Heritage Large Fowl - Phase II

[hellbender]

There is nothing wrong with that NanaKat. This is a hobby.

I think Walt, in part, is looking at the immensity and difficulty of all of the colors. I did think to myself, what if you could hatch out 400 in one or two colors? The way I am set up, I could do 200 hundred a year, but 80-120 is better. Even then I should to be culling from early on.
If I could do 400 birds, I could really get somewhere.

The good thing about all of this is that you can do what you want, and if you do not like it, you can eat it. Literally.

I eat chicken two or three times a week...so many ways to prepare it and I just don't ever seem to tire of it!

 

[Vamvakas]

I eat chicken two or three times a week...so many ways to prepare it and I just don't ever seem to tire of it!

If you can make Greek lemon chicken with potatoes in the oven good yell be happy

 

[RedRidge]

I personally can't imagine that many breeds/colors. Must be a huge undertaking. I am very anal and deyail oriented with my records, hatch every 5 days, but maintain only 2 breeds. But the tracking in my Rhodebar breed improvement program is very time consuming... tracking not only breeding pens and F1s, F2s, back crosses, etc, but tracking each bird's chick down... I think you have to be anal like me to enjoy it.

I can't imagine adding multiple colors.

 

[hellbender]

If you can make Greek lemon chicken with potatoes in the oven good yell be happy

That sounds really good... I'll look for the recipe!
Thanks!

 

[hellbender]

I personally can't imagine that many breeds/colors. Must be a huge undertaking. I am very anal and deyail oriented with my records, hatch every 5 days, but maintain only 2 breeds. But the tracking in my Rhodebar breed improvement program is very time consuming... tracking not only breeding pens and F1s, F2s, back crosses, etc, but tracking each bird's chick down... I think you have to be anal like me to enjoy it.

I can't imagine adding multiple colors.

I feel overwhelmed with four solid colors! I tip my hat to anyone who can juggle one color scheme and do it really well.

If I were to have my way, (which I will not) we would work with one color at a time...

The things we do for our kids...even when they are old enough and big enough to 'spank' us!

 

[Wynette]

I personally can't imagine that many breeds/colors. Must be a huge undertaking.

I can't imagine adding multiple colors.

Ditto. After a few years, it became clear to me that I could personally only strongly focus on two breeds/varieties a year; so, I work them intensely for a year or two, and then they "coast" for a year so I can focus on another. That's worked for me, and you're very right - recordkeeping is essential.

 

[NanaKat]

Yes, it is! I have a notebook on each pen where I record fertility (egg count % based on candling), hatch rates (male/female and actual number that were successful), health and vigor of the birds in each pen, reasons for culling, and pictures of each breeder for that pen with a description of strengths and weaknesses according to the SOP. I also keep a diary of weather conditions which correlate with the impact on the individual pen records.
My sister's family is involved in genome research (Hunkapiller) so there have been long discussions on research and record keeping. ...but that's part of the fun for me...call me anal or crazy.

 

[ocap]

Yes, it is! I have a notebook on each pen where I record fertility (egg count % based on candling), hatch rates (male/female and actual number that were successful), health and vigor of the birds in each pen, reasons for culling, and pictures of each breeder for that pen with a description of strengths and weaknesses according to the SOP. I also keep a diary of weather conditions which correlate with the impact on the individual pen records.
My sister's family is involved in genome research (Hunkapiller) so there have been long discussions on research and record keeping. ...but that's part of the fun for me...call me anal or crazy.

I have wondered what kind of records to keep, now I know ! I admire the work and dedication.

 

[gjensen]

One project is good enough for me right now. Whatever else I would do would subtract from the other. I picture adding back another once I feel established with what I have. (and have some personal challenges improved) It is kind of two projects in one anyways. I do not want to fail and it is a daunting task.

With quantity, I think I can make good quick progress in the next couple years. I think it will get more difficult after that. From what playing around that I have done, it seams that the initial progress is often easier than when you start looking more at the details. Looking at it like that, I may have to remain focused on one for some time. In other words, it takes as much or more effort to work on little things as it does the big things.

It is one thing to maintain something and another to rebuild something.

Guess it depends on priorities. If you are not making the progress that you think you should with your priority, maybe there is too much else going on. I think we should have some type of time consideration in this. It does matter. A lot of us are not especially young. We are not here forever. What do we want to have accomplished and leave behind? It would be nice to leave a positive contribution behind. That is what kicking the can down the road is. Leaving something behind that is worth continuing with.

Right now, I am excited about seeing what comes this year.

 

[ocap]

Guess it depends on priorities. If you are not making the progress that you think you should with your priority, maybe there is too much else going on. I think we should have some type of time consideration in this. It does matter. A lot of us are not especially young. We are not here forever. What do we want to have accomplished and leave behind? It would be nice to leave a positive contribution behind. That is what kicking the can down the road is. Leaving something behind that is worth continuing with.

Right now, I am excited about seeing what comes this year.

Being a "sage" to the next generation is important, that is why I wish my hearing was still normal, I can't pass anything to the next generation if I can't hear the questions.
1 Peter 3:15