Heritage New Hampshires

[te dave]

Thanks Kathyinmo For The Reply On The Broodiness, Did You Keep Records Of Weights At Different Ages? Also Have Another Question For Ya'll, Currently All Of My Chickens Are Currently In A Coop Approx. 1800 Sq Ft. And After A Year It Was Devoid Of Grass. I Live On 2 Acres(definitly Not Large Enough For A Farm, But I Want To Get The Most Out Of It) And Am Able To Convince The Dw That I Could Fence Off About 1/3 Of An Acre For The Chickens To Free Range, Do You Think This Would Also Become Devoid Of Grass? I Could Limit The Amt Of Time Spent On It, Say Like 4 Hrs In The Afternoon, And The Number Of Birds.
(i Only Want To Keep A Dozen Hens And 2 Roosters Throughout The Year--all Young Ones Would Go To Freezer Camp Except The Ones That Would Become Breeders) Keep In Mind All Of The Chicks Hatched Would Be On It Until The Final Trip To Camp.(i Plan To Cull By 20wks Of Age) I Guess The Real Question Is Am I Just Wasting My Money On Fencing Materials? Any Input
Would Be Greatly Appreciated. And Of Course They Would Still Have Free Choice Access To Feed. Just Trying To Cut My Cost In Feed And Produce A Healthier Chicken.

 

[te dave]

got another question... lol, is there a new hampshire club?

 

[kathyinmo]

got another question... lol, is there a new hampshire club?

Post # 86 .......

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[kathyinmo]

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No, I have not maintained a record of weights. I bought my breeders already grown and near point of lay. I am raising my first chicks from them, as is George (gjensen), Jeff (catdaddyfro), Luanne (cpartist), Laura (Hillbilly hen), and some others.

My birds free range and have over 4 acres available. However, my New Hampshires never stray too far from the coop. They are very docile and friendly.

 

[steelefarming]

I can't post pics on here, but have some of kathy's new hamphires. They are without doubt some of my favorite birds that i've raised this year, we have sold most of our hatchery order off, just keeping some comets for to sell eggs to our friends. I lost one of out of my order, but with the ones I have left looks like i have about 2-3 roosters and 10 hens. Can't wait to add more next year.

 

[gjensen]

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You know your conditions and variables, but consider . . . if your fencing is new (aproximately 540') x 1.50 pf = $810.00.
If the feed costs for a dozen NHs is 416.00 per annum and you expect to save 10% on feed costs (based on four hours of a 14hr day) it would take almost 20 years to recover that cost.
What is not a consideration that you can measure is the benefit and overall good health the birds will get from that range. What does that range consist of and how much are you willing to put into it?
Consider splitting up 5400sf and rotating them per day through four yards.
Raising your pullets on grass is the most efficient. You can afford them to fill out a little slower, and may be better for you and them in the long run.
This strain of NHs is neither a laying strain, or meat strain. This is a beautiful exhibition strain. They are not effective foragers, though will benefit from the oppurtunity to range.
I plan to weigh my birds this weekend and if I do, I will post the results. I have two ages to weigh.
Consider floor raising the cockerels, and the pullets on range seperate from the main flock. If you have the desire to raise the cockerels on grass, raise them seperately from the pullets.
These are just thoughts and ideas based on past experiences, what you seam to want to do, and what I see with these birds.

 

[gjensen]

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I am enjoying these birds myself. They are fantastic to watch range as a group. I hope that a person or two will be succesful with them, cull smartly, and stick to it. I am going to need a cock or two along the way if I am fortunate enough to continue with them. I also hope someone will pick up another good strain or two to work with and make them avaliable. Kathy sharing her birds will be a great thing if what she has shared will be taken up by some. If we breed everything we get, the group as a whole will go down hill. It looks like I will go into next year with 2 cockerels and four pullets.

 

[te dave]

thanks for the input Gjensen, i live in central louisiana, and even in the drought we're in right now, i still have to cut the grass on a regular basis, and the main reason i want to pasture them is for the health benefits, the feed reduction is really a secondary goal. i've thought about dividing it up into smaller "pastures" but could only do two due to the location of the coop(it's unmovable corner posts are concreted in) and the location of my garden (too many years improving the soil there to even think about moving that) also, about 1/3rd of the area is a tree line with alot of underbrush, should be plenty of seeds, grub, and bugs in there. my biggest fear is that it would turn into a desert!!! but i guess
i could always keep them off of it if the area is getting too stressed. i know its off topic, but any other input out there?

 

[gjensen]

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Sounds like you have it thought out. I imagine that you and your birds will enjoy the accomodations. How have your New Hampshires handled the heat and humidity? I was concerned about the birds from Kathy. It doesn't get and stay hot in Germany, but they have been find. It does seam to stress them more than the other birds I have, but I am figuring that they will be fine. Maybe after a couple years of being selected here . . .

 

[gjensen]

Here are the weights at 16.5 wks and 11.5 wks. I am not claiming that either the age or the weight is 100% accurate. I do assure that both is close. This should give an idea of an average to expect from this strain. They have not been pushed for growth. They have had good care however. The management has been above average, but not perfect. I also have not had big numbers to give good numbers.
I will say that I was pleased with the results. They are better than I expected. 5.15 - cockerel (@16.5 wks), and 4.4 - pullet (@ 16.5 wks).
4.10 - cockerel (@11.5 wks), and 3.4 - pullet (@ 11.5 wks).
Weights are in pounds and ounces of course. My New Hampshires last year were about 4 oz. better on average. They are broader, and heavier at the thighs. I thought they were pretty good though. I didn't expect these to be as close. Perception can be misleading. If they lay well and have a good quality egg, they will be a more DP bird than I expected. As beautiful as they are I am very excited to see these results. I love these birds. The only thing I want to see improved is for them to be just a touch broader on the back. If I don't go backwards with these birds, I will do well.