Heritage Large Fowl - Phase II

[lualshannon]

http://wcps.forumotion.ca/t231-side-sprig-on-combs

Thank you for the photos, brahmabreeder, Now I understand what a side "side sprig" is.

Lual

 

[lualshannon]

Lual thanks for the complainment. Walt likes that ckl also and I may use him in my breeding program. I guess Brahmabreeder answered your question better then I could. Thanks Brahmabreeder!!

Scott

P.s. Lual is it getting time for you to post some pictures of your NH's?

I am not able to do multi replies again .

I think he is a very handsome rooster, Scott! I love him in that photo. I thought, perhaps I was posting too many photos of my NHs. so, instead, have been making a collection in my profile. As soon as they turn 5 mos. old, I will post some photos : ) The cockerels are now huge; taller than the Orp. roosters, and very busy chasing everything with feathers..and in some cases the feathers are not really required...Ohhh, I simply adore my Firebirds : )

Lual

 

[3riverschick]

Well, the local gentleman came and picked up 6 of the pullets today. He has a
nice 4x8x6ft. tall coop with large covered yard for them. Plus has electricity
to his coop. He and his wife want them for eggs and she wants to paint
portraits of poultry. It's a good match. I gave him most of the eggs I collected
the last 3 days. I had him pick them out by condition of the comb. I think
I gave him all pullets which were already laying. I am not worried if I did. The
ones which aren't laying now...it's either because they are 2 weeks younger
than the others or the lone nest box was always reserved.
Best,
Karen

 

[NanaKat]

BeeKissed, the Cochins will lay 3 to 4 eggs a week when they are laying. Eggs are medium sized light brown eggs. The hens make great brood hens and are wonderful mothers. They shut down when brooding for about four weeks. And like many breeds, they don't lay well during molt.

 

[chickadoodles]

I am very new to chickens. I got my first this last spring. However I have been reading all kinds of into and the forums trying to learn how to keep my birds healthy and safe.
I have a section of my hen run that I put up two temporary fences that can be opened or closed off. One area I also use for a grow out pen for my chicks when they come out of the brooder to introduce them to the flock for a couple weeks. There they get exposed to all the elements and cocci and I have not had to treat any of my chicks for cocci yet. But as I said I am new to all of this.
I am asking all of you if this is a good practice?

 

[thedragonlady]

I am very new to chickens. I got my first this last spring. However I have been reading all kinds of into and the forums trying to learn how to keep my birds healthy and safe.
I have a section of my hen run that I put up two temporary fences that can be opened or closed off. One area I also use for a grow out pen for my chicks when they come out of the brooder to introduce them to the flock for a couple weeks. There they get exposed to all the elements and cocci and I have not had to treat any of my chicks for cocci yet. But as I said I am new to all of this.
I am asking all of you if this is a good practice?

You are on the right track. I have used a creep feeder/ baby pen in my main coop for years.The youngsters can go in and out to eat,without the big birds bothering them, after the youngsters have been confined in it for a week , or two. I introduce keepers into this run at 3-4 months, and I keep them on medicated chick starter for at least a few weeks.You do need to set up a regular worming program when mixing young birds with older ones, or you will have a problem with parasite loads in the young birds.

 

[chickadoodles]

You are on the right track. I have used a creep feeder/ baby pen in my main coop for years.The youngsters can go in and out to eat,without the big birds bothering them, after the youngsters have been confined in it for a week , or two. I introduce keepers into this run at 3-4 months, and I keep them on medicated chick starter for at least a few weeks.You do need to set up a regular worming program when mixing young birds with older ones, or you will have a problem with parasite loads in the young birds.

I will look up a creep feeder. As for worming I have a friend that helped me with a worming scheduel. My hens have accepted all the chicks I have let into the run after a couple of weeks so far. I do use the medicated chick starter on the chicks. Thank you for your help so much dragonlady!

 

[Beekissed]

BeeKissed, the Cochins will lay 3 to 4 eggs a week when they are laying. Eggs are medium sized light brown eggs. The hens make great brood hens and are wonderful mothers. They shut down when brooding for about four weeks. And like many breeds, they don't lay well during molt.

Thank you! They seem to be a beautiful and useful addition to a working flock for the purpose of brooding chicks and I've read that the standard Cochin have a very meaty carcass. Does there seem to be a big difference between body types and laying abilities in the different variations, blue, partridge, white? I know with the Plymouth Rock breeds there seems to be some slight~but still significant~ variation in the heaviness of the build and the quality of lay.

 

[NanaKat]

Quote: I have Blue, Black and White...unfamiliar with the Partridge. All of my hens are solid breasted and thick thighs. They have a nice spread to their pelvis/legs and broad backs.
The 3 year old Blue hens do lay better numbers than the White hens...but I don't know the age on the White hens. I purchased them fully grown when Bo Garrett was reducing some from his White flock pen.
Excess bum fluff can affect fertility but does not impact laying. When in the breed pens, I do pull excess down around the vents to improve the egg fertility.
An eight month old cockerel can weigh 7 - 9 pounds. An older hen can weigh in at about 8 pounds. A late maturing bird, I don't butcher the cockerels earlier than 7 or 8 months of age because I wait to cull for the breed pens until I can really see the type.
A few of my hens have actually gone broody more than once this year...they make great incubators...making keeping them worth the feed they consume.

 

[Fentress]

I have Blue, Black and White...unfamiliar with the Partridge. All of my hens are solid breasted and thick thighs. They have a nice spread to their pelvis/legs and broad backs.
The 3 year old Blue hens do lay better numbers than the White hens...but I don't know the age on the White hens. I purchased them fully grown when Bo Garrett was reducing some from his White flock pen.
Excess bum fluff can affect fertility but does not impact laying. When in the breed pens, I do pull excess down around the vents to improve the egg fertility.
An eight month old cockerel can weigh 7 - 9 pounds. An older hen can weigh in at about 8 pounds. A late maturing bird, I don't butcher the cockerels earlier than 7 or 8 months of age because I wait to cull for the breed pens until I can really see the type.
A few of my hens have actually gone broody more than once this year...they make great incubators...making keeping them worth the feed they consume.

Do the feather footed breeds make a big mess in the nestboxes? My property can get muddy and having to clean additional eggs would be an issue with me. My coop is floorless and I have tried putting straw down in front of the boxes, but that can work against you sometimes because it holds the moisture.