Heritage Large Fowl - Phase II

[BGMatt]

So this is possibly in their genetics? I suppose I could try to breed them to be fertile earlier.

Can be, can be age too. I mean you said they're only 10 months right?

 

[hellbender]

You're right, I absolutely agree. As plenty of long time poultrymen have said though, you start where you are with what you have. If that's all you have to work with, it's all you have to work with. Breeding is about compromise sometimes. I think in this particular situation, I'd do whatever it takes, and then keep more males longer than I would otherwise next year and see which ones are the most virile and fertile, and use them going forward.

Separate paragraph to emphasize what Ron said here, it absolutely will pass itself down. I know of a strain of Self Blue Old English that no matter what he does the breeder can't get fertile eggs til about June...so he waits til then to hatch, not my cup of tea, but it just shows that it does pass down.

I agree...sometimes, compromise is necessary but even at my age I'd rather skip a whole year of breeding/chicks rather than pull the rope on a major death-knell of a staggering breed....infertility.

RON

 

[gjensen]

If those brahmas are @ 10 months it could be age.

A layer ration is not ideal for breeding birds. It is designed for layers in production.

Birds in the winter especially benefit from fresh greens and sunshine. Supplement with Calf Manna (you can get a small bag), give them some greens every day. Then be patient for a bit.

Make sure they are trimmed up good, free from mites, etc.

Didn't you have soft eggs and mites not long ago?

Do what you can do in your control, and if that is not good enough, then they are not good enough.

For some removing the males and then putting them back helps.

 

[ronott1]

Only cock I have is buff. I did trim up butt fluff in November and then again a few days ago.

Some recommend plucking--trimming can cause irritation.

Another trick is to put the cockerels into a separate pen or cage where they can see the hens\pullets for several days and then reintroduce them for a day. Separate them for two and them put them back. See how it goes after that but keep separating them until the start liking each other.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder...

or in this case, the cockerels and pullets more likely to mate!

 

[ronott1]

If you've had them on lights, that should help overcome the seasonal part of that. Males need the light too, there was a study on it but I'll be danged if I can find the link right now. A lot of layer feeds are too high in calcium in general, long term it can have an adverse affect on the liver and kidneys. I feed a custom layer mix with 17-19% protein and 2-2.5% calcium. Still a little bit high for the males but not nearly as bad.

The hard part is that the males need a different color light to be most fertile.

Light is fascinating with its effects.

Any light helps.

 

[3riverschick]

The hard part is that the males need a different color light to be most fertile.

Light is fascinating with its effects.

Any light helps.

Please tell us more? Which light and how much? Does this "different" light adversely affect the hens?
Thanks,
Karen in windy western PA

 

[hellbender]

Lights? That's a far greater compromise than I'm willing to make...but everyone has their 'line-in-the-sand'.....or not.

 

[ronott1]

Please tell us more? Which light and how much? Does this "different" light adversely affect the hens?
Thanks,
Karen in windy western PA

A Redder color increased a Pullets development. A white to daylight helped with growth rates. http://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/2820/new-studies-examine-effects-of-lighting-on-chickens

Broilers should be under a white light and so should Cockerels and Cock Birds. A Redder color would make the pullets\hens lay sooner and more.

LEDs were better than Compact Florescent. Incandescent is good but not energy efficient.

It is easier to get different colors from LEDs

http://poultryscience.uark.edu/FSA8005_(final).pdf Page 2 has the color in Kelvin for LED lights. Pick a light more in the white to Orange level for both Cock birds and Hens for fertility and egg laying.

That is if you want to give them light. That is a whole other topic.

 

[thedragonlady]

They do have lights and the hens lay like crazy but it's not seeming to make a difference with the boys. Think a game bird feed could work for them?

Mother Nature should always be listened to. My Buff Orps are laying up a storm too, but I'm having no fertility, despite lights and trimming, with Cockerels and cock birds. I think they are telling us that February will be a bear.I've never had this before, but we've never had weather like this in 20 years here.Tell me in June, if the birds weren't right.

 

[Arielle]

Quote: This has been the strangest winter I can remember---rollercoaster temps of extreme cold 10 degress or less, then up to 40, then back down again, up into the 50's, down to 10's again ,today warm again with rain and thunderstorms. Very extremeweather. . . .