Iowa Blues - Breed thread and discussion

[mrandmrschicken]

I see by the last pic Kari, he has an awesome hat too! lol

 

[ottbjumper06]

I have to brag my dad up a litlle bit. I have chicks hatching tomorrow and I mentioned to him I need to round up a cardboard box to put them in. Being the handyman he is he went out to the workshop and helped me build the nicest little brooder I've seen. He's the best!

 

[karimw]

Hooray for chicks! I have 10 hatched so far from Bentley's pen. All Silver as they should be, though a little darker looking than I am used to. I got a little panicked about that and some funky looking wings a few of them have, so I pulled the other Sandhill rooster out of Pen A and put the best of my own cockerels in. I'm guessing that wing issue on Bentleyisn't just nutritional.

 

[ottbjumper06]

That's not good . I'm really hoping that's not going to be a problem for me because my Denny bird is the only mature cockerel I have right now... I guess I'll have to wait and see.
And now I'm a little confused. I've hatched three chicks so far: 1 Silver, 1 Smokey, and 1 Birchen from my flock. I kept one Birchen so I'm not surprised about that chick, but I don't have any Smokeys. How do I narrow down which bird is carrying the Smokey gene? All of my mature chickens are from Denny. Also, is it worth keeping the Smokeys I hatch and integrate them into the breeding flock, or should they be kept in their own pen for the time being to work on AR issues?

 

[ottbjumper06]

If his wings are going to be a problem, I guess I'm back in the search for another stellar cockerel, haha. It's frustrating because everything else about him is so nice but those wings, UGH.

 

[karimw]

That's not good

. I'm really hoping that's not going to be a problem for me because my Denny bird is the only mature cockerel I have right now... I guess I'll have to wait and see.
And now I'm a little confused. I've hatched three chicks so far: 1 Silver, 1 Smokey, and 1 Birchen from my flock. I kept one Birchen so I'm not surprised about that chick, but I don't have any Smokeys. How do I narrow down which bird is carrying the Smokey gene? All of my mature chickens are from Denny. Also, is it worth keeping the Smokeys I hatch and integrate them into the breeding flock, or should they be kept in their own pen for the time being to work on AR issues?

I would say it depends on the needs of your flock and does he/she have any qualities you would want to keep. Most of my Smokeys are running with the flock, since the space is committed to Silvers right now. When I become overloaded on Silvers I'll reorganize and concentrate on my other projects. RIght now I'm hatching for the show pen hopefully, so I want to concentrate on birds that may qualify.

Be sure you mark them now because it can be difficult to tell Silver and Smokey males apart later. Trish will be proud - I managed to get my hatchlings toe-punched this time

 

[mrandmrschicken]

Attn: IB breeders;

A unique opportunity has become available to us. In a recent convo with the Voc Ag/FFA instructor, here in Milford, he has expressed interest in hatching LF, and some of our bantam eggs, as part of their typical hatching section. I think it would benefit us to be able to supply the class with IB eggs for their project! I have already been in contact with Emily, in reference to this and she is on board. In addition, Lora, has spoken with the teachers in the elementary school who do this section as well, (each classroom was supplied with a hatcher and auto turner from a parents funding group), and all the teachers are on board with this, in fact anxious!
Rather than the typical old layers or hybrids they usually get, why not get something worthy of a project?
I can see this as a terrific promotional opportunity, unique in every sense! This could be the foundation stone to an educational connection here in the State.
The advantages beyond what I've mentioned are, you get your chicks back! Not sure how everyone would get their chicks back unless we did it one breeder to a classroom which could work.
But I am testing the waters now to find how many of you would be interested in participating? Not sure about the high school, but the elementary teachers plan the hatch so it would be over a day or 2 before Easter break.
The Voc/Ag instructor has also asked if I would address his class during this time.
Comments??

 

[ottbjumper06]

Attn: IB breeders;

A unique opportunity has become available to us. In a recent convo with the Voc Ag/FFA instructor, here in Milford, he has expressed interest in hatching LF, and some of our bantam eggs, as part of their typical hatching section. I think it would benefit us to be able to supply the class with IB eggs for their project! I have already been in contact with Emily, in reference to this and she is on board. In addition, Lora, has spoken with the teachers in the elementary school who do this section as well, (each classroom was supplied with a hatcher and auto turner from a parents funding group), and all the teachers are on board with this, in fact anxious!
Rather than the typical old layers or hybrids they usually get, why not get something worthy of a project?
I can see this as a terrific promotional opportunity, unique in every sense! This could be the foundation stone to an educational connection here in the State.
The advantages beyond what I've mentioned are, you get your chicks back! Not sure how everyone would get their chicks back unless we did it one breeder to a classroom which could work.
But I am testing the waters now to find how many of you would be interested in participating? Not sure about the high school, but the elementary teachers plan the hatch so it would be over a day or 2 before Easter break.
The Voc/Ag instructor has also asked if I would address his class during this time.
Comments??

I don't know about anyone else, but I would be interested in new blood as long as I knew which chick came from which lines! Like I said Eric, I'll help in any way I can. Maybe we can arrange a meeting in a central location and at that time we can get our chicks back?

 

[ottbjumper06]

I would say it depends on the needs of your flock and does he/she have any qualities you would want to keep. Most of my Smokeys are running with the flock, since the space is committed to Silvers right now. When I become overloaded on Silvers I'll reorganize and concentrate on my other projects. RIght now I'm hatching for the show pen hopefully, so I want to concentrate on birds that may qualify.

Be sure you mark them now because it can be difficult to tell Silver and Smokey males apart later. Trish will be proud - I managed to get my hatchlings toe-punched this time

Thanks Kari. I was a little perplexed when I saw that I had 2 Smokeys hatch out. Denny has never had any Smokeys from his hens so I wonder how mine do? Don't get me wrong, I like all the varieties, but I would rather put my focus into the Silver variety.

Anyone selling hatching eggs yet?

 

[mrandmrschicken]

I don't mind brooding them, for awhile, they could be leg banded, by different colors per owner and Avoca is Mother Day weekend and we could deliver them then. I would have them for just a month or so. It is the kindergarten class rooms that will be hatching and there are 4 of them @ 24 eggs each. I would assume the H.S. would have the same size incubator.
Or maybe the Waverly swap, depending when it is.