Heritage Large Fowl - Phase II

[thedragonlady]

That I can imagine, but, aside from care issues that can corrupt stock, there are genes and associated alleles that lead to the tight feathers of games and the lloos feathers of cochins. They've got to be somewhere on that spectrum of recessive and dominant.

As I said earlier , good feather quality has to be bred for. I couldn't agree with you more. BUT ...before you change your BREEDING program, examine your FEEDING program.

 

[thedragonlady]

VIvki-- would this be a valid reason to wash eggs before setting them?? Or other other considerations of picking up the round worm eggs, say if a broodie is raising the chicks and she takes them everywehere--- everywhere the older chickens have traveled.

I would never wash eggs before setting them. Newly laid eggs have a BLOOM, that is in fact a seal against invasion by pathogens.This is why hens can trail through all sorts of dirt, and still hatch babies.Remove the bloom, and you are inviting pathogens, existing in your incubator, into the eggs.I'll risk a few round worm eggs hatching into the chicks. They are much more easily dealt with than bacterial pathogens.

Sure, a broody will infect her chicks on her travels.If you are feeding for maximum growth, that is easy to take care of.Chicks hatched, and raised by a broody, are under much less stress than chicks raised in a brooder , and introduced to a flock with no guardian.

 

[Lacy Blues]

This is a hen not of my breeding. I acquired her a couple of years ago. She has really nice feather quality compared to most of my birds. Her tail feathers are wider and so are her wing feathers. Her primaries are in great condition. Her tail is a bit messed up from the nest box but other than that she has great feather quality. She also has WAY TOO MUCH fluff! Her hock joints don't show at all. Due to her feather quality, I will use her. I'll have to check my cock that is in with some other hens right now. If he will help correct the fluff issue, I'll cross him over her. He won't do anything for her lacing though so that breeding will be for type and feather quality only. She's been getting the same food as all my other birds for the last two years so I don't think this issue is food related. I will be going through my birds and making some selections.

 

[Yellow House Farm]

As I said earlier , good feather quality has to be bred for. I couldn't agree with you more. BUT ...before you change your BREEDING program, examine your FEEDING program.

Agreed. On that note, when you do Wazine with the chicks, how do you administer it? If you add it to their water, do you allow them to drain the waterer over a course of days, or do just give them access to it for a 24 hr period?

 

[kathyinmo]

Is it okay if I share this here?

 

[Arielle]

Quote:

If only.

 

[Beekissed]

Awwwwwww, Bob!!! Seems like Bob was well liked in any circle he chose to frequent....I can just see him tying flies for kids. Miss that man and I've never met him.

 

[Arielle]

Is it okay if I share this here?

 

[fowlman01]

Bob was a one of a kind.

Walt

 

[gjensen]

Awwwwwww, Bob!!! Seems like Bob was well liked in any circle he chose to frequent....I can just see him tying flies for kids. Miss that man and I've never met him.

It doesn't surprise me.