Illinois...

[Faraday40]

I saw Crystal lay her 1st egg this morning!!!!!!!
I also saw Mr Wonderful mating yesterday.

*Both of these are big events.... after being shipped from CA to Chicago, then driven home in rush hour traffic, hatching on June 17th, patiently waiting through summer to know gender, selecting which birds to keep in fall, and making it through some pretty rough arctic temps & a few snow storms, there's finally a simple, little, brown pullet egg.

Looks like I will hatch some laced orp chicks this spring!!!!

 

[Molpet]

I saw Crystal lay her 1st egg this morning!!!!!!!
I also saw Mr Wonderful mating yesterday.
*Both of these are big events.... after being shipped from CA to Chicago, then driven home in rush hour traffic, hatching on June 17th, patiently waiting through summer to know gender, selecting which birds to keep in fall, and making it through some pretty rough arctic temps & a few snow storms, there's finally a simple, little, brown pullet egg.

Looks like I will hatch some laced orp chicks this spring!!!!

congratulations
Beautiful birds.. I really like that color

 

[Faraday40]

Thanks. I've been wanting them for years.

I also kept a blue SLO (silver laced orp), named Blizzard. She's as big as Mr Wonderful (roo), but her lacing is not as strong. I'm guessing one of the mystery eggs I got came from her. Looking forward to spring and seeing what kind of SLO babies they'll make. I'm guessing 50% blue lacing & 50% black lacing if the genetics work the same as BBS.

 

[Molpet]

Thanks. I've been wanting them for years.

I also kept a blue SLO (silver laced orp), named Blizzard. She's as big as Mr Wonderful (roo), but her lacing is not as strong. I'm guessing one of the mystery eggs I got came from her. Looking forward to spring and seeing what kind of SLO babies they'll make. I'm guessing 50% blue lacing & 50% black lacing if the genetics work the same as BBS.
View attachment 1247095

another beauty

 

[Molpet]

Yesterday morning one of my meat project roos died... I had a cx hen and hatched a pullet and 3 roos. The 3 roos have frostbite on their big combs... but this ones issue was astices..belly full of watery liquid.,. He was almost 15 months old.... He had been eating and drinking but sitting around a lot... I thought about putting him down, but figured I would give him a chance as long as he was eating...
Glad I kept all 3 boys.. the one that died was the one I used for breeding last year... I have a couple of his sons and lots of daughters... sad but he was not a pet per say.. although I had him for so long I don't think I could had harvested him anyway... He was good to his ladies and I am sure they will miss him. Will see if his son is up to the task, since he is in there anyway...before I give a brother the chance.

 

[Faraday40]

Yesterday morning one of my meat project roos died... I had a cx hen and hatched a pullet and 3 roos. The 3 roos have frostbite on their big combs... but this ones issue was astices..belly full of watery liquid.,. He was almost 15 months old.... He had been eating and drinking but sitting around a lot... I thought about putting him down, but figured I would give him a chance as long as he was eating...
Glad I kept all 3 boys.. the one that died was the one I used for breeding last year... I have a couple of his sons and lots of daughters... sad but he was not a pet per say.. although I had him for so long I don't think I could had harvested him anyway... He was good to his ladies and I am sure they will miss him. Will see if his son is up to the task, since he is in there anyway...before I give a brother the chance.

Sorry to hear about your loss. Losing any chicken is tough - especially those old timers. Are you trying to make a large meatbird variety that can reproduce naturally?

 

[Molpet]

Sorry to hear about your loss. Losing any chicken is tough - especially those old timers. Are you trying to make a large meatbird variety that can reproduce naturally?

yes.. sorta like duluthralphies toads ... his live about 18 months, but they are cx and ranger cross... I worked with the barnyard mix roo I had... I was hoping with the heritage blood they would have less problems.. mine can still roost, his can't, so I think they are healthier...but they have some big combs... I and supposed to be in line for some white Cornish chicks this spring.. I'll see if that works out. ... I get about 1/2lb more meat with my cross, 1/2 cx roo over br or BJG cross hens.. The full blooded older gals don't like younger men
not a lot more meat, but better than raising franken cx chicks LOL

 

[Faraday40]

I have some very big birds..... but they don't grow quickly.
I have some orp hens that get up to 9+lbs. I also had one jumbo Coronation Sussex that reached 10lbs when she was 18 mo old.


I think my biggest would have been my Biele Boy. He died at 5.5 mo, long before he filled out. I'll never know how big he would have grown. When he stretched upward, his comb was at about my hip! Truly a gentle giant, but Bielefelders are horrible in the heat.

 

[Molpet]

I have thought about your orps, but how could I process the next generationI would want to keep them all...they are so beautiful,, I have a hard enough time as it is LOL...

 

[Faraday40]

I have thought about your orps, but how could I process the next generationI would want to keep them all...they are so beautiful,, I have a hard enough time as it is LOL...

Yes. I'll admit it's hard to process the boys who come running up for treats & pets every time they see you. When I need to get rid of a roo, whom I've had for over a year, I've always been lucky to find good homes. It's usually because I have a new handsome roo and not enough space to keep them all. Brownie, Prince, Brick, Moose, & a couple Mini Moose all went to homes with children. Brownie was trained, loved to travel, and excellent in classrooms. He crowed too much for a neighborhood, so he went to a teacher's family farm, so he could be still be used for school presentations. All the other boys went to families wanting a roo for hen protection & breeding but were afraid because of previous aggressive roo experiences. Once they saw how gentle mine were, it was a no-brainer. It also helped that mine were mature gentle giants, good-looking, well past those teen hormones, and already used to dogs & kids. Any aggressive roos would have been culled by me.

The family with Brick (now he's named Sarge) live nearby. They are so in love with him. He gets daily treats, snuggles and has 10 hens all to himself. When my kids go over for play dates, we of course visit Brick. He doesn't seem to miss us at all. I must keep reminding myself that it means Brick's new life is awesome. He's one very happy rooster.