cull any that won't be used for my breeding plans. Yesterday I processed the smallest BJG hen and the rooster plus the prairie bluebell whom I confirmed was not laying. The hens went swiftly via the broom stick method, the rooster played possum and ran off. I had to break out the pellet gun which was incredibly effective. While I felt bad culling these perfectly healthy young birds I am glad I did it. The rooster was disappointingly small and his body was so narrow I had a hard time gutting it. Clearly he wasn't up to snuff for creating decent meat birds. It will be interesting to see how the handful of his chicks turn out.

For the records (right to left)
BJG rooster live- 6lbs 9oz --> 4lbs 1 oz
BJG hen (no band) live- 5lbs 1oz --> 3lbs 9oz
Prairie BB live- 3lbs 9oz --> 2lbs 6oz

Grabbed a few CornishX as well, weighing in at 3lbs 9oz up to 4lbs 6oz

Chicks are all looking well, put the rest of the younger chicks outside yesterday. I've been watching and taking mental notes on the more promising chicks. Hoping to keep all the pullets until they start laying then assess them properly. As for feather patterns, other than the 2 OEs only a few are looking interesting. 2 brahma chicks are looking good as is one of the barred/laced girls who might show some lacing?

To keep track
17 hens and 1 rooster
26 chicks in the lean-to
21 chicks in the meatie pen
65 total, need to reduce to 30 by fall

Thinking of culling one of the light brahmas (speckled eggs but low fertility) and another of the BJG hens. Possibly the frizzle as well, she's still not laying and has been looking rough due to the BJG rooster. Today is day 7 for the broody bantam, I removed a blank light brahma egg (from the one mentioned above) and the bantam laid another of her own when she went broody. Then an EE snuck an egg in the second day and I didn't notice. Up to 8 total and they appear to be developing.