Heritage Large Fowl - Phase II

[neopolitancrazy]

[quote name="3riverschick" url="/t/400344/heritage-large-fowl-thread/17940#post_
I was thinking a screen house might be better than a sock because a sock might attract cobwebs which could attract listeria.
 Merry Christmas,
 and Happy Holidays!
 Karen
[/quote]

I'm sorry, Karen, I am not following your train of thought here. Cobwebs come out of a spider's nether regions. I don't understand why a spider would prefer a sock to a screen house, and don't understand why either would harbor Listeria. I was taught it would be found in unpasteurized milk, (and recent episodes with cantaloupe reminding us that listeria can also be spread by "night soil".)

edited to add:my fermented feed is very porridge-like. There are copious discussions on byc about ff, pm me if you want my " take" on it.

Best wishes,
Angela

 

[neopolitancrazy]

Dear experienced chicken breeders,
Please clarify my "next step". I purchased a trio of birds I most desired, and found one of the hens almost perfect, (I wish her eggs were a little larger.) This superior hen is penned with the cock of the same strain, producing next year's chicks. That part seems clear to me. I am unclear on how/when I transition from a decent pair to a 3-4 clan breeding colony. And, do I get the egg size up before or after I establish my clans?
I am grateful for any advice you may offer,
Angela

 

[brahmabreeder]

I think egg size will be a challenge with just a pair. If it's not there then it will take multiple generations to get it up. Best thing you can do is find someone with good quality birds that you like. Check before you buy them on egg size if that's something that's important to you. Then when you find some that satisfy you get a trio of two( two being better ). Then what you can do is mate a rooster from the larger egg line to the superior hen and hopefully her chicks will carry the genes for larger eggs. Might take a couple generations but that's how I would;d go about it will my limited experience.

 

[Texasmja]

Dear experienced chicken breeders,
Please clarify my "next step". I purchased a trio of birds I most desired, and found one of the hens almost perfect, (I wish her eggs were a little larger.) This superior hen is penned with the cock of the same strain, producing next year's chicks. That part seems clear to me. I am unclear on how/when I transition from a decent pair to a 3-4 clan breeding colony. And, do I get the egg size up before or after I establish my clans?
I am grateful for any advice you may offer,
Angela

If I only had a pair to start with, I would hatch chicks and keep the best pullets to breed back to their sire, and the best cockerel/s to breed back to his dam. Hatch chicks from that cross and keep rotating or create two separate lines that can be crossed back later when vigor is needed.

 

[gjensen]

Dear experienced chicken breeders,
Please clarify my "next step". I purchased a trio of birds I most desired, and found one of the hens almost perfect, (I wish her eggs were a little larger.) This superior hen is penned with the cock of the same strain, producing next year's chicks. That part seems clear to me. I am unclear on how/when I transition from a decent pair to a 3-4 clan breeding colony. And, do I get the egg size up before or after I establish my clans?
I am grateful for any advice you may offer,
Angela

I would not worry about any of that yet. Hatch some out and see what you have. What you have is just an indicator of what you will get. Keep in mind their will be some variability in the offspring. It is not just the genetics of the parents at work, but all of the genetics of the birds behind them.

I am guilty of laying out these thoughtful plans, but the birds end up telling you what you need to do.

You have what you have. Start with what you have. Try to know which hen produced what in the end. See what you have in the end. Then you will have a better idea what you want to do or need to do.

Enjoy raising this next generation, and have fun doing it.

I am no experienced breeder, but my limited experience suggest this.

 

[NanaKat]

Freezing rain left an inch thick later of ice and we lost power for a while. Buckeyes Wyandotte and Cochin in the outdoor pens are keeping toasty warm without heat. High today should be 32. Incubators are full and okay. Don't have internet back yet or would post pics of the chickens running around on the ice.

 

[hellbender]

Thank you so much, I really appreciate it!
Best Regards,
Karen

I haven't forgotten...This many birds keep me hoppin' as I'm working alone today. I promise to post my 'recipe' today...at some point. I'm sure I'll be jumped on by those with weaker ....stomachs but I'm not feeding their stomachs.

 

[normanack]

I haven't forgotten...This many birds keep me hoppin' as I'm working alone today.  I promise to post my 'recipe' today...at some point.  I'm sure I'll be jumped on by those with weaker ....stomachs but I'm not feeding their stomachs.

Bugs. I bet there will be bugs. Or grubs.
(waiting eagerly)

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Quote:
stewed raccoon meat or some other recipe from Granny on the Hillbillies show.

 

[ronott1]

stewed raccoon meat or some other recipe from Granny on the Hillbillies show.

I have seen his recipe--on the Australorp thread. Meat is a part of it. It is quite a recipe.