Heritage Large Fowl - Phase II

[Wisher1000]

Something good for my northern region... I like the look of the single comb and prefer not to have a white bird with the hawk highway I have here. And nothing gigantic. I like dual purpose. What are some suggestions that folks would have that I should start researching?

Sounds like you need some Golden Campines!

 

[brahmabreeder]

Who all has lights on pens? Started mine on thanksgiving on Welles and rirs.

I put mine in right after the Ohio National. The last hen started laying yesterday. I want to take that light out and put Christmas lights in there instead so the middle pen isn't blasted with light and the others get barely anything. I think I'll just bare the snow and do it in a few minutes

.

 

[Bluetick340]

Glad I am not the only one with Christmas light on chickens. I have the old big bulb ones with a 75 watt on the other pens. How bright is enough?

 

[brahmabreeder]

I think it's suppose to be bright enough to read a newspaper. So it doesn't have to be very bright.

 

[3riverschick]

Blackbirds13 wrote :
a white egg layer ....that has a bit of provenance and Heritage ... has a history in the APA... a nice large white egg...good for my northern region - I don't heat or insulate my coops.... I don't use lights until late winter .... I like the look of the single comb ....prefer not to have a white bird..... And nothing gigantic..... but I like dual purpose like the Marans. ....What are some suggestions that folks would have .... Thanks.
====
Ok, one suggestion given , Golden Campines . Anyone else got ideas?
Am a brown egg person myself, so no help here. Was thinking
Chantecler but they don't have a single comb.
Best,
Karen

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

Glad I am not the only one with Christmas light on chickens. I have the old big bulb ones with a 75 watt on the other pens. How bright is enough?

I have 40W bulbs in 2 pens and 60W in the other (only because I was out of 40s)....seems to work just fine

Coops are 6ft x 8ft x 8ft tall

 

[3riverschick]

Probably more then we ever need to know about proper lighting in poultry houses.
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/385/lighting-for-poultry-farms-and-processing-plants

Oh now this is much more interesting and written on a much less technical level.
From Cornell Poultry Pointers:
"The lighting industry uses four methods to describe light color but only one
really applies to selecting lighting for poultry, Chromaticity."
http://ansci1.abc.cornell.edu/poultry/ppjul00.pdf
Best,
Karen

 

[Extra Java]

HEY!? Any chance of seeing that article online or reprinted here? I would love to read it.......

Sure, I'll let you know when it's ready and post links.

 

[ronott1]

There is no scientific evidence but enough anecdotal evidence over the years to keep this idea going. I myself have noticed increased female offspring in meat rabbits, chickens and sheep with the use of vinegar as opposed to when it has not been used. The pH of the animal most certainly influences what happens in the reproductive system as well as all the other body systems. It affects it to such a degree that the eggs have a completely different taste and odor than eggs produced from hens that have not had ACV on a continual basis.

It happens with enough frequency that people note it and pass it along as a possibility, even if it has not been proven by science. A placebo affect is something that takes place in someone's mind that has an effect on their perceptions and can even effect the body...increased female offspring after initiating ACV in the livestock management is not happening in the mind, it's actually happening in real life. I know it's happened enough in my own animal husbandry that I do not discount it as being only in my mind. It definitely has plenty of anecdotal evidence for many a long year from all points of the compass and with all types of animals. For the record, I noted the phenomenon years ago before I ever read anywhere that it was a possibility...I just happened to be using it for my rabbits to clear up some pink eye in kits and decided to just keep it in the water from there on out in my rabbitry. Later, having read about this idea of female offspring, I looked back on records kept on our breedings and litters and started seeing some correlation with our own records after the ACV was initiated. Coincidence? Maybe. Later using it with chickens I noted the same thing. I'm not much a believer in coincidence.

40 and 60% are both average for hatches. PH levels does not work for Humans either.

The best thing to do to get close to perfect, which is 50% male to female, is to get as close to 100% to hatch. ACV may help by improving the health of the flock and thus increasing the Hatch rate.

 

[ronott1]

I have been lurking. I was trying to read through the thread but have put that off until my winter break.
I have promised myself to limit the number of breeds I keep so I only have Legbars and Marans for breeding. I have been thinking of adding a white egg layer as a 3rd breeder and have been thinking of trying something that has a bit of provenance and Heritage to it and has a history in the APA since the Legbars are a recent import and the Black Coppers only recently added to the APA. I'd like a nice large white egg to add to the breakfast basket. Something good for my northern region - I don't heat or insulate my coops. I don't use lights until late winter also so the girls can have a bit of a break if they need it. I like the look of the single comb and prefer not to have a white bird with the hawk highway I have here. And nothing gigantic. I have tried Orpingtons (Jubilees) but they were not my cup of tea ( a bit too large) but I like dual purpose like the Marans. What are some suggestions that folks would have that I should start researching? I've learnt my lessons about doing the legwork before investing in the breed. Thanks.

If you are looking for a Dark egg layer, Barnveldner might be an option for you and your area.

Sorry, I did not read the post well.

La Fleche is a Heritage White egg layer that needs help. Urch\Turnland has them.