Heritage Large Fowl - Phase II

[3riverschick]

Thanks Karen. I'm beginning to see why the ENglish breeds, like the sussex are hatched in the spring. Do you know if the chicks were brooded by the hens historically, or artifically?? My SS have never gone broody. For egg production I really like that; for chick production not so much.

They were brooded naturally, I think.
There is a difference between the amount of light needed to increase egg production and the light needed to keep combs from freezing. The 7w LED does shed enough lumens to increase egg production, but being an LED, will not produce the heat needed for frostbite prevention. I know that birds raised in cages will grow a bigger comb. I trust the authors on that. I also suspect those cages didn't get the best light back then.
So I figured I needed three things. Light to enhance laying. Light to prevent frostbite without raising humidity. A set up to provide light 24/7 in the winter to accomplish all three of these things. I settled on a 65 watt GE floodlight ( not the Teflon-coated "Rugged" variety). I run it 24/7 in the 4d x 6w x 4h coop. I know this isn't how others, including many veterans, do it. But it is working for me 2 years now. The heat gathers near the low roof to keep the cock's comb from frostbite. The light isn't throwing enough heat to effect humidity and the light 24/7 hasn't effected the rate of lay negatively as some write when it is run 24/7 on the birds. I think one factor is I only keep 6 birds in this coop, giving them the 4 sq. ft. each when confined. No stress-induced problems, even when confined for weeks during fowl weather. They lay right thru blizzards and fowl weather.
Best,
Karen

 

[3riverschick]

Thanks Karen. I'm beginning to see why the English breeds, like the Sussex are hatched in the spring.
Do you know if the chicks were brooded by the hens historically, or artificially?? My SS have never
gone broody. For egg production I really like that; for chick production not so much.

Sussex were raised in the Spring for 2 reasons. First, March-hatched birds make the best winter layers....which was important
because.... winter-hatched chicks finished fattening just in time for Derby Day. Britain's horsey equivalent of the Super Bowl.
A sporting event accompanied by much feasting. In Britain, chief among the entrees was large, succulent roasted fowl.
Sussex were hatched year round. But back then, when the breed was being perfected, the real money was in winter eggs
and fowl for Derby Day. Historically, everything about the fowl and its reproduction cycle was fed by these 2 events.
Best,
Karen

 

[fowlman01]

Will the comb become smaller with more light?

I am seeing the comb size difference. I think it makes the comb floppy too. I have some growing out in the Garage and have notice that the ones with more light have smaller combs.

It does usually get smaller again with more light, but only a small amount if it has grown big.

Walt

 

[colburg]

We need an index!! lol

Agreed, now to find someone with the time, skills, and experience.

 

[Pathfinders]

Agreed, now to find someone with the time, skills, and experience.

If someone were to do one (not that I am convinced I have any of the above), what would you all look for? How would you want it organized? Spreadsheet? Plain PDF with links?

 

[Fred's Hens]

Ah I like this. Perhaps then this is the type of thing... assuming I am successful in this....that I could arrange with Fred. I will be getting my RIR Heritage from his this next June! I like collaboration like this. Fred??? Plausible scenario to you??

Sure. We can do this. First, we gotta get a bunch of chicks hatched. Before that, we gotta get these Nelson and Fogle juveniles grown up, taken safely through a winter and not eaten by skunks, hawks, etc.

 

[ronott1]

It does usually get smaller again with more light, but only a small amount if it has grown big.

Walt

Thank you Walt!

I will add this to my notes.

 

[Arielle]

Quote: The only sport worth watching, for me, is the 2 minutes of the KEntucky Derby!! So I get it.

Am I understanding this correctly: the birds hatched Jan and Feb went to the Derby day feasting?? THen the March hatched birds were held first for breeding?

THis begs the question, how to get the birds laying well by Jan1, really by December. Which also leads me to why no one talks about the lack of eggs in the fall, and how to increase the production then. I have far more production in the late winter into the late spring, but would like to balance this with more production in the fall and early winter.

Is this management? Is this breeding??

Which breeds are laying well right now ??

 

[3riverschick]

The only sport worth watching, for me, is the 2 minutes of the KEntucky Derby!! So I get it.

Am I understanding this correctly: the birds hatched Jan and Feb went to the Derby day feasting?? Yup.
Then the March hatched birds were held first for breeding? Yup.

This begs the question, how to get the birds laying well by Jan1, really by December.
My birds are March and April hatched, so Oct. and Nov. is a normal time for them to start laying.
Feeding your females 4 thru7 day old sprouted oats will also help bring them into lay.
Which also leads me to why no one talks about the lack of eggs in the fall, and how to increase the production then.
You can learn about it in the old classics at Google Books.
I have far more production in the late winter into the late spring, but would like to balance this with more
production in the fall and early winter.
Is this management? Is this breeding?? Partly both. If your birds were hatched at the proper time of year
to start laying then. And you tinker with nutrition and lighting.. then you should be able to get your birds
laying then. Frankly, I would rather breed my birds to naturally lay then, instead of trying to do it with
lighting, etc. But that's not always possible for everyone. Not even me.
Best,
Karen

Which breeds are laying well right now ??

 

[thedragonlady]

Everybody around me is having fits over the lack of eggs. I'm trying to get my girls to STOP. They have laid all through their molt. I just wish they would take vacation. 2 wormings at 10 day intervals have not fazed them. I threw 2 demented cluckers in the broody coop,to find 2 eggs the next day.11 hens and pullets 10-11 eggs a day.