Heritage Large Fowl - Phase II

[filumene]

My best showbirds were hatched end of march !!!! I will try hatching a few end of feb I dont want to deal with chicks until after the ne congress show jan 18/19
Am considering entering the pa show in bethlehem early feb

What show is in Bethlehem, Pa?

 

[Apdeb]

I got it wrong its in harrisburg jan 4 before congress

 

[Happy Chooks]

A Wellie was Best of Show this weekend in Alberta. Absolutely gorgeous cockeral owned and bred by Piet on this site.

Walt

Piet's birds are stunning. Congratulations to him!

 

[Arielle]

What you are raising matters to. Like Lacy, I started early last year, and some of the pullets are molting. The later hatches are not.

With these Catalanas last year, I did not need supplemental light for productivity or fertility. I started setting eggs as soon as I got them in Dec. and through the rest of the winter and spring. I used no lights, and the fertility was great. I do not intend to use lights anymore.

There is no reason for me to hatch in Dec. this year. These birds are pretty quick to mature, and they tolerate our summers well. There is no advantage for me to start that early. April/May hatches would be ready for the fall shows.

I have went through the pens and I am ready to go, but I will not set any eggs in the incubator until the first of March, and finish by April.

WHat is the day length there on Dec 21??

 

[Arielle]

My best showbirds were hatched end of march !!!! I will try hatching a few end of feb I dont want to deal with chicks until after the ne congress show jan 18/19
Am considering entering the pa show in bethlehem early feb

Does this mean that first molt is effected by which month they chicks are hatched??

My 4-6 month old speckled sussex are not molting, but a few are laying, and the cckls are . busy.

 

[gjensen]

WHat is the day length there on Dec 21??

9 hrs 53m. I had to look it up.

 

[Bluetick340]

how many are planning on group mating vs individual mating? what are the pros and cons. getting ready to set up light this week.

 

[ronott1]

Does this mean that first molt is effected by which month they chicks are hatched??

My 4-6 month old speckled sussex are not molting, but a few are laying, and the cckls are . busy.

Yes it does! If hatched at the right time, the will not molt during the first year. Some will wait until they are a year and a half to molt.

 

[Arielle]

Quote: THe reason I asked is that I wondered the shortest day length in case your area was special and kept a min. of 12 hours to keep uup the production. If I"m understanding all this, at 10 hrs of light your hens and pullets are still laying?

I dont' want to get too far off the subject, but would like to come back to this: which breeds lay when . . . .Would like to fins a bird that lays allyear round even thru molt would be nice. OR have 2 breeds that fill in the calendar year round.

 

[ronott1]

THe reason I asked is that I wondered the shortest day length in case your area was special and kept a min. of 12 hours to keep uup the production. If I"m understanding all this, at 10 hrs of light your hens and pullets are still laying?

I dont' want to get too far off the subject, but would like to come back to this: which breeds lay when . . . .Would like to fins a bird that lays allyear round even thru molt would be nice. OR have 2 breeds that fill in the calendar year round.

I sent you a pm.

If any others are interested in my answer send me a PM and I will forward it to you.