Jacin's Poultry 2022

[Iluveggers]

Jacin are all the breeds you own cold hardy? Any breeds you had that don’t do well in the cold? It’s generally 20-30 in the winter here, but this week dropping below zero in one evening & high of 10 that day, but the rest of the week 15low 40 high. I worry when it’s that cold.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Jacin are all the breeds you own cold hardy? Any breeds you had that don’t do well in the cold? It’s generally 20-30 in the winter here, but this week dropping below zero in one evening & high of 10 that day, but the rest of the week 15low 40 high. I worry when it’s that cold.

No, quite a few I have currently are not cold hardy. Thats something I looked at though when selecting my females for my mixed coop.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

But ibwill say they all handle the cold more than seramas would

 

[Iluveggers]

Wow. So no huge issues

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Wow. So no huge issues

I occassionally lose birds if they're weaker or not built right, but you also dont get nearly as cold as out here

 

[Iluveggers]

Good to know. A few years back we had a week straight of -10…only time that’s happened that I can remember!

 

[Tankueray]

They ship other breeds (they actually brag about shipping 52 weeks a year). I wonder though if those breeds they dont are ones they buy the eggs of. I know a lot of hatcheries dont actially house all the breeds they sell

They're active members of the group that represents each type of poultry industry in Texas for advising the various state agencies and maintaining the integrity and safety of the TX Ag industry overall, and they're all alumni of the same college at A&M that I graduated under, so I know a little more about them than most would I guess.
I'm pretty sure they don't sub out. For one, the Salmonella and AI NPIP certs in Texas are a major PITA, they'd have to be paying a subcontractor a premium to keep that up. There were two other large hatcheries waaay back in the day in that area, and I know they bought one of them, so I assume they also bought the other as well, which is probably how they have that much volume. I can't remember the other one, but I have a poster from the other, circa 1925, from the old Horning Bros. Hatchery in Cameron.

So my guess is that they either use those birds for hybrids, supply the statewide 4-H with them**, or use them themselves to hatch and use for next year's breeders. There was a hatchery last year I saw do that, where Ameraucanas and Legbars were only available part of the season and Easter Eggers (chick down sexable) the other part.

**Because TX does not allow birds from out of state to be shown, and I think the kids all have to get them from the same place so that it's about how they are as a caretaker and not genetics or their parents' ability to buy from a top breeder. I know that's how it is with the broilers, they all have to be ordered from A&M for the show season, and A&M may very well get them from Ideal. (One of my co-worker's kids had their rabbits killed by a predator a few weeks ago, and I offered some of my birds, she said they had to put in all that stuff months in advance and there were a bunch of rules, so that's why I assume it's probably something like the broiler thing for the show chickens, but IDK.)

 

[Tankueray]

I didn’t realize that they bought eggs…I knew they got stock from people who raise for them, but May seems like an odd time to stop shipping…unless it it just too hot for them. But you would think they might reopen shipping ins Sept through Oct if that was the case. Oh well. Maybe I can do an April group next year and plan ahead to take a little time off the first week they brood.

It was 90F on Christmas Day. It's almost always still hot until at least the week before Halloween. Texas A&M Bonfire was always at Thanksgiving, and I rarely remember having to wear more than a light jacket to it. (A&M is about 45 miles from Ideal.) I'm 4 hours north, and we've still only had 4-5 nights below freezing and one night with a hard freeze (two nights ago). Today it was in the 70s.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Hoping today is nice still. I have pens I really need to clean soon and i dont want to try and do it in negatives with the wind blowing around

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Effie met the Jinxed Mosaic today while waiting for food. Clearly she wants to be in charge.

Also love when the 2021 group is out before they see me. Meams that today is a warm enough day i dont need to worry.


However, one of the Italian Phoenix sisters is back in the house again with foot problems.