It's a slow but informative start to my first breeding season with the Black Javas I got from Duane Urch a year ago. I had set up several different complementary pairings with my two best pullets (now hens) and two back-up pullets. My two "best" pullets have produced zero viable offspring. Eggs have been clear or the chicks did not hatch. On the other hand, one back-up pullet is cranking out chicks like crazy.
My former "best" pullet - largest bird, longest, straightest back, generally good Java profile, but narrow in the back and tail - is only producing one egg every six days. She is reinforcing the correlation between narrow tails and poor egg production. She is off my "best" list based on egg-laying rate alone.
My other "best" pullet - nice wide body and tail, great head, good coloring, but back is a bit short and back slope is off - turns out to be the bird who has been laying those porous egg shells. Her eggs have not been hatching. She is also off my "best" list.
The first "back-up" pullet is moderate all around. Medium size, a bit under standard weight. She doesn't scream "java" type but she also doesn't look like a total scrub. She is the only pullet with visible yellow soles. She is putting out an egg every other day. She went through a molt and wasn't laying when I first started collecting hatching eggs, so only two of her eggs have been through the incubation period. So far it's a 50% hatch rate from her. I have her with a different, more complementary cock now and am hoping that cross nicks well. We will see.
The second "back-up" pullet went broody in September and proved to be an excellent mother. She is a sturdy, wide bird with solid, thick shanks. Even though she doesn't look like she has yellow soles the genes must be there, because when I paired her with a yellow-soled cockerel, 100% of her offspring have had yellow soles. That is a relief since visible yellow soles are few and far between in my flock. She isn't the best java type in terms of back line and profile, but she lays every day and so far I am getting a 100% hatch rate from her. She is a keeper. I will use her for vigor and work on improving Java type with her offspring in future generations.
I am so glad I set up individual breeding pens. If I hadn't I would have had no idea which hens were productive and which weren't. It's been a learning experience. And I am redefining my idea of "best."
